Empowering Young Tanzanians to Lead a Sustainable Blue Economy

Tanzania's coastal and marine ecosystems are a lifeline for millions of people. From mangrove forests and seagrass meadows to seaweed farms and fisheries, these waters provide food, income and cultural identity, while also safeguarding biodiversity and helping communities adapt to climate change. Yet these ecosystems are increasingly under strain. Unsustainable harvesting, agricultural expansion, and climate impacts have already led to the loss of critical habitats, weakening the natural systems that people and wildlife depend on.

In the face of these challenges, young Tanzanians are stepping forward with determination and creativity. SOA Tanzania is at the forefront of this movement, empowering youth to restore critical habitats and pioneer sustainable blue economy solutions. 

The impact of SOA Tanzania’s work has not gone unnoticed. Thanks to their commitment to youth leadership and tangible conservation outcomes, SOA Tanzania’s efforts have earned international recognition. In 2025, the hub was named one of ten global winners of the UNDP Equator Prize, chosen from over 700 nominations worldwide. The award recognizes outstanding community-based initiatives that advance nature-based solutions for climate, biodiversity, and development.

This year, SOA provided its sixth grant of $5,000 to SOA Tanzania to implement the third iteration of their 2025 Our Ocean Bootcamp (OOB25), which took place earlier this month. Our grant supports materials, workshops, mentorship, and beekeeping training from Acla Honey—a local company specialized in beekeeping.

The OOB25 successfully trained 50 young Tanzanians from more than 350 applicants across 20 regions, and was supported by SOA Regional Representative for Africa, Forbi Perise, and SOA mentors Nikos Therapos and Patricia Furtado de Mendonça, who provided keynote speeches alongside consistent support to the SOA Tanzania organization. Barak Ekshtein, founder of TONTOTON, a certified plastic recovery program in Cambodia, and one of the companies in the SOA Ecopreneur Network, will also deliver a keynote on his innovation journey.

Building Skills, Solutions, and Leadership Through the SOA Tanzania’s Ocean Bootcamp

Since its founding in 2021, SOA Tanzania has become a launchpad for the next generation of ocean leaders. Through four Ocean Bootcamps, the hub has trained 184 young people in ocean leadership, climate activism, and solution-building. Participants gain mentorship, hands-on project experience, and the confidence to speak up for the ocean and create change in their communities.

In November, Our Ocean Bootcamp 2025 focused on Youth and Ocean Innovation and empowered 50 young people to:

• Develop and pitch innovative ocean solutions

• Strengthen leadership in ocean conservation and climate action

• Connect with mentors to guide their projects

• Gain experience in blue economy opportunities such as the Mangrove Honey Project

Meet the 2025 Ocean Bootcamp Cohort

Bootcamp participants partnered with Acla Honey, a Tanzanian beekeeping company with deep expertise to integrate the Mangrove Honey Project into its Mikoko Yetu restoration program. This initiative connected ecosystem protection with regenerative blue economy opportunities — equipping young leaders to replicate sustainable models in their own communities.

Guided by a dynamic team of trainers, speakers, and mentors in ocean conservation, entrepreneurship, innovation, circular economy, and community development, participants gained practical skills, real-world insights, and the mindset needed to build impactful ocean solutions. Learn more about the trainers, speakers, judges, and keynote mentors.

Looking Ahead: Supporting Our Ocean Bootcamp Graduates

With the completion of Our Ocean Bootcamp 2025, SOA Tanzania’s graduates are now applying their skills to launch sustainable initiatives across Tanzania, from mangrove honey production to youth-led blue economy projects.

SOA's support for the Bootcamp helped cove materials, workshops, mentorship, and guidance for starting these initiatives. With each each seedling planted and each livelihood created, SOA Tanzania demonstrates the power of youth-led action to shape a sustainable blue future.

Restoring Ecosystems and Creating Livelihoods

Alongside training programs, SOA Tanzania has built a community of more than 695 ocean leaders and made a tangible impact on the ground. The hub has restored over 42,500 mangroves and adopted 0.5 km² of seagrass, protecting habitats that are vital for biodiversity, carbon storage, and coastal resilience.

Their Grass Underwater Project - endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade - implements Challenge 2 by adopting seagrass meadows and mangrove areas for monitoring, restoration, and conservation. The project also advances ocean literacy, raising awareness locally and globally about the actions needed to safeguard these ecosystems.

In addition, SOA Tanzania has created 50 blue jobs and piloted community projects such as a seaweed farm in Bagamoyo, where women and youth learned to develop value-added products like soaps. By combining restoration with innovation, SOA Tanzania is showing how conservation can drive economic opportunity, whether through mangrove honey production, seaweed products, or youth-led blue economy enterprises.

From Training to Transformation

The graduates of Our Ocean Bootcamp 2025 are already applying their skills to launch sustainable initiatives across Tanzania, from mangrove honey production to youth-led blue economy projects. Each initiative shows how youth-led action can restore ecosystems, create livelihoods, and drive lasting change for Tanzania’s coasts and communities.