OCEAN Global Exchange Series
Learning from Practice: Sharing Lessons from Community-Led Approaches to Marine Conservation and Sustainable Development
Dates: 29 September – 1 October 2026
The OCEAN Global Exchange Series is a virtual event designed to bring together OCEAN Grantees, external experts and the wider development and conservation community to discuss how marine conservation and poverty alleviation initiatives are addressing complex environmental and social challenges.
Over the course of three days, participants will be invited to ‘learn from practice’ through discussions grounded in real project experience, with opportunities to share insights and explore common challenges.
A session will be held each day, each lasting approximately three hours and focusing on a different topic relevant to the OCEAN portfolio. Each session will feature a series of short presentations showcasing practical examples from OCEAN Grantees, supported by members of the OCEAN Expert Committee and Blue Planet Fund Regional Coordinators, followed by a panel Q&A, discussion and questions from the audience. The event is free of charge.
Session 1 | Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods
29 September 2026 11:00 – 14:00 BST / GMT+1
Exploring the connections between marine conservation, sustainable livelihoods and resilient coastal communities.
Find out how projects are creating economic opportunities that make conservation work for communities, through livelihood diversification, community enterprises, value chain improvements and other locally led approaches that strengthen both livelihoods and marine conservation.
Speakers include:
- Mercy Corps Myanmar — Wahyu Nugroho — Myanmar
- Smart Youth Effort for Advanced Community — Sarah Lamba — Tanzania
- Action For Ocean — Husna Amimu — Tanzania
- Yayasan Mitra Insani — Siti Masfiroh — Indonesia
Session 2 | From Community Engagement to Empowerment
30 September 2026 | 7:00 – 10:00 BST / GMT+1
Highlighting how community participation, trust and collaboration can strengthen local leadership, community empowerment, inclusive governance and shared decision-making.
Understanding how projects foster meaningful participation by working alongside communities, local organisations and knowledge holders to strengthen inclusive governance, local leadership, shared decision-making, ownership and trust, creating the foundations for more effective and sustainable conservation outcomes.
Speakers include:
- Badabon Sangho — Fariha Jesmin— Bangladesh
- BINTARI — Mega Anggraeni — Indonesia
- Coastal and Marine Resource Development — Andrew Wamukota — Kenya
- PADF — Andrea Isabella Vogel — Haiti
- Project Zacchaeus – Eco Kolek — Shellemai Roa — Philippines
- Reef Check Malaysia — Aiman Jawarin — Malaysia
Session 3 | Innovation for Impact
1 October 2026 13:00 – 16:00 BST / GMT+1
Using technology, data and innovative approaches to enhance conservation and community outcomes.
Exploring how projects are using digital technologies and innovative tools to improve monitoring, data collection, community engagement and evidence-based decision-making, showcasing practical solutions that support locally led action and contribute to more sustainable, resilient and inclusive outcomes across diverse contexts.
Speakers include:
- Mare Nostrum Foundation — Jeffrey Leblanc — Ecuador
- Bangladesh Environment and Development Society (BEDS) — Shafiq Islam— Bangladesh
- Sea Women of Melanesia Inc — Abishag Maguapana — Papua New Guinea
- ZSL – Jeremy Huet — Mozambique
- ALNER — Bintang Ekananda — Indonesia
Unable to make the session on the day? Recordings will be shared with all registered participants regardless of whether they are able to attend. Register now and watch at a time convenient to you!
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Image credit: OCEAN/Action for Ocean
