SEA Coastal Leaders Programme
Ocean and coastal decisions move fast, and coastal communities are too often missing from the rooms where priorities, funding, and commitments get set. The SEA Coastal Leaders Programme closes that gap. We back trusted local leaders already driving change, equipping them to carry real community experience into those rooms and to strengthen solutions that communities lead and own.
2026 Cohort
This inaugural programme brought together eight coastal leaders from Southeast Asia. They worked as a cohort and travelled together to the Our Ocean Conference (OOC) 2026 in Mombasa, Kenya, carrying the voice of their communities to the global stage. Over six months leading up to OOC, they sharpened their value proposition, exchanged experience with counterparts across Asia and Africa, and built pathways to accelerate their impact at home through organisational development support, peer-to-peer exchanges, and co-created multi-stakeholder partnerships. Meet the delegates and their work below.
2027 SEA Coastal Leaders Programme
Coming soon, stay tuned!
Meet the 2026 SEA Leaders Cohort!
Osaias Soares,
Timor Leste
The SEA Coastal Leaders Program at OOC 2026 provided an exceptional platform to connect with inspiring coastal leaders, engage directly with donors, and strengthen partnerships for marine conservation. The experience has created lasting opportunities for collaboration on climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and combating IUU fishing in Timor-Leste and across the region.
Eveline Kurniati, Indonesia
Far more than just a networking event, the SEA Coastal Leaders Program gave us a collaborative space to turn high-level dialogue into practical partnerships. It has anchored a powerful peer network committed to lifting each other up and empowering local communities
About SEA Coastal Leaders Program Supporters
The 2026 SEA Coastal Leaders program was delivered by Market Edge as an initiative of the COAST Facility - Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition. This activity was funded by UK's Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office and implemented by DAI Global and a consortium of international organizations.