The proposed programme identifies a coherent set of interrelated projects to assist in implementing UNEP’s Marine and Coastal Strategy (2009) for Africa and in line with UNEP’s Programme of Work, UNEP’s Medium Term Strategy and the Nairobi Convention Work Programme as guided by Africa’s priority as agreed by the Contracting Parties to the Nairobi Convention. In particular, it aims to address identified marine and coastal environmental management and development challenges specific to Africa. These challenges include ecosystems degradation, declining productivity of ecosystems, pollution and adaptation to climate change all of which significantly impact on poverty in the region. As one of the world’s least developed continents, Africa has little resilience to climate change and these trends are expected to be exacerbated by intensified and more frequent weather events, rising sea-levels, changing ocean currents and ocean chemistry. The overall objective of the proposed programme is to assist in implementing UNEP’s Marine and Coastal Strategy in Africa for ‘prosperous and healthy oceans and coasts where conservation, productivity and resource use are sustainable’.