28 October 2012: Participants in the second technical workshop of the Western Indian Ocean Coastal Challenge (WIO-CC) adopted a declaration committing to fulfill the WIO-CC, including by addressing the need for a resource mobilization and sustainable finance strategy that includes private sector engagement. Representatives from Comoros, France (Réunion), Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and Tanzania (Zanzibar) attended the workshop, held from 22-26 October 2012, in Port Louis, Mauritius.

The declaration commits participating countries to: continue regional and inter-regional exchange of experiences with other similar initiatives such as the Micronesia Challenge; formalize the role of the Consortium for the Conservation of Coastal and Marine Ecosystems in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO-C) to provide support to the WIO-CC; encourage the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) to continue discussions with partners that can support implementation of the WIO-CC; provide nominations of national focal points for the WIO-CC; and create a communications working group.

The declaration also commits to convening the third technical meeting of the WIO-CC, concurrently with the IOC Council of Ministers. [IISD RS Sources]