Summary

The project “Strengthening Sea Level Monitoring and Data Management in East Africa for Coastal Resilience and Community Safety” (SEAMARCS) has been officially awarded through the Flanders-UNESCO Science Trust (FUST) fund.

The project is jointly led by the IOC Sub-Commission for Africa and the Adjacent Island States (IOCAFRICA), the IOC Tsunami Resilience Section (IOC/TSR) and the IOC Global Sea Level Observing Network (GLOSS) Programme, bringing together regional expertise and global technical leadership in ocean observation, disaster risk reduction, and coastal resilience. It is delivered in close collaboration with the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and other regional and national partners, including institutions in Kenya, Mozambique, Seychelles, and Madagascar. Through the deployment of innovative sea-level monitoring technologies and targeted capacity-building efforts, SEAMARCS aims to enhance coastal risk preparedness, support data-driven policy and decision-making, and strengthen institutional and technical capacities for long-term resilience and sustainable ocean governance in Eastern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean.

The SEAMARCS Steering Committee (SEAMARCS-SC) shall provide overall strategic direction, coordination oversight, and ensure the alignment of project activities with national, regional, and global priorities. It will serve as the primary governance mechanism of the project.

This first meeting of the SEAMARCS-SC will allow us to discuss the next phases of the project as well as prepare the forthcoming inception workshop in Mombasa, Kenya, 24-26 September 2025.