PROBLUE: Healthy Ocean, Healthy Economies, Healthy Communities

Publications

Single-Use Plastics in ASEAN : Developing a Coordinated Policy Approach, November 2025
Extended Producer Responsibility for Plastic Packaging in Selected ASEAN Member States, November 2025
Reducing Marine Plastics Pollution in Georgia, September 2025
Blueing the Black Sea: Turning  the Tide of Pollution, Regional Marine Pollution Diagnostics (Vol 1),  July 2025
Blueing the Black Sea: Turning the Tide of Pollution, Summary of Country Marin Pollution Diagnostics (Vol 2), July 2025
Lost at Sea : Combating Abandoned, Lost, and Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG), November 2024
Waves of Plastic: A Snapshot of Marine Plastic Pollution in South Asia (English), August 2024
Unlocking Financing to Combat the Plastics Crisis - Opportunities, Risks, and Recommendations for Plastic Credits (English), June 2024
Egypt - Country Environmental Analysis : Promoting Circular Economy and Blue Economy for Environmental Sustainability, June 2024
The World Bank Group and the Marine Plastics Agenda, June 2024
Municipal Solid Waste Cost Calculation Technical Guidelines for Low and Middle-Income Countries, April 2024
Toward a National Single-use Plastics Roadmap in Vietnam: Strategic Options for Reducing Priority Single-use Plastics, April 2022 (available in Vietnamese)
Tangled Seas: A Snapshot of AMay 2024bandoned, Lost, or Otherwise Discarded Fishing Gear in South Asia, September 2023 
Behavior Change in Solid Waste Management - A Compendium of Cases, September 2023
West Africa Circular Economy: Realizing the Potential of Plastics, July 2023
The Economics of Plastic Use and Cleanup Priorities for West African Coastal Countries, July 2023
Plastic Pollution in Coastal West Africa - Synthesis, July 2023
The Costs of Environmental Degradation from Plastic Pollution in Selected Coastal Areas in the United Republic of Tanzania, April 2023
Vietnam: Plastic Pollution Diagnostics, July 2022
Plastic Waste Management in Rwanda: An Ex-post Policy Analysis, May 2022
Plastic-Free Coastlines: A Contribution from the Maghreb to Address Marine Plastic Pollution, April 2022
The Role of Extended Producer Responsibility Schemes for Packaging towards Circular Economies in APEC, May 2022
Toward a National Single-use Plastics Roadmap in Vietnam: Strategic Options for Reducing Priority Single-use Plastics, April 2022 (available in Vietnamese)
Get Clean and Green – Solid and Plastic Waste Management in Lao PDR, April 2022
Where Is the Value in the Chain? Pathways out of Plastic Pollution, March 2022
Plastic Waste Material Flow Analysis for Thailand, February 2022
The Circular Plastics Economy in Mozambique: Challenges and Opportunities, February 2022
The Circular Plastics Economy in Mozambique: Challenges and Opportunities, February 2022
Towards a Multisectoral Action Plan for Sustainable Plastic Management in Bangladesh, December 2021
Market Study for Vietnam: Plastics Circularity Opportunities and Barriers, September 2021
Bridging the Gap in Solid Waste Management: Governance Requirements for Results, July 2021
Vietnam: Plastic Pollution Diagnostics, June 2021 (available in Vietnamese)
Market Study for Malaysia: Plastics Circularity Opportunities and Barriers, March 2021
Market Study for Thailand: Plastics Circularity Opportunities and Barriers, February 2021
Marine Pollution in the Caribbean: Not a Minute to Waste, March 2019

Webpages

World Bank Group and the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution Process
How the World Bank Group is addressing marine plastic pollution

Briefs

Plastic Credits at a Glance, November 2024
PROBLUE Impact Stories: Decarbonizing Maritime Shipping Drives Results for People and Planet, May 2024
PROBLUE Impact Stories: Sierra Leone: Inspiring Innovation to Reduce Single-Use Plastics in Tourism and Beyond, May 2024
Circularity in Plastics in South Africa - 10 Brief Series, June 2022
Technologies and Solutions to Manage Plastic Waste in Small and Remote Islands: Using the TOPIC Toolbox for Islands in Malaysia, May 2022
Plastic-Free Coastlines: Addressing Marine Plastic Pollution in Morocco and Tunisia, May 2022

Factsheets

The World Bank Group's Support to the Global Plastic Pollution Agenda, February 2024 

Infographics

Supporting Action Against Marine Plastic Pollution: Overall Outcomes of MENA Blue Technical Support in Morocco and Tunisia, May 2022
Addressing Plastic Pollution is Part of Tunisia’s Vision to Develop the Blue Economy, May 2022
Addressing Marine Plastic Pollution will Help Morocco’s Blue Economy, May 2022

Multimedia

Sierra Leone Endeavors to Reduce Single Use Plastics in the Tourism Sector, June 2025
PLAST Toolkit User Training, June 2024
How Is Plastic Pollution Linked to Poverty and Development?, November 2023
Plastic voices, July 2023
How is the World Bank Addressing Marine Pollution in Africa?, November 2022
A Single Use Plastics Free Maldives: Turning the Tide of Waste into Wealth, July 2022
Towards a national single use plastics roadmap in Vietnam: strategies and options for reducing priority single-use plastics, July 2022
Tackling Single-Use Plastic Pollution and Solid Waste in the City of Lagos With a Strong Ecosystem, June 2022
Plastic Free Coastlines: Regional Overview, Morocco and Tunisia, May 2022
ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris in the ASEAN Member States (2021-2025), May 2021
Meet the winners of the Plastic Circularity Innovation Challenge!, May 2021

Blogs

Money matters: Advancing Earth Day's goals with a global plastics treaty, April 2024
Lebanon: Baseline survey reveals alarming marine litter crisis, July 2023
Plastic pollution in MENA oceans: Transboundary problem in need of transboundary solutions, June 2023
Small islands in Southeast Asia: Awash in a sea of plastic, June 2022
MENA joins forces to stop marine plastic pollution, March 2021
Fighting against a tide of marine plastic as COVID-19 worsens problem, December 2020
Plastics: The Coronavirus Could Reset the Clock, April 2020

Feature Stories

“We are losing our treasure”: the West African coastal areas tackle plastic waste, July 2023
Maldives Is Turning Waste to Wealth, Energizing Youth, to Safeguard its Future, July 2022
Making Lagos a Pollution Free City: Solving the threat one solution at a time, June 2022

Press Releases

A Roadmap to Stop Single-Use Plastic Pollution in Vietnam, July 2022
Sustainable Plastic Management is Key To Achieve Green Growth for Bangladesh, December 2021
World Bank Contest Brings Creative Solutions to Combat Plastic Pollution in Bangladesh, May 2021
ASEAN Member States Adopt Regional Action Plan to Tackle Plastic Pollution, May 2021

Other Materials

eBook: WACA Plastics eBook

What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050 

Publications

Winds, Waters, and Watts - How Colombia’s Ports Can Fuel a Green Hydrogen Economy, July 2025
Port Reform Toolkit, July 2025
Boosting Viet Nam’s Sustainable Marine Economy: A Public Expenditure and Investment Review - An Overview, 2025
Creating a Green Marine Fuel Market in South Africa, September 2024
A Blue Transformation for Pacific Maritime Transport: Overarching Regional Transport, June 2023
Distributing Carbon Revenues from Shipping, June 2023
Offshore Wind Roadmap for Azerbaijan, June 2022
Offshore Wind Roadmap for the Philippines, April 2022
Banking on Protected Areas: Promoting Sustainable Protected Area Tourism to Benefit Local Economies, June 2021
Pakistan Blue Carbon Rapid Assessment: Policy Recommendations for the Revision of Nationally Determined Contribution, May 2021
The Role of LNG in the Transition Toward Low- and Zero-Carbon Shipping, April 2021
Potential of Zero-Carbon Bunker Fuels in Developing Countries, April 2021
Ocean Governance Summaries, March 2021
The Changing Wealth of Nations 2018: Building a Sustainable Future, January 2018

Webpages 

Strengthening Capacity on Ocean Governance

Briefs

FAQs: The World Bank’s Blue Economy Program and PROBLUE: Supporting integrated and sustainable economic development in healthy oceans
Program Overview: PROBLUE: Supporting Integrated and Sustainable Development in Healthy Oceans, September 2022
Brochure: BEDF | The Blue Economy Development Framework: A Toolkit for A Sustainable Ocean Economy (in French | in Spanish)

Guidance Note

Blue Tourism in Islands and Small Tourism-Dependent Coastal States : Tools and Recovery Strategies

Multimedia

Why Do We Need Financing for the Blue Economy in Africa?, November 2022
Riding the Blue Wave: Applying the Blue Economy Approach to World Bank Operations, February 2022

Blogs

Pricing emissions from shipping: Where should the money go?, June 2023
Creating sustainable ports in the Caribbean: A blueprint for Blue Ports, June 2023
Global ocean governance is critical as climate hangs in the balance, May 2022
Protecting oceans from climate change impacts, November 2021
International Transport Costs: Why and How to Measure Them? January 2021
Enabling Ecotourism Development in Cambodia, September 2020
Zero-emission Shipping: What’s in it for Developing Countries? February 2020

Feature Stories

What you need to know About Oceans and Climate Change, February 2022
Charting a Course for Decarbonizing Maritime Transport, April 2021

Press Releases

New World Bank Research Finds Major Opportunities in Decarbonizing Maritime Transport, April 2021

World Bank Announces New Global Fund for Healthy Oceans, September 2018

Briefs

PROBLUE Impact Stories: Innovative Fisheries Insurance: Making the Fisheries Sector in the Caribbean Resilient to Climate Events, May 2024 
BE4RAP: Blue Economy for Resilient Africa, Solutions Papers, November 2023
The World Bank’s Blue Economy Program and PROBLUE: Supporting integrated and sustainable economic development in healthy oceans (FAQ)
Assessment and Options Analysis of Climate and Nature Financing Instruments and Opportunities: Summary Note on Financing for Climate and Nature, May 2023 
Assessment and Options Analysis of Climate and Nature Financing Instruments and Opportunities, May 2023 
PROBLUE and Biodiversity, May 2023

Fact Sheets

Gender, Marginalized People and Marine Spatial Planning (in French | in Portuguese) 
Climate-Informed Marine Spatial Planning: Supporting Mitigation and Resilience (in French | in Portuguese)
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Marine Spatial Planning: Supporting Biodiversity and Healthy Ecosystem Services in Oceans and Coasts (in French | in Portuguese)
PROBLUE and Climate Change
PROBLUE’s Engagement with the Private Sector
BEDF | The Blue Economy Development Framework: A Toolkit for A Sustainable Ocean Economy (in French | in Spanish)

Infographics

Blue Carbon in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), 2024
Oceans for Prosperity (LAUTRA), 2023
Blue Carbon Rapid Assessment for Pakistan, June 2021

Guidance Notes

Applying Economic Analysis to Marine Spatial Planning
Marine Spatial Planning for a Resilient and Inclusive Blue Economy 
Volume 1 | Volume 2
Guidance Note for a Blue Public Expenditure Review
Blue Economy Data and Tools Catalog
Blue Public Expenditure Review

Webpages

Marine Spatial Planning for a Resilient and Inclusive Blue Economy Toolkit, November 2022
Integrating Landscape, Seascape, and Natural Capital Approaches for People, Planet, and Prosperity
World Bank: Blue Economy
Blue Economy for Resilient Africa Program

Multimedia

La zona costera en Colombia requiere de ayuda urgente, June 2024
Colombia, una potencia bioceánica sostenible, June 2024
Strengthening Coastal Resilience: West Africa Coastal Areas Program in São Tomé and Príncipe (Portuguese version), May 2024
Protecting Biodiversity in Ghana’s Wetlands: Planning, Land Titling, and Ecosystem Restoration, May 2024
Women in the Caribbean's Blue Economy, March 2024
Opportunities in the Caribbean's Blue Economy, March 2024
Blue Economy Resurgence: Revitalizing Ghana's Mangroves and Coastal Livelihoods, (5 minute version) June 2023
Blue Economy Resurgence: Revitalizing Ghana's Mangroves and Coastal Livelihoods, (8 minute version) June 2023
Blue Economy for Resilient Africa Program, November 2022
What Are the Pros and Cons of Marine Spatial Planning in Africa?, November 2022
PROBLUE: Supporting the Development of Integrated, Sustainable and Healthy Marine & Coastal Resources, June 2020
Peter Thomson: Message to the Financial Community, October 2020

Blogs

Impulsar la gobernanza azul para proteger las costas de Colombia, June 2024
Restoring Guinea’s mangroves for coastal resilience, April 2023
Nature’s high returns, December 2022
Charting a green, resilient, and inclusive development path for Madagascar, November 2022
Unleashing the blue economy of the Eastern Caribbean, July 2022
Pakistan’s Coastal Ecosystem and Opportunities to Tackle Climate Change, June 2022
Using Marine Spatial Data to Inform Development Work and Public Policies, March 2022
Investing in nature makes good economic sense, October 2020
Why We Need a Blue Recovery, June 2020
The Potential of the Blue Economy, July 2018
Innovation Drives Seychelles Blue Economy Approach, March 2018

Press Releases

World Bank Announces New Blue Economy Financing Program for African Countries, November 2022
World Bank Provides US$56M to Support Sustainable Blue Economy Growth in the Eastern Caribbean, May 2, 2022
World Bank Report: Investing in Protected Areas Reaps Big Rewards, June 2021

Publications

Harnessing Fishing Net Recycling in Coastal Bangladesh, 2024
Five Questions on Blue Social Protection
Technical Report: Understanding the Nexus of Mangroves and Women in Ghana, March 2023
Technical Report: Understanding the Nexus of Mangroves and Women in Guinea-Conakry, March 2023
Gender Integration in the Blue Economy Portfolio: Review of Experiences and Future Opportunities, October 2022

Fact Sheets

Gender, Marginalized People and Marine Spatial Planning (in French | in Portuguese)
PROBLUE and Gender Equality

Blogs

The intersecting needs of women and mangroves in coastal Guinea, April 2023
Understanding the women mangrove nexus in coastal Ghana, April 2023

Multimedia

Blue Economy Resurgence: Revitalizing Ghana's Mangroves and Coastal Livelihoods, (5 minute version) June 2023
Blue Economy Resurgence: Revitalizing Ghana's Mangroves and Coastal Livelihoods, (8 minute version) June 2023
A Single Use Plastics Free Maldives: Turning the Tide of Waste into Wealth, July 2022
Meet the winners of the Plastic Circularity Innovation Challenge!, May 2021

Feature Stories

Fisheries Under Pressure - from Ghana to the Caribbean, March 2023
Maldives Is Turning Waste to Wealth, Energizing Youth, to Safeguard its Future, July 2022
How social protection can support people and sustain fisheries, June 2022
Innovative Fisheries Insurance Benefits Caribbean Fisherfolk, September 2019

Press Releases

World Bank Contest Brings Creative Solutions to Combat Plastic Pollution in Bangladesh, May 2021

Marine Pollution

Where Is the Value in the Chain? Pathways out of Plastic Pollution, March 2022
Executive Summary: Where Is the Value in the Chain? Pathways out of Plastic Pollution
Key Messages: Where Is the Value in the Chain? Pathways out of Plastic Pollution 
Summary: The Plastics Policy Simulator (PPS)
Summary: The Plastic Substitution Tradeoff Estimator

Oceanic Sectors

Strengthening Capacity on Ocean Governance
Blue Tourism in Islands and Small Tourism-Dependent Coastal States : Tools and Recovery Strategies

Seascape Management

Applying Economic Analysis to Marine Spatial Planning
Marine Spatial Planning for a Resilient and Inclusive Blue Economy 
Volume 1 | Volume 2
Guidance Note for a Blue Public Expenditure Review
Blue Economy Data and Tools Catalog
Blue Public Expenditure Review