Action For Ocean

Action For Ocean (AFO) is an Africa-rooted, community-led ocean conservation organization founded in 2016 to strengthen the stewardship of marine ecosystems while improving livelihoods for coastal communities. The organization works across the Western Indian Ocean region, partnering with local communities, governments, researchers, and philanthropic institutions to design and implement long-term, locally owned conservation solutions. AFO was established in response to the growing pressure on coastal and marine ecosystems in Africa, and the limited access of frontline communities to flexible, long-term conservation finance.

Mission and goals.

AFO’s mission is to enable community-led ocean conservation that delivers ecological recovery, climate resilience, and inclusive economic opportunity. Its core goals are to (i) support fisheries co-management and locally governed marine managed areas, (ii) restore critical marine and coastal habitats such as mangroves and seagrass, (iii) advance sustainable, nature-positive livelihoods—including seaweed farming and value-added marine enterprises—and (iv) strengthen local institutions and governance systems so conservation outcomes endure beyond project cycles. AFO places equity, local ownership, and intergenerational stewardship at the center of its approach.

Past and current activities.

Since its founding, AFO has supported participatory fisheries management, seasonal and permanent closures, and community-led enforcement across multiple coastal seascapes. The organization has facilitated marine habitat restoration, combining scientific monitoring with indigenous knowledge to guide adaptive management. In parallel, AFO has implemented livelihood and finance initiatives that reduce pressure on marine resources, including women-led savings groups, climate-resilient seaweed value chains, and enterprise support for coastal producers. Current activities include grant deployment for community governance and conservation action, technical assistance to local partners and community institutions, piloting innovative conservation-finance mechanisms, and building data systems to track ecological and socioeconomic impact.

Future planned activities.

Over the next five to ten years, AFO aims to scale its impact across additional coastal geographies in Africa by expanding community-led fisheries management, marine habitat restoration, and sustainable livelihood programs. Planned activities include structuring pooled funding mechanisms and blended-finance approaches that channel capital directly to community institutions, deepening partnerships with African governments and regional bodies, and strengthening learning platforms to share best practices across seascapes. Through this work, AFO seeks to demonstrate that locally led, well-financed ocean stewardship can deliver durable biodiversity outcomes, climate benefits, and long-term prosperity for coastal communities, while contributing to global ocean conservation goals.