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Press Release
Nairobi, Kenya – 11 May 2026 – The West Africa Sustainable Ocean Programme (WASOP) is participating in the Africa Forward Summit 2026 from 11–12 May 2026 in Nairobi, alongside key partners including the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (AGPAOC PMAWCA), the West African Development Bank (BOAD), and the European Union.
Held under the high patronage of the Presidents of the Republic of Kenya and the French Republic, the Summit convenes Heads of State and Government, international financial institutions, the African Union, private sector leaders, businesses, civil society organisations, and youth representatives to accelerate sustainable development partnerships across Africa.
Implemented under the Team Europe approach and funded by the European Union up to €59 million through the Global Gateway initiative, WASOP is a pioneering regional programme promoting coordinated ocean governance, the sustainable blue economy, and the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems in West Africa. The initiative aligns with the European Ocean Pact and seeks to mobilise both public and private sector investment in the rapidly expanding blue economy.
At the Africa Forward Summit, WASOP and its partners will make two major announcements aimed at accelerating the sustainable blue economy transition in West Africa:
Advancing Climate and Ocean Financing
The first announcement concerns the prefiguration of a credit line from the French Development Agency (AFD) to BOAD to support the regional bank’s climate and ocean ambitions. WASOP will provide technical assistance to strengthen the blue economy and ocean-related dimensions within BOAD’s investment framework.
AFD, BOAD, and Expertise France will sign a Letter of Intent for WASOP during the Summit in the presence of the European Union.
Launch of the Blue & Green Port Network
The second flagship announcement is the launch of the “Blue & Green Port Network” by AGPAOC PMAWCA. The network aims to bring together public and private stakeholders committed to supporting the environmental transition of the port and maritime sector in West and Central Africa through sustainable port partnerships and operations, with technical support from WASOP.
A partnership agreement between Expertise France and PMAWCA will also be signed during the Summit in the presence of the European Union. The agreement will formalise collaboration under the WASOP programme and the SCOPE Africa Project on port security.
Through these initiatives, WASOP and its partners reaffirm a shared vision to strengthen regional cooperation, mobilise responsible and sustainable financing, catalyse private sector investment, accelerate the transition toward greener and more resilient port models, and improve the competitiveness and sustainability of logistics and maritime supply chains across West Africa.
Leaders’ Statements
Jérémie Pellet, CEO of Expertise France, stated:
“The Africa Forward Summit is a major opportunity to bring together public and private partners around a sustainable blue economy. With WASOP, we are supporting the transformation of potential into concrete, structured projects with measurable impacts for the coastal countries of West Africa.”
Serge Ekué, President of BOAD, said:
“As President of the IDFC, we have a duty to lead by example; ‘Djoliba La Suite’ is precisely that: giving ourselves the means to achieve our climate and blue ambitions, by forging strategic alliances with our longstanding partners such as AFD, and more recent ones like WASOP, and by further mobilising the private sector with the right tools.”
Jean Marie Koffi, Secretary-General of AGPAOC PMAWCA, noted:
“The transition of ports towards greener and bluer models is a strategic lever for the competitiveness, security and resilience of our economies. By strengthening partnerships and sharing best practices, we can accelerate the adoption of sustainable solutions for the benefit of the region.”
Henriette Geiger, EU Ambassador to Kenya, added:
“The European Commission is committed alongside its partners, in a Team Europe approach, to financing infrastructure and high-impact projects under the Global Gateway initiative. Accelerating the sustainable blue economy in Africa means investing in sustainable value chains and a maritime transition driven by solutions compatible with climate and biodiversity objectives, while strengthening competitiveness and resilience.”
WASOP Featured at Africa Forward Business Forum Side Event
As part of the Summit activities, WASOP and its partners will participate in a side event on 11 May 2026 at 10:30 a.m. (local time) at the Agora Produce venue titled:
“Blue Economy — Maritime Sovereignty and Sustainable Resource Development.”
The session will highlight the ambitions and financing instruments of the European Union and BOAD in support of a sustainable and competitive blue economy, while showcasing public-private partnerships that advance the environmental transition of port and maritime activities in Africa.
