The Blue Economy

Africa’s “Blue word” is made of vast lakes and rivers and an extensive ocean resource base. It can be said that there is another Africa under the sea. Quite rightly, the African Union call the Blue Economy the “New Frontier of African Renaissance”. The approach advocated in this Policy Handbook is premised in the sustainable use, management and conservation of aquatic and marine ecosystems and associated resources. It builds on principles of equity, low carbon footprint, resource efficiency, social inclusion and broad-based development, with the jobs agenda at the center of it all. It is anchored on strong regional cooperation and integration, considers structural transformation as an imperative for Africa’s development and advocates for a complete departure from enclave development models.