News • 8 June 2026
Kenya, Sweden building system for environmental cumulative impact assessments in MSP
The sun beats down on the rain-soaked tarmac in Mombasa. 33 degrees in the shade. 84 percent humidity. Behind thick curtains, people hard at work, hot laptops, programming and ecology. This is where Kenya’s system for marine environmental impact assessments is being built.
Point screen Symphony Kenya work. Photo: Wilhelm Gaardmark
Together, Kenya and Sweden are building the new system ‘Symphony Kenya’ for strategic environmental cumulative impact assessments, dedicated to support Kenya’s marine spatial planning. The system features maps of ecosystem components and of pressures from activities affecting the ocean, such as shipping, fishing, tourism, litter and climate change.
“Productive, inspiring coworking”, says Ingela Isaksson from SwAM, who has just completed leading the prioritization of data layers to include for Shimoni-Vanga, a key area for the project. ‘It’s a new beginning, and bringing data and science to decisions on blue economy and marine spatial planning.
SwAM and KMFRI, that is, the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, and Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, are working together to meet the goals with the Kenyan maritime spatial planning team, the Geological Survey of Sweden and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
“Next, we’ll create those data layers for use”, says Ingela Isaksson.
Learn about the system and the project on the Symphony Kenya page.
Facts: Symphony Kenya project
What
Build capacity and a tool for cumulative impact assessment for Kenya MSP on two scales: national and a subnational
Why
Strengthen capacity for ecosystem-based marine spatial planning, use cumulative impact assessments to inform planning and decision-making.
Who
A team of Kenya and Sweden, with KMFRI, Kenya MSP team, SGU, SLU, SwAM and the Nairobi Convention Secretariat
How
Together
Where
Online + onsite Kenya
When
2026 and 2027
The Swedish part of the project is funded by both development aid and bilateral environmental cooperation with strategic countries.
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Martin lead Data group. Photo: Wilhelm Gårdmark
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Ingela in sensitivity group I. Photo: Kilian Bürgi.
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