EU Commits €59 Million to Blue Economy Projects in 13 West African Nations

EU-backed initiative aims to test pilot projects across 13 countries as coastal pressures mount

Fishing boats still line the harbors from Nouakchott to Monrovia, but the catch is thinner, the storms harsher, and the coastline more fragile each year. For millions in West Africa, the ocean is both lifeline and threat.

Responding to these mounting pressures, the European Union has committed €59 million to the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP), a five-year initiative spanning 13 countries from Cape Verde to Nigeria. Managed in part by Expertise France, the program seeks to seed a sustainable blue economy across the region — one that can absorb climate shocks while driving inclusive growth.

A regional experiment in governance

WASOP is structured around multiple pillars, with €28.5 million dedicated to Pillar 2: Supporting an innovative and sustainable blue economy. Expertise France will coordinate this component, designed to provide technical services and expertise that can turn pilot projects into replicable regional models.

A call for proposals is scheduled for November 2025, inviting non-profit organizations from across the 13 target countries — as well as international partners — to submit projects. The focus will be on ideas that are innovative, inclusive, and sustainable, with potential to be scaled across borders.

The areas flagged are wide-ranging: from green ports and resilient infrastructure, to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, to marine renewables, blue carbon, biotechnology, and ecotourism. Each is framed as both a response to climate pressures and a pathway for job creation and economic diversification.

Why timing matters

The initiative lands at a moment of heightened urgency. West Africa’s marine ecosystems face a convergence of pressures: overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction, and increasingly volatile climate impacts. Rising sea levels and shifting ecosystems threaten food security for millions who depend on fisheries, while coastal cities face mounting risks from flooding and storm surges.

At the same time, new opportunities are emerging. Offshore wind and wave energy hold potential to meet rising energy demand, while blue carbon projects using mangroves and wetlands are attracting attention from global investors seeking credible natural climate solutions. Marine biotechnology, once marginal, is now seen as a frontier for pharmaceuticals and sustainable materials.

For a region often locked out of large-scale climate finance, the pilots launched under WASOP could provide proof-of-concept for how international funding, local expertise, and inclusive governance can align.

Who is being called in

Expertise France has opened a preliminary consultation ahead of the November call. Non-profits with existing or potential projects in the 13 countries are invited to signal interest by mid-September, helping build a database of capable partners. The consultation is designed not only to publicize the coming call but also to sharpen understanding of the types of proposals likely to emerge.

Themes prioritized include:

• Port modernization and “green port” design.
• Integrated fishing and aquaculture systems, including algaculture.
• Sustainable coastal tourism and ecotourism.
• Circular economy and value-chain improvements.
• Payments for ecosystem services such as blue carbon credits.
• Urban resilience for coastal cities.
• Conservation and restoration of marine ecosystems.

What leaders should watch

For African policymakers and international partners, WASOP is more than a technical program. It is a governance experiment: can 13 countries coordinate around shared resources and climate risks while unlocking new streams of finance?

Three questions will determine its impact:

• Replication: Will pilot projects be designed for scale, or remain isolated experiments?
• Equity: Will small-scale fishers and vulnerable coastal communities share in benefits, or will gains flow mainly to external investors?
• Finance: Will the pilots attract further capital — from development banks, private equity, or blue bonds — to move from pilot stage to systemic transformation?

The stakes are high. Coastal populations in West Africa are growing fast, and the gap between fragile livelihoods and mounting climate risk is widening. If the programme succeeds, it could create a model for ocean governance and climate resilience that extends well beyond the region. If it falters, the costs will be borne by those least able to shoulder them.

For senior officials preparing for global climate and development negotiations, the message is clear: West Africa’s blue economy is no longer a peripheral issue. It is a frontline test of whether international financing and regional governance can align to turn climate threats into sustainable growth.

Explore the consultation form here: WASOP Preliminary Consultation Form

Related Content: Scaling Investment for Africa’s Sustainable ‘Blue Economy’ – Marisa Drew