ITP Success case - Mozambique

Building momentum for maritime spatial planning

By bringing together key national institutions, academia and development partners, Mozambique strengthened dialogue and alignment around the implementation of its National Marine Spatial Planning Plan (POEM). The seminar reinforced shared understanding and commitment to ecosystem-based and coordinated ocean governance.

“This type of capacity building should be ongoing and nationwide to allow other professionals in the provinces to benefit from similar opportunities and capabilities and to ensure an inclusive marine spatial planning process.”

Fragmented coordination limiting effective implementation

Mozambique has established a comprehensive legal, directive and strategic framework. In 2024, the POEM was approved with the aim of ensuring the sustainable and efficient use of marine space and resources while protecting ecosystems, maintaining

environmental integrity, promoting transparency and participation in marine planning, and supporting long-term economic and social benefits. However, implementation faces several challenges, including the need for stronger intersectoral coordination and broader involvement of communities, partners and other stakeholders to promote sustainable practices and minimise environmental and social impacts. Increasing pressures from mining, fishing and tourism further highlight the need for integrated and ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine space.

Strengthening implementation through dialogue

In October 2025, a national seminar on MSP was organised in Maputo by the National Maritime Institute (INAMAR) and Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) with partners. The seminar aimed to:

• Share national, regional and international experiences in MSP
• Identify and discuss key challenges and opportunities for MSP in Mozambique
• Articulate measures to ensure that marine activities promote coexistence and sustainable resource use

Presentations addressed ecosystem-based management, conflict management between sectors, geospatial data management, and the link between MSP and the blue economy. Participants from the ITP MSP programme shared lessons learned, connecting international perspectives with Mozambique’s national context.

Building momentum for MSP in Mozambique

• The seminar provided a platform for experience-sharing and helped lay the groundwork for enhanced cross-sector cooperation.
• UEM’s participation further strengthened collaboration between academia and government institutions, promoting technical and scientific exchange on MSP.
• The ecosystem approach was reaffirmed as a fundamental principle for MSP implementation, ensuring that economic activities are balanced with environmental protection.
• The seminar generated a range of recommendations aimed at enhancing capacity-building, institutional coordination, data management and stakeholder participation in MSP and ocean governance.
• The event highlighted the importance of continued efforts to promote MSP in the country and to further strengthen ocean governance in Mozambique and the sustainable blue economy.

Conditions that enabled the change

Collective learning and knowledge exchange

Participation in the ITP MSP programme strengthened technical understanding of ecosystem-based management, conflict resolution and geospatial tools.

Inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogue

The seminar brought together government institutions, academia, civil society and development partners, creating space for open discussion of challenges.

Political recognition

The official opening by the Secretary of State for the Sea and Fisheries demonstrated high-level acknowledgment of MSP as a strategic governance tool.

Strategic alignment

Discussions reinforced the complementarity between POEM and the Blue Economy Development Strategy, anchoring MSP within national development priorities.

Strengthening MSP for the future

Mozambique has already established the legal and strategic architecture for MSP and the next phase lies in gradual operationalisation. By reinforcing dialogue and shared commitment, the 2025 MSP seminar contributed to consolidating MSP as a common national agenda and an essential foundation for coordinated and ecosystem-based ocean governance in Mozambique.