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The 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) marked a historic milestone as Kenya became the first African country to host the global gathering. Held in Mombasa from 16–18 June 2026 under the theme "Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future," the conference brought together more than 5,000 participants from governments, businesses, civil society organizations, regional institutions, development partners, academia, philanthropists , youth and coastal communities to accelerate action for healthier oceans and resilient coastal livelihoods.
Placing African leadership, financing and implementation at the centre of the global ocean agenda, the conference concluded with a strong call for accelerated action, greater transparency and deeper global cooperation to protect the ocean and the communities that depend on it. By the close of the conference, 104 governments, businesses and civil society organizations had announced 320 new commitments worth approximately US$6.4 billion, spanning marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries, climate resilience, maritime security, marine pollution and the sustainable blue economy. As the host nation, Kenya also announced 42 national commitments valued at approximately US$1 billion, signaling the country's ambition to strengthen ocean governance, restore marine ecosystems and grow an inclusive blue economy
For GROOTS Kenya, the conference was more than a global convening. It was an opportunity to demonstrate that many of the solutions discussed in Mombasa are already being led by grassroots women along Kenya's coastline. Through the ReSea (Regenerative Seascapes for People, Nature and Planet) project, women are restoring mangrove ecosystems, strengthening climate resilience and creating sustainable livelihoods through nature-based enterprises. Their work reflects the very priorities championed throughout OOC11: protecting biodiversity, strengthening coastal communities and building an inclusive blue economy where local voices shape global action.
Ahead of the conference, GROOTS Kenya joined the People of the Oceans Dialogue, convened by The Great Blue Wall Initiative and partners to elevate community voices ahead of the global conference.
Representing GROOTS Kenya, Executive Director Eunice Mwangi walked onto the stage carrying a kiondo—a traditional handwoven basket that became a powerful symbol of collective action and community leadership.
"On its own, each strand is fragile, but when the strands are woven together, they create something strong, useful, beautiful and resilient. That is what I have seen in communities, especially among women. When people organize, share knowledge, support one another and work toward a common goal, they become a force for change."
The kiondo sparked conversations about the importance of community leadership, women's voices and Indigenous knowledge in shaping the future of our oceans.
Like its woven strands, lasting ocean conservation depends on people working together. Throughout the conference, one message was consistently reinforced: effective ocean governance must be people-centred, gender-responsive and inclusive of the women, youth and grassroots communities whose lives are intricately connected to the sea.
That message continued during the Regenerative Seascapes Networking Session, organized by Mission Inclusion where GROOTS Kenya grassroots champion Samaa Sahab shared her lived experience as a coastal conservation leader.
Samaa is a member of Mkwajuni Young Mothers, a women-led group working to restore mangrove ecosystems in Takaungu Creek through the ReSea (Regenerative Seascapes for People, Nature and Planet) project. Alongside mangrove restoration, the group is strengthening household livelihoods through beekeeping while mentoring women and young people to become environmental stewards.
Speaking before an international audience for the first time, Samaa highlighted challenges that many grassroots women continue to face despite being at the forefront of conservation.
She spoke about limited access to funding opportunities, information barriers that exclude many women from available resources and the safety risks encountered while carrying out conservation work in mangrove ecosystems.
Yet her story also demonstrated something equally important. Grassroots women are not waiting for solutions to arrive, they are already leading them.
"It was my first time speaking at such a conference, and I was a bit scared. But I was happy to see that the voices of young women were being considered."
Her contribution served as a reminder that meaningful ocean governance begins when communities are empowered to speak for themselves rather than being spoken for.
Many of the priorities discussed throughout OOC11 are already being put into practice by grassroots women across Kenya's coastline.
Through the ReSea Project, GROOTS Kenya is supporting women-led groups to restore mangrove ecosystems while strengthening sustainable livelihoods. Healthy mangrove forests protect coastlines from erosion, store significant amounts of carbon, provide breeding grounds for marine life and strengthen communities' resilience to climate change.
At the same time, women are diversifying household incomes through nature-based enterprises such as beekeeping, demonstrating that environmental conservation and economic empowerment can go hand in hand.
Their work reflects the very commitments announced during OOC11, investing in nature-based solutions, supporting sustainable livelihoods, strengthening climate resilience and building an inclusive blue economy that leaves no one behind.
Alongside the main conference, Happy Mwinyi, GROOTS Kenya champion also participated in the Youth Leadership Summit, joining young leaders from across the world to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions and explore innovative solutions for ocean conservation.
The summit reaffirmed a shared commitment among young people to protect our oceans through leadership, innovation, advocacy, research, entrepreneurship and community action.
Her participation highlighted an important lesson from the conference: the future of the blue economy depends not only on financial investment, but also on investing in the next generation of environmental leaders.
The commitments announced in Mombasa represent hope for healthier oceans and more resilient coastal communities. But commitments alone will not restore mangrove forests, strengthen fisheries or build climate resilience.
That work is already happening in communities like Takaungu Creek, where grassroots women are restoring ecosystems, protecting biodiversity and creating sustainable livelihoods for their families.
The challenge now is ensuring that global commitments translate into sustained investment, meaningful partnerships and greater recognition of the communities already leading conservation efforts. Because protecting our oceans is not only about safeguarding marine ecosystems.
It is about recognizing that the women, youth and grassroots communities who depend on them are indispensable partners in securing our ocean, our heritage and our future.
