Jerry MANG'ENA

Jerry Mang’ena is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Action For Ocean (AFO)—formerly Aqua-Farms Organization—a youth-led nonprofit headquartered in Dar es Salaam with regional offices in Kilwa and Tanga. Jerry’s work sits at the intersection of community-led fisheries governance, ocean restoration, and inclusive blue-economy growth. AFO blends science, innovation, and indigenous knowledge to achieve practical results: engaging 13,000+ coastal community members, restoring 70+ hectares of marine ecosystems, and helping establish Marine Managed Areas governed through participatory structures.

Jerry co-created two flagship approaches: the CLEAR Model (Coastal Livelihood Entrepreneurship for Adaptation & Resilience) and the Africa Fair Seaweed Finance Facility, which aims to mobilize USD 50 million in blended finance to scale climate-smart seaweed farming and value addition. Early traction includes ~USD 1 million raised and 1,150 farmers engaged toward fairer, more resilient supply chains. Beyond AFO, he supports seaweed value-addition and aquaculture ventures that create dignified jobs while reducing pressure on wild fisheries.

A frequent contributor to regional and global blue-economy forums, Jerry is currently pursuing an Executive MBA at the African Leadership University focused on Conservation Business. He is driven by a simple idea: when communities lead and benefit, oceans recover—and economies follow.