The Indian Ocean: How can coastal communities adapt to a rapidly changing environment?

The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean in the world and a critical lifeline. It provides food, livelihood opportunities, natural resources and ecosystem services for over two billion people.

Today, the Indian Ocean is warming at a faster rate than the global average and is estimated to be the second most polluted ocean in the world – impacting its ability to continue providing its vital services to coastal communities.

The histories, economies and cultures of more than half of the countries where the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) operates are connected through the Indian Ocean. As we embark on our Indian Ocean Coastal Regeneration Initiative, two AKF colleagues help us gain a better understanding of what is happening along the Indian Ocean coastline – Apoorva Orza, Global Lead for Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Resilience, and Hirondina Mondlane, Programme Coordinator at AKF in Mozambique.

Apoorva and Hirondina, thank you for joining our second Climate Conversation. Oceans globally are under threat, and the Indian Ocean is no exception. Can you describe some of the major challenges it is facing?

Apoorva: The challenges are numerous. Most are tied to the growing populations along its shores – around two billion people and rising. These populations require food, income, clean water, education, and healthcare. The question is: how do we meet these needs without worsening pollution, overfishing, and damaging ecosystems? This is the biggest challenge, and solutions are not clear cut.

As a result, we’re grappling with excessive pollution, particularly from agricultural runoff, declining fish stocks, coral reef loss, ecosystem degradation, and biodiversity loss. Climate change further exacerbates these issues, with devastating impacts on coastal communities.

Hirondina: In Mozambique, home to the Indian Ocean’s third longest coastline, 80% of the coastal population depends on the ocean’s natural resources. A major challenge is ensuring the sustainable use of these resources. Many communities are trapped in a cycle of unsustainable practices, degrading the resources they rely on for survival.

Unfortunately, these communities often lack the capital to adopt sustainable practices; they may not be able to afford better fishing gear or to stop fishing during temporary closures. Facing complex socioeconomic challenges, they simply cannot afford to make the changes needed to protect their livelihoods or the ocean’s health.

A lone fisher off the coast of Pemba, Mozambique

AKF / Rich Townsend

Looking over Lamu Island on Kenya’s Lamu Archipelago

AKF / Christopher Wilton-Steer

A community in the Barren Isles, Madagascar, discusses how to manage their fisheries

AKF / Julia Vera

Dhows (traditional boats used in the Indian Ocean) at sunset in Stone Town, Zanzibar

AKF / Christopher Wilton-Steer

A home in India’s coastal state of Gujarat

AKF / Christopher Wilton-Steer

Cooking fish in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique – a vital source of nutrition for coastal communities across the Indian Ocean

AKF / Rich Townsend

Said (in blue) earns his living as a coxswain, driving boats for residents and tourists in Lamu Town, Kenya

AKF / Christopher Wilton-Steer

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How are communities along the Indian Ocean coast being impacted by declining ocean health and climate change?

Apoorva: Most Indian Ocean countries are low- to middle-income and home to some of the world’s poorest communities. These populations already face extreme poverty, food insecurity, and restricted access to basic services. For them, the ocean is a lifeline, and its declining health, coupled with climate change, exacerbates their challenges and further limits their options.

With few livelihood opportunities, many are forced to cut down mangroves or fish farther out to sea, often at great risk. As Hirondina mentioned, this creates a vicious cycle that communities need support to break. When I visited Mozambique, I heard from residents who were very concerned about the increase in extreme weather. One woman recalled that storms used to occur every two to four years during her childhood. Now, they happen annually, destroying everything people work hard to build and forcing them to start over.

Hirondina: From an African perspective, climate change also impacts culture. The Indian Ocean is deeply tied to the traditions of many coastal communities. For instance, specific marine shells, once abundant, are used in traditional attire and ceremonies. Climate change and declining ocean health has made these shells scarce, disrupting cultural practices and heritage. Coastal landscapes have also changed dramatically due to pollution and degradation, and people can no longer enjoy the beaches and water as they once did.

Coastal communities in the Indian Ocean region are facing a water crisis. In Mozambique, for instance, half the population lacks access to adequate water. What are the main reasons behind this?

Hirondina: In Mozambique, the main reason for water scarcity stems from poor water management. If we could effectively harvest and store water during the rainy season, it would help sustain us through the dry spells. Climate change is worsening the problem, causing flooding that contaminates water sources, followed by extended droughts where no water is available at all.

Apoorva: The irony is that, despite being surrounded by water, coastal communities often find there isn’t a drop to drink. In coastal areas, the issue isn’t water quantity but water quality. Seawater intrudes into fresh groundwater, especially when more boreholes [a narrow, deep hole drilled into the ground to access water] are dug. This is a growing issue in Kenya, Tanzania, India, and Pakistan.

Climate change also intensifies the problem. Take, for example, a community in India which historically saw 500 millimetres of rainfall annually, spread across the year. This allowed rainwater to percolate into the soil, supporting crops and water storage. Now, the same 500 millimetres falls in just a few days. The intense rain erodes soil, damages crops, overwhelms storage systems, and contaminates water. While it may rain more, the water becomes unusable. Then, during droughts, communities are left with nothing.

AKF has a long history of working with coastal communities. As AKF launches its Indian Ocean Coastal Regeneration Initiative, which strategies will you prioritise to help communities adapt to climate change?

Apoorva: AKF’s experience along the Indian Ocean coast highlights four key strategies:

• Win-win approaches: Effective programmes must create mutual benefits – improving community livelihoods or quality of life while addressing climate change. When efforts are perceived as a win-lose scenario, where the community’s needs aren’t considered, any progress tends to be short-lived, often reversing once projects end or supporting organisations step away.
• Adaptability: What works in one region might not work in another. Approaches must be tailored to local contexts and remain flexible as climate science evolves. We need to continually learn, adapt, and refine our strategies based on emerging knowledge.
• Multi-thematic solutions: Addressing climate challenges requires a holistic approach. For instance, addressing deforestation might involve not only planting trees but also tackling economic, cultural, and policy factors that drive the issue. A comprehensive perspective is essential.
• Centring women: Women are pivotal in many coastal areas where men have migrated or pursued other income opportunities. Women often lead coastal livelihoods, making it crucial for programmes to place them at the centre of efforts for sustainable change.

Hirondina: Building on Apoorva’s points, I’ll share examples from Mozambique that illustrate how we’re putting these four strategies into action:

• Win-win approaches: Creating mutual benefits is essential. In Mozambique, we’re working to engage the private sector more effectively in climate resilience efforts. Partnerships that include communities, the private sector, government, and other stakeholders ensure that development initiatives improve livelihoods while addressing environmental challenges, making them more sustainable and impactful.
• Adaptability: Context matters. For example, in Ilha de Mozambique, infrastructure challenges are shaped by its island location, whereas in Metuge, proximity to the urban centre of Pemba drives deforestation due to a high demand for charcoal. Tailoring solutions ensures that climate resilience efforts remain relevant and effective.
• Multi-thematic solutions:  Connecting environmental restoration with cultural significance strengthens communities’ commitment to climate resilience initiatives. In Metuge, a tree historically used for making traditional clothing disappeared due to deforestation. By reintroducing this tree as part of reforestation efforts and reflecting on its cultural value, we provided an additional incentive for community engagement.
• Centring women: Women play a critical role in education and passing on knowledge to future generations. Empowering women to lead action is essential. In our Mel do Mar initiative, women are restoring mangrove forests while engaging in beekeeping and producing honey to supplement their incomes, combining environmental restoration with sustainable livelihoods.

You mentioned mangroves, which have enormous potential to address climate change. What is AKF doing to restore mangrove ecosystems across the Indian Ocean?

Apoorva: We’re supporting communities in replanting mangroves, but restoration goes beyond just planting trees. Hydrology is critical to mangrove survival, so we’re helping communities channel water and manage drainage to ensure suitable conditions for growth. We’re also rehabilitating degraded mangrove forests.

A key focus is understanding what incentivises communities to protect mangroves. For example, transitioning to alternative cooking fuels could reduce the need to cut mangroves for firewood. We’re piloting various activities, including mangrove-related enterprises, as Hirondina mentioned, to find sustainable ways to engage communities in mangrove conservation.

Hirondina: In Mozambique, community institutions are central to our mangrove work. We’ve found it more effective for communities to directly engage with the government, enabling their concerns and challenges to be heard firsthand. To facilitate this, we’re supporting community organisations to advocate for their interests and work collaboratively with the government on mangrove restoration efforts.

Finally, what would you say to someone living along the Indian Ocean who wants to be part of the solution? What can they do?

Hirondina: Start by engaging with your local community to identify where you can contribute to community-driven initiatives. Collaboration is essential for sustainable solutions. Communities hold the most knowledge about the challenges facing the Indian Ocean and its people, so putting them first and building from their insights is the best way to make a meaningful impact.

Apoorva: No matter who you are – a farmer, fisher, or student – you can play a role in conserving the Indian Ocean’s health. Alongside engaging with your local community, here are two simple actions you can take today. First, avoid polluting and practice reducing, reusing, and recycling. Raise awareness among others about the impact of pollution on the ocean. Second, plant trees – especially mangroves – or support local restoration efforts. Small, consistent actions can make a big difference.

Learn more about AKF’s Indian Ocean Coastal Regeneration Initiative