Wetlands International at Our Oceans Conference (OOC11)
In June 2026, Kenya will host the 11th Our Ocean Conference, OOC11, marking the first time the conference is held in Africa. This year’s theme – Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future – celebrates the connection between people and the ocean. Wetlands International will bring a delegation from West and East Africa and our global office to the conference.
Why does the Our Ocean Conference matter?
The conference is a critical step in the global effort to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 benefiting people, climate, and biodiversity by mobilizing finance, partnerships and policy implementation that deliver impact for people, climate and nature.
Our delegation at OOC11:
Where to find us at OOC11
Wetlands International will co-host and contribute to several of the conference’s events and discussions, particularly focused around the conference themes Sustainable Blue Economy, Marine Protected Areas, Marine Pollution and the Ocean-Climate Nexus, as well as Blue Finance. We will highlight urgent topics such as plastics in mangroves, finance for coastal wetlands, fundable high-quality mangrove initiatives in the Western Indian Ocean region and West Africa, community leadership, transformative partnerships and best practices for restoration, contributing to the 30×30 goals. Finally, we share tools and restore to help conserve and restore coastal wetlands.
15 June
Blue Connections: A Networking Session for Our Blue Future Partners & Stakeholders
Networking event for meaningful conversations around strategic partnerships to catalyse new opportunities in coastal resilience, biodiversity conservation, sustainable blue economy investments, climate adaptation, Corporate Social Investment partnerships and investment-ready solutions that support both people and ecosystems.
Hosted by: Wetlands International East Africa, GIZ and A.P. Moller – Maersk in collaboration with Our Blue Future (OBF) and SWIOP-Invest.
Time: 18.00-20.00
Venue: Business Forum, Pride Inn Paradise Beach
Speaker Wetlands International: Julie Mulonga
đź”— Register here
High-Level Roundtable: Financing the Marine Conservation Breakthroughs: Advancing Global Action from Mombasa to Antalya
Description: This roundtable is part of the Regenerative Ocean Forum – Blue Entrepeneurship, Knowledge, Policy and Financing. The event will convene government officials, representatives from multilateral development banks, financial institutions, NGOs, and research partners to share practical experiences and identify pathways to further advance finance solutions for marine ecosystems. The event will focus on case studies, enabling conditions, and innovative finance approaches that can help bridge the gap between policy ambition and implementation on the road to COP31.
Hosted by: the Mangrove Breakthrough, MAC, GMA, High-Level Champions, COP30 Presidency, ICRI, GFCR, Wetlands International, UN-CMS, IUCN, Kelp Forest Challenge
Time: 15.00-16.00
Venue: Flamingo Hotel, Pride Inn Paradise Beach
Speaker Wetlands International: Julie Mulonga or Pieter van Eijk
This event is on invitation only
16 June
Ocean Action Agenda: On the Road to COP31 Workshop
Description: This event will convene non-state actors from the ocean community to plan for an ambitious ocean agenda at UNFCCC COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, with the goal to accelerate ocean-based climate action and ultimately, the achievement of the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Hosted by: Action Agenda Activation Group 7, OA Alliance, TNC, Ocean Climate Platform, Climate Champions Team, COP31 Presidency, COP30 Presidency
Time: 11.00-13.00
Venue: Flamingo Hotel, Pride Inn Paradise Beach
Wetlands International will participate in the roundtable.
This event is on invitation only
Scaling Mangrove Conservation and Investments in the Western Indian Ocean
Description: This event showcases regional approaches to mangrove conservation, restoration, and investment under Mangrove Capital Africa programme, Mangrove Champion Initiatives, and the Blue Carbon Plus (BC+). The event will highlight community leadership, blue carbon opportunities, governance and financing pathways, including scalable business models integrating protection, production, and people-centred impact.
Hosts: Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, WIO-C
Time: 15.00-16.00
Venue: SailFish room, Pride Inn Paradise Beach, WIOC-Pavilion
Several speakers of Wetlands International along with local mangrove champions
17 June
Blue Carbon Ecosystem Conservation Across the Western Indian Ocean – Consolidating Progress & Mapping Next Steps
Description: Stock take of recent advancements for mangrove and seagrass conservation across the Western Indian Ocean
Hosts: SeyCCAT)
Time: 13.00-15.00
Venue: Mashua room, Serena Hotel
Participants Wetlands International: Julie Mulonga and Louisa Chinyavu
This event is on invitation only
Closing the Data-Finance Gap
Description: This event discusses how to redesigning funding mechanisms, monitoring systems, and capacity support can unlock finance for locally led ocean action. Topics will include what data local organizations actually need to access finance, how Indigenous and community knowledge can be integrated alongside conventional science, and what it takes to build the trust and transparency that makes these partnerships work.
Hosted by: World Resources Institute, Government of Palau, AFR100, Data4Moz
Time: 13.00-14.15
Venue: Boni Room, Pride Inn Paradise Beach
Speaker Wetlands International: Julie Mulonga
18 June
Strategic Announcement of Sustainable Western Indian Ocean Programme
Description: This event will announce a new Western Indian Ocean Programme on blue economy investment, blue carbon, governance and ecosystem resilience.
Hosts: GIZ, EU
Time: 8.30-9.45
Venue: Eco Ballroom, Pride Inn Paradise Beach
Speaker Wetlands International: Julie Mulonga
Africa Blue Carbon: Climate, Community and Livelihood
Description: The African Blue Carbon side event at the 11th OOC bring together diverse stakeholders to deepen scientific understanding, share innovations, and foster collaboration for the conservation and sustainable management of blue carbon ecosystems. The event will explore regional cooperation, fostering networks and capacity-building initiatives. Expected outcomes include prioritized research agendas, policy frameworks to incorporate blue carbon in climate strategies, proposals for a dedicated Blue Carbon Fund, and new commitments with practical tools. Together, these efforts aim to position Africa’s blue carbon ecosystems at the forefront of climate action and sustainable development.
Hosted by: Kenya Marine and Fisheries Institute (KMFRI), Conservation International, UNEP, GIZ, The Nature Conservancy, IUCN, WIOMSA, WIO-Mangrove Network, Wetlands International, Pew, Flora and Fauna.
Time: 8:30 am – 9:45 am
Venue: Shimba Room, Pride Inn Paradise Beach
Speaker Wetlands International: TBC
OCC11 Plenary 7 event: Tackling Plastics, from Micro to Macro
Description: The Our Ocean Conference will explore solutions to a problem that besets the world’s coastlines: marine pollution. In this plenary event Julie Mulonga, Wetlands International East Africa will share how plastic pollution is increasingly recognised as a major threat to mangrove ecosystems, limiting seedling survival, and create risks for biodiversity and local livelihoods, and how to address this in Kenya.
Hosted by: OOC11
Time: 16.30-17.45
Venue: Pride Inn Flamingo, Tembo Hall
Speaker Wetlands International: Julie Mulonga
Turning the Plastic Tides — Advancing Locally-Led Approaches Towards Marine Plastic Pollution
Description: WIO regional plastics action. Convenes governments, CSOs, and partners to spotlight community-led, circular economy solutions to marine plastic pollution, linking reduction efforts to livelihoods and regional governance.
Hosted by: WIO-C Plastics Working Group hosted by Wetlands International East Africa and EAWLS
Time: 14.00-15.15
Venue: SailFish room, Pride Inn Paradise Beach, WIO-C Pavilion
Our Ocean Conference 2026 NGO Closing Reception
Description: The NGO community in partnership with the Government of Kenya and the upcoming host of OOC12 are delighted to invite you to celebrate the accomplishments of the Our Ocean Conference held in Mombasa, Kenya.
Hosts: Pew Charitable Trusts
Time: immediately after OOC ends
Venue: Pride Inn Paradise Beach
Wetlands International is co-sponsoring the reception
đź”— Register here
Video spotlights
Our tools and resources to help protect and restore marine ecosystems:
Global Mangrove Watch: the most complete and up-to-date mangrove monitoring platform:
Our best practice guidelines for coastal wetland restoration:
Downloads
Downloads
Contact persons
