By Business Insider Reporter, Dodoma
Tanzania has been selected to host the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Nairobi Convention, a high-level environmental summit scheduled for October 6–9, 2026 in Dar es Salaam.
The gathering is expected to bring together policymakers, scientists and development partners to advance coordinated strategies for the sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems across the Western Indian Ocean.
The announcement was made by Deputy Permanent Secretary for Environment in the Vice President’s Office, Baraka Luvanda (pictured above), during the inaugural meeting of the national organising committee held in Dodoma. The committee, comprising representatives from multiple ministries and government agencies, has been tasked with ensuring the successful delivery of the summit while maximising economic and diplomatic gains for the country.
Strategic platform for blue economy growth
COP12 comes at a time when Tanzania is intensifying efforts to develop its blue economy – an increasingly critical pillar of national growth encompassing fisheries, maritime transport, coastal tourism and marine conservation.
Officials say the summit will provide a platform to attract investment, strengthen regional cooperation, and unlock new opportunities in ocean-based industries.
Tanzania’s extensive coastline – stretching over 1,400 kilometres along the Indian Ocean – positions it as a key player in marine resource management.
The country’s coastal and island communities depend heavily on fisheries, seaweed farming and tourism, making sustainable ocean governance both an environmental and economic priority.
Economic and investment opportunities
According to officials, COP12 is expected to attract more than 500 participants, including senior government leaders, international experts and private sector stakeholders.
Beyond environmental dialogue, the event is likely to generate tangible economic benefits through conference tourism, increased investor interest and the promotion of public-private partnerships in marine industries.
(Photos: Vice President’s Office)
Magdalena Ngotolainyo, Director of Blue Economy Development and Coordination, noted that participation in such global forums creates avenues for technology transfer, knowledge exchange and the development of bankable projects in fisheries, coastal infrastructure and marine conservation.
Regional and global linkages
Tanzania’s hosting of COP12 will be preceded by its participation in the 11th Our Ocean Conference scheduled for June 2026 in Mombasa – the first time the global forum will be held in Africa.
The conference, themed “Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future”, is expected to further elevate Africa’s role in global ocean governance.
These engagements reflect a broader shift among African economies to integrate environmental sustainability into development planning, particularly as climate change intensifies pressure on marine ecosystems.
Balancing Conservation and Livelihoods
Experts emphasise that the success of COP12 will depend on its ability to balance conservation goals with economic realities. With millions of livelihoods tied to marine resources, policies emerging from the summit must support sustainable harvesting practices, reduce environmental degradation, and enhance value addition in sectors such as fisheries and aquaculture.
For Tanzania, hosting COP12 is more than a diplomatic milestone. It is an opportunity to position itself as a regional hub for blue economy investment, strengthen environmental governance, and align natural resource management with long-term economic transformation.
As preparations gather pace, attention will be on how effectively the country leverages the summit to translate environmental commitments into actionable, investment-ready programmes that deliver both ecological sustainability and economic growth.
Top of Form
The Nairobi Convention
The Nairobi Convention, formally known as the Convention for the Protection, Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Western Indian Ocean, brings together countries in the region to coordinate environmental protection efforts. Member states meet biennially to review progress, address challenges, and agree on policy and investment priorities. At the previous COP11 meeting held in Antananarivo, Madagascar, in August 2024, Tanzania was selected to chair and host the next session—an endorsement of its growing leadership in regional environmental diplomacy.
