- Seven countries have joined forces to improve marine governance and conserve the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden's unique marine ecosystems through GEF-funded initiative.
- Implemented by UNEP and executed by PERSGA, the initiative will help countries advance a sustainable blue economy that benefits both people and nature.
Jeddah, 1 July 2026 – Seven countries in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region have launched a new regional initiative to strengthen coastal and marine management and accelerate the transition to a sustainable blue economy.
The initiative, An Inclusive Approach for Harnessing Marine Ecosystem Services and Transforming to Sustainable Blue Economy in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, (HESBERSGA), is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and executed by the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA).
Backed by a GEF grant of US$ 7.35 million and US$ 50 million in confirmed co-financing from regional and national partners, the four-year project will support Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen to strengthen regional cooperation, improve marine and coastal management, and promote sustainable economic opportunities that depend on healthy marine ecosystems.
The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region is home to globally significant coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, productive fisheries, important coastal ecosystems and one of the world's most strategic maritime corridors. These natural assets underpin food security, tourism, trade, coastal resilience and livelihoods, but face growing pressures from climate change, pollution, habitat degradation and unsustainable resource use.
“Healthy marine ecosystems are the foundation of resilient communities, sustainable livelihoods and thriving economies. Through this project, UNEP is supporting countries in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to translate regional seas conventions and action plans and ocean commitments into practical results that protect marine ecosystems and support the communities and livelihoods that depend on them,” said Alberto Pacheco Capella, Chief, of UNEP’s Regional Seas Programme.
The project is expected to contribute to improved management of 5.6 million hectares hectares of marine protected areas and improved practices across more than 1.5 million hectares of marine habitat. It will also support better coordination among countries, stronger national implementation arrangements, and practical demonstrations that can be replicated beyond the life of the project. It will also yield economic and social benefits for countries and coastal communities, including women, youth, and the private sector.
“Regional approaches help to tackle environmental challenges more efficiently. Through regional cooperation, this project is supporting Red Sea and Gulf of Aden countries to manage shared marine ecosystems across borders while yielding social and economic benefits,” said Prof. Ziad Hamzah Abu-Ghararah, Secretary General of PERSGA.
By building on the Regional Seas model, the initiative, launched during an inception workshop, reflects a shared commitment by countries of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden to protect their unique marine ecosystems while advancing a sustainable blue economy that benefits both people and nature.
Notes to Editors
About the UN Environment Programme
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
About the Global Environment Facility
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) includes several multilateral funds working together to address the planet's most pressing challenges in an integrated way. Its financing helps developing countries address complex challenges and work towards meeting international environmental goals. Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than $26 billion in financing, primarily as grants, and mobilized another $153 billion for country-driven priority projects.
About PERSGA
The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden is an intergovernmental organization supporting regional cooperation for the conservation of marine and coastal environment and sustainable use of marine resources of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
For more information please contact:
unep-gef@un.org
