Category: Working holistically

Nurturing leadership in African marine conservation

This is the first post in a series featuring some of the first marine conservation leaders participating in the African Marine Conservation Leadership Programme that Blue Ventures and Maliasili started in 2020. They share their leadership journeys as part of the...

/ Aug 25, 2022

Somali to Kenya: A learning exchange to share knowledge and forge friendships

As we worked to finalise planning for this learning visit, we were unsure how it would turn out. After a year without guests, when COVID-19 travel restrictions eased late last year, we were excited about hosting representatives of Adeso, Secure...

/ Jan 21, 2022

The power of data for community co-management in Tanzania

A history of invisible conflict  When we started working in marine conservation in the early 2000s, we quickly realised that data is an essential tool to help us understand the state of our fisheries and marine ecosystems. We focused mainly...

/ Dec 10, 2021

Madam Mwanatumu: taking action and advocating for equality

Through action and change for equality The role of women in the fisheries sector cannot be further emphasized as they are key actors and players in forging connections between fishers and the market. While a fisherman’s role may mainly involve...

/ Aug 12, 2021

Five years in Timor-Leste

Birgit Hermann (country director) and Oldegar 'Ollie' Massinga (operations manager) who head up the Blue Ventures team in Timor-Leste, reflect on five years of working with communities to drive locally led marine conservation in the country

/ Jul 14, 2021

Conservation leadership: nurturing collaboration for the African marine conservation sector

Strengthening relationships in the final week of training for the first cohort of the African Marine Conservation Leadership Programme

/ May 11, 2021

Challenging gender barriers: an interview with Timor-Leste’s first female Divemaster

This International Women’s Day we are celebrating an extraordinary woman. Mima’s story is one of passion, courage and perseverance.

/ Mar 8, 2021

From global to local, and back again

Birgit Hermann, Country Manager for Blue Ventures in Timor-Leste, shares her experiences of being a Rotary Peace Fellow amongst global peers, and what it means for community conservation impact

/ Mar 4, 2021

Building a united African voice for marine conservation during a global pandemic

Bringing together leaders working on the frontlines of conservation, the African Marine Conservation Leadership Programme has been on an unexpected journey

/ Feb 12, 2021

The quest for sustainable charcoal

Meet Ambanja’s fuelwood producers who are preserving northwest Madagascar’s mangrove forests by planting brown salwood trees to sustainably produce charcoal for cooking

/ Jan 28, 2021

From small-scale fishers to ecotourism entrepreneurs

In Timor-Leste, ecotourism is a growing trade and is enabling coastal communities to diversify their livelihoods. In the community of Beto Tasi new families are now opening the doors of their homestay businesses.

/ Jan 22, 2021

From Sarteneja Village to diving the reefs of the Caribbean Sea: my journey with Blue Ventures

“One thing I’ve learned throughout my life is that if you take chances you can either succeed or work yourself into succeeding”

/ Oct 22, 2020

A lever for change: learning to read and write in Mahajamba Bay

For small-scale fishing communities living in remote areas of Madagascar, illiteracy is a common barrier to managing their natural marine resources

/ Sep 17, 2020

Understanding the struggles of coastal women and men living through the pandemic in Indonesia

Our partner network in Indonesia are speaking with coastal communities whose livelihoods have been impacted by COVID-19

/ Sep 10, 2020

From reproductive health to COVID-19: thirteen years of responding to community health needs

As we celebrate thirteen years of supporting community health, our Safidy teams continue to show their unrelenting dedication as they navigate the COVID-19 pandemic

/ Aug 12, 2020