Publication: Making Waves: An Evaluation of the World Bank’s Support for the Blue Economy (2012–23) Approach Paper
Date
2023-05-03
ISSN
Published
2023-05-03
Author(s)
Independent Evaluation Group
Abstract
Marine and coastal resources are
critical for human survival. The economies of many coastal
developing countries and small island developing states rely
heavily on maritime industries, associated trade, and
tourism. In coastal and island developing countries,
small-scale fisheries and other ocean sectors support a
significant number of jobs and livelihood opportunities.
Marine and coastal resources also provide critical ecosystem
services on which the ocean economy relies. Yet
historically, ocean-based sectors have expanded without
sufficient consideration for sustainability, negatively
impacting marine and coastal environments. Moreover, the
negative impacts of climate change are exacerbating the
serious threats posed to ocean economies. Coastal developing
countries and small island developing state economies that
heavily rely on tourism were negatively affected by
COVID-19, and while there were some positive environmental
effects, these have been short lived. Critical knowledge and
skills gaps undermine the ability of many countries to
sustainably manage their marine and coastal resources.
Addressing the threats posed to marine and coastal resources
is politically challenging since coastal areas attract many
competing uses and diverging interests. The purpose of this
evaluation is to assess how well the World Bank is
supporting the sustainable and inclusive development of
ocean and coastal economies to inform the future development
of the blue economy approach.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Independent Evaluation Group. 2023. Making Waves: An Evaluation of the World Bank’s Support for the Blue Economy (2012–23) Approach Paper. Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) Approach Paper. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/39779 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”