Africa's Blue Economy: A Policy Handbook

Acknowledgments This Blue Economy Policy Handbook is the product of the collective and collaborative efforts of African and international experts in the fields of policy, governance, economics, law of the sea, geology and mining, environment, and development drawn from governments, civil society, academia, and African intergovernmental and development entities, along with United Nations entities. The Sub-Regional Office for Eastern Africa (SRO-EA) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) led the handbook’s production process with the support of the ECA Special Initiatives Division (SID); in particular, the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) and the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC). This handbook was produced using the Book Sprints method, which allows for the drafting, editing, and publishing of a complete product in five days. A Book Sprint is a facilitated process through which contributors with a wide range of expertise and perspectives come together to write a book collaboratively. The Book Sprints facilitators were Laia Ros and Faith Bosworth; the editor was Teresa Castle; the illustrations were created by Henrik Van Leeuwen and Kristina Thygesen; and the book was designed by Julien Taquet. Clever Mafuta of GRID- Arendal provided the box on Transboundary waters and the Blue Economy. Using the Book Sprints technique, the contributors worked in Rubavu, Rwanda, from 23 to 27 November 2015. The attending experts were Antonio Pedro (ECA), Daya Bragante (ECA), Frank Rutabingwa (ECA), Geoffrey Manyara (ECA), Iris Monnereau (University of West Indies), Jeff Stark (Consultant), Kaiser Gonçalves de Souza (ECA), Kamal-Deen Ali (CEMLAWS Africa), Kristina Thygesen (GRID- Arendal), Philippe Murcia (Consultant), Lea Brilmayer (Yale University), Samuel Kame-Domguia (African Union Commission), Vita Onwuasoanya (UNDOALOS/ OLA), Yannick Beaudoin (GRID-Arendal), and Yohannes G. Hailu (ECA). This handbook is to be considered a living document. Its implementation will generate further lessons and good practices emerging from countries engaged in the Blue Economy process. It is expected to provide decision makers and other stakeholders with clear and simple guidelines and options for aligning their policies with the Blue Economy concept.

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Africa's Blue Economy: A policy handbook