The GFCR at the 11th Our Ocean Conference
The 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) will be held in Mombasa, Kenya, from 16-18 June 2026 under the theme Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future. The theme celebrates the living connection between people and the ocean. It reflects the heritage, cultures, and coastal communities shaped by the sea, and it calls for a shared commitment to secure a resilient, just, and thriving ocean for generations to come.
The ocean is our planet’s life support system, home to 80% of all life on Earth, a provider of food and livelihoods for billions, and a stabilizing force for the global climate. Yet it faces escalating threats from warming seas, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
OOC11 will bring together leaders from government, science, civil society, youth, and the private sector to accelerate ocean action and turn collective ambition into meaningful progress, with Kenya leading the way as host of the 2026 conference.
Representatives from the GFCR will be participating in the following events.
Time zone is EAT(UTC+03 00)
Designing Blue Finance for Poverty Reduction and Community Resilience
16 June | 1600-1715 hrs
This session will look at how blue finance can be designed to genuinely support coastal communities, reduce poverty, and build resilience.
Drawing on real-world experience from the UK Government’s Blue Planet Fund and initiatives like the Global Fund for Coral Reefs and the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance, speakers will share practical lessons showcasing what works, where gaps remain, and how partnerships can be strengthened to ensure blue finance delivers measurable economic, social and environmental benefits.
Expect practical examples of blended finance, community-led enterprises, and nature- positive livelihoods such as sustainable fisheries, seaweed farming, and reef restoration.
Ideal for anyone interested in inclusive blue economy investment, community resilience, or turning ocean finance into tangible impact.
Protecting Climate-Resilient Coral Reefs: From Political Commitment to Investable Action
16 June | 1600-1715 hrs
The event will mobilize new signatories and announcements of national-level actions for the High-Level Political Commitment for Climate-Resilient Coral Reefs with a particular focus on mobilizing leadership across the Western Indian Ocean where reef health and socio-economic stability are deeply intertwined.
To move from political commitment to implementation, the event will showcase real-world financing models that are already delivering results and can be replicated and scaled. A featured panel will highlight reef-positive blended finance vehicles, national action plans, and public-private partnerships illustrating how investment in coral reef resilience can drive sustainable fisheries, nature-based tourism, local enterprise development, and climate-resilient coastal economies.
With a shared goal of securing actions for climate-resilient coral reefs, this event marks a critical step in building the coalition, championship, the financial architecture, and delivery partnerships needed to protect coral reefs as engines of socio-economic resilience and sustainable development for people and planet.