The Coastal Ocean Environment School in the Western Indian Ocean (COES-WIO) is a regional school strengthening ocean science capacity across East Africa and beyond.
about us
A Regional Platform for Ocean Science Excellence
COES-WIO was initiated by University of Michigan Professor Brian Arbic and our three 2025 Kenyan partner institutions, building upon our successful Coastal Ocean Environment Summer School in Nigeria and Ghana (COESSING), which has been run for one week every year since 2015. What started as a national initiative quickly evolved into a regional programme following strong interest from institutions and early-career professionals across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region.
The inaugural 2025 school was co-hosted in Mombasa, Kenya from 21st to 27th of September 2025 by:
See the report from Technical University of Mombasa on COES-WIO 2025
The 2026 school was co-hosted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from 20th to 26th of September 2026 by:
Additional regional and international collaborators included:
our objectives
COES-WIO now serves as a growing network of institutions and professionals committed to strengthening marine science capacity in the region, building networks and advancing knowledge.
our impact
The 2025 and 2026 COES-WIO programmes achieved:
Countries represented
- 1.USA
- 2.Nigeria
- 3.Tanzania
- 4.Spain
- 5.Kenya
- 6.Canada
- 7.Colombia
- 8.France
- 9.Ghana
- 10.Germany
- 11.South Africa
- 12.Madagascar
- 13.Somalia
- 14.Mozambique
- 15.Seychelles
- 16.Mauritius
- 17.Comoros
- 18.Zambia
- 19.Poland
- 20.Egypt
Beyond training, COES-WIO fosters lasting professional networks that will contribute to future research collaboration, policy engagement, and sustainable marine management throughout the Western Indian Ocean region.
programme themes
Five Core Areas of Hands-On Training
Our programme themes deliver practical skills for ocean professionals.
Training focuses on real-world challenges across the Western Indian Ocean.
Small-Scale Fisheries, Mariculture & Post-Harvest Management
Strengthening sustainable fisheries systems and improving coastal livelihoods.
Chemical & Physical Oceanography
Advancing understanding of ocean dynamics and coastal processes.
Climate Change & Physical Processes
Exploring climate variability and its impact on marine and coastal systems.
Marine Pollution & Plastics
Addressing marine debris and pollution challenges affecting ecosystems and communities.
Ecological Survey Techniques & Data Management
Equipping participants with field methodologies and analytical tools for marine ecosystem monitoring and research.
our funders
Supported by US National Science Foundation for the first two (2) years (2025 and 2026).
Supplemental funders
affiliated summer schools
COASTAL OCEAN ENVIRONMENT SUMMER SCHOOL IN NIGERIA AND GHANA (COESSING)
Sister school (since 2015) strengthening ocean and environmental sciences capacity across West Africa.
GULF OF GUINEA OCEAN SCIENCES SUMMER SCHOOL (GGOSSS)
A summer school for Francophone ocean scientists in West Africa.
umbrella organization
Global Ocean Corps
A UN Ocean Decade Program supporting exchange modalities such as COESSING, COES-WIO , GGOSSS and other affiliated actions.
youtube content
Talks, recaps, and participant stories from the COESSING School channel, including COES-WIO.
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Contact us
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