Social Resilience and Coastal Livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa’s Blue Economy

Daniel O. Omokpariola (), Abigail M. Adelegan, Evans Osabuohien, Cecilia Agbanu-Kumordzi and Twizerimana Samuel
Additional contact information
Daniel O. Omokpariola: OCP (Office Chérifien des Phosphates) Africa, Department of Production and Technical
Abigail M. Adelegan: University of Uyo, Department of Agricultural Economics
Evans Osabuohien: DePECOS Institutions and Development Research Centre (DIaDeRC)
Cecilia Agbanu-Kumordzi: Department of Development Policy and Planning, National Development Planning Commission
Twizerimana Samuel: University of Rwanda, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Geoinformation Science

Chapter 11 in The Blue Economy in African Coastal Communities, Volume I, 2026, pp 277-308 from Palgrave Macmillan

Abstract: Abstract Social resilience is vital for sustaining coastal livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where communities face escalating climate, economic, and governance challenges. This chapter explores how social resilience influences the sustainability of coastal livelihoods and the ability of communities to harness opportunities within the Blue Economy. Drawing on case studies from Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa, and Madagascar, this study applies the Social-Ecological Systems (SES) and IPCC vulnerability frameworks to analyse exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, and transformative capacity. The findings reveal that high exposure to environmental stressors, socio-economic vulnerabilities, and weak governance structures significantly undermine coastal livelihoods. However, local adaptation strategies, community-based resource management, and inclusive policies enhance resilience. Social resilience enables diversification of livelihoods, fosters collective action, and promotes institutional flexibility, essential traits for thriving in the dynamic context of the Blue Economy. The Blue Economy offers promising avenues such as eco-tourism, marine renewable energy, and blue carbon markets, but equitable access remains contingent upon robust social systems. This study recommends strengthening local institutions, investing in climate-smart infrastructure, empowering marginalised groups, and fostering regional collaboration to build resilience. These measures can enable coastal communities to transform their socio-economic conditions, ensuring sustainable development and inclusive growth through active participation in Africa’s evolving Blue Economy.

Date: 2026
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:psmchp:978-3-032-25364-4_11

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.palgrave.com/9783032253644

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-25364-4_11

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Palgrave Studies in Maritime Economics from Palgrave Macmillan
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().