The United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF) provides $764,800 to position Blue Economy as an enabler of inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development in Africa by focusing on key sub-sectors of tourism and transport in East Africa

Project narrative

In 2016, the Chinese Government pledged to contribute $200 million to the United Nations over a ten year period. The United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF) was established to channel these earmarked funds to specific projects in coordination with the UN. The UNPDF is divided into two sub-funds: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund and The Secretary-General's Peace and Security Sub-Fund. Approved in 2023 by UNPDF, a $764,800 grant under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund was allocated for a project to enhance the capacity of East African countries to optimize on the Blue Economy opportunities available through key sub-sectors (e.g., tourism and transport) to drive higher intercontinental trade, foster social integration and generate inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development. The project will strengthen pilot countries' capacity to formulate appropriate tourism development systems, including tourism statistics and satellite accounts, and to develop multimodal transport, and trade corridors supported by adequate infrastructure. The project's duration is scheduled for May 2024 - April 2026 and the implementing entity is the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) with UNCTs and RCOs, Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, International Labour Organisation, and the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Horn of Africa as collaborating partners. Recipient countries are Burundi, Djibouti, Rwanda, Seychelles and Tanzania.