The Go Blue stakeholders gathered at the Avid Hotel, Voi, on May 7th 2024 for the integrated governance meeting in Taita Taveta County to kick-start discussions on monitoring, evaluation, and reporting frameworks for the Tourism and Cultural Heritage component interventions. This initiative is essential to realizing the long-term vision outlined in the Tourism Cultural Heritage Blueprint 2030 and enhancing sustainable development in the region.
The project, a collaborative effort between the Camoes Institute-Portugal and Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP) Secretariat, aims to strengthen inclusive and sustainable blue economy value chains across the Jumuiya counties. Implemented in partnership with Taita Taveta County, the project focuses on advancing inclusive employment in the tourism and cultural heritage sectors as part of JKP's 2030 Blue Economy strategy.
Gertrude Shuwe, the CECM for Trade, Tourism, Cooperatives Development, and Industrialization, was appointed to lead the committee. Shuwe emphasized the importance of collaboration in advancing the coastal counties' blueprint agenda and implementing the vision because tourism is the lowest-hanging fruit.
In attendance was Nicholas Angore, the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani advisor coordinator; Charity Dorcas, the regional Tourist Police Commander, Coast Region; County Director of Tourism and Trade Brian Lewela; and Wallace Mwaluma, County Director of Gender, among other stakeholders.