SOA TANZANIA

What SOA TANZANIA does

SOA Tanzania (legal name: Sustainable Ocean Alliance Tanzania) is a youth-led, Dar es Salaam-based non-governmental organization registered in 2020 under Tanzania's NGO Act No.24 of 2002, operating as an official national hub of the international Sustainable Ocean Alliance. The organization delivers marine ecosystem restoration, youth capacity building, and sustainable blue economy programs across Tanzania's coastal regions, with a programmatic portfolio that includes the Mikoko Yetu mangrove restoration project (42,500+ mangroves planted since 2021 across 5,635 adopted hectares in Bagamoyo), the Grass Underwater Project for seagrass meadow restoration (0.5 sq km under active restoration in Bagamoyo), the Ocean Bootcamp training program, the Tanzania Ocean Explorer scuba certification program, the Msimbazi River Clean initiative (2.5+ tons of pollution removed), and advocacy campaigns covering plastics, deep seabed mining, and high seas governance.

The organization's underlying technical approach relies on nature-based solutions grounded in peer-reviewed marine science: it adopts the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association's (WIOMSA) seagrass restoration guidelines, applies three community-based mangrove restoration methods (nursery planting, direct planting, and natural regeneration), and integrates participation in voluntary blue carbon credit markets through Mikoko Yetu. Technical capacity is reinforced by board and partner affiliations with the University of Dar es Salaam Institute of Marine Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Marine Parks and Reserves Tanzania, Tanzania Forest Service Agency, and IOC-UNESCO.

Commercially, SOA Tanzania is structured as a grant-funded NGO rather than a revenue-generating enterprise, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Its revenue mechanics consist of donations, grants, in-kind contributions, and emerging participation in voluntary carbon credit markets. The go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, mobilizing 885+ young ocean leaders and 377+ coastal community members through grassroots organizing, annual Ocean Bootcamps (2021-2025), and the East African Youth Ocean & Climate Resilience Bootcamp & Capacity Building Program 2026, which extends operations regionally into Kenya with Z Zurich Foundation funding and Casina Farms co-organization. Distribution is delivered through direct community engagement, partnership-based programming with government agencies and academic institutions, and an integrated digital presence across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, TikTok, and Threads, supplemented by Mailchimp email outreach and international conference participation (UN Ocean Conference, COP events, Our Ocean Conference).

Name

SOA TANZANIA

Legal name

Sustainable Ocean Alliance Tanzania

Website

https://soatanzania.or.tz

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SOA Tanzania is a youth-led, Dar es Salaam-based NGO (founded 2020) restoring marine ecosystems (mangroves, seagrass) in Tanzania while training young ocean leaders and coastal communities in conservation and sustainable blue economy practices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wetlands, Peatlands & Mangrove Restoration (Blue Carbon Restoration) (EUABABAG), Avoided Conversion & Ecosystem Protection (REDD+, Blue Carbon Conservation) (EUABABAC), Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI), Climate Adaptation & Resilience Programs (BPADALAD)

Keywords

• Ocean conservation
• Mangrove restoration
• Seagrass restoration
• Blue economy programs
• Youth capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Dar es Salaam

HQ country

Tanzania

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Relies on donations, grants, and funding from organizations and individuals who support ocean conservation mission. Accepts in-kind contributions, direct donations, and funding to support mission.
2. Blue Economy Investment: Invests in sustainable blue economic activities conducted by local coastal communities and youth, creating potential revenue streams through community enterprise development.
3. Voluntary Carbon Credit Market: Mikoko Yetu project empowers communities in sustainable blue economy practices including participation in voluntary carbon credit market.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

SOA Tanzania delivers youth-led ocean conservation programs in Tanzania focused on restoring mangrove forests (Mikoko Yetu), seagrass meadows (The Grass Underwater Project), and coral reef ecosystems, while running capacity-building initiatives such as the Ocean Bootcamp and Tanzania Ocean Explorer Program. It also conducts community ocean cleanups (e.g., Msimbazi River Clean), advocacy campaigns on ocean policy issues, and supports sustainable blue economy livelihoods like seaweed farming, mangrove beekeeping, and participation in voluntary carbon credit markets.

Product overview

SOA Tanzania operates as a youth-led NGO focused on ocean conservation and sustainable blue economy, offering multiple programs and initiatives rather than a unified technology product. The organization runs several distinct programs including The Grass Underwater Project (seagrass restoration), Mikoko Yetu Project (mangrove restoration), Our Ocean Bootcamp Program (youth capacity building), Tanzania Ocean Explorer Program (diving training), Our Ocean Campaigns (advocacy), and Our Ocean Cleanup Projects. These programs work together to advance marine ecosystem restoration, youth empowerment, and community-led conservation across Tanzania's coastal regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mikoko Yetu Project Community-driven mangrove restoration project in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, restoring degraded mangrove forests across 5,635 hectares while empowering coastal communities in sustainable blue economy practices and voluntary carbon credit market participation.
• The Grass Underwater Project Blue carbon ecosystem restoration project focused on seagrass meadow conservation, monitoring, and restoration in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, adopting 0.5 square km of seagrass meadows and educating coastal community and youth members on seagrass roles.
• Our Ocean Bootcamp Program Capacity-building training program equipping Tanzanian youth with skills in ocean conservation, climate action, and sustainable blue economy innovation.
• Tanzania Ocean Explorer Program Specialized training program providing swimming, free diving, and scuba diving certification to equip Tanzanian youth for marine conservation, research, and blue economy careers.
• East African Youth Ocean & Climate Resilience Bootcamp & Capacity Building Program 2026 Six-month regional fellowship program combining expert-led virtual sessions, mentorship, peer learning, and immersive field experiences in Tanzania and Kenya for young changemakers focused on ocean and climate resilience.
• Our Ocean Cleanup Projects Community-led ocean cleanup initiatives targeting waste management and behavioral change to protect coral reefs and marine species along Tanzania's coast.
• Msimbazi River Clean Conservation cleanup project targeting the Msimbazi River in Dar es Salaam to remove pollution and educate communities on waste management; has removed 2.5+ tons of pollution.
• Our Ocean Campaigns Advocacy and education initiatives covering Medical Waste & Marine Pollution, High Seas (BBNJ), Global Plastics Treaty, Climate & Ocean Justice, and Deep Seabed Mining.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,635+ hectares of mangrove forest adopted for protection
• +5 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, supporting and minor.

• Sustainable Ocean Alliance (International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOA Tanzania is an official hub/national chapter of Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA), an international NGO. This affiliation connects Tanzanian youth to the global ocean movement, providing access to international networks, resources, best practices, and collaborative opportunities for ocean conservation.
• Tanzania Forest Service Agency (TFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency collaborating on mangrove restoration and forest management in Bagamoyo. Supports the Mikoko Yetu project through regulatory guidance and conservation coordination.
• Beach Management Units (BMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal coastal governance bodies working with SOA Tanzania on community-based marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, and ecosystem protection initiatives.
• Casina FarmsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the East African Youth Ocean & Climate Resilience Bootcamp & Capacity Building Program 2026. Contributes to program design, implementation, and regional outreach across East Africa.
• Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides scientific guidelines and methodologies for seagrass restoration adopted by The Grass Underwater Project. Supports evidence-based conservation approaches.
• Marine Parks and Reserves TanzaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment agency managing marine protected areas. SOA Tanzania's Hub Leader serves as Marine Conservation Warden. Collaborative projects include Msimbazi River Clean Up.
• University of Dar es Salaam - Institute of Marine SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research expertise, graduate education (MSc in Marine Sciences), and tutorial assistance. Hosts community perception research on mangrove ecosystems.
• Sokoine University of AgriculturesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution contributing board member Dr. Liberatus Lyimo (lecturer, PhD in Marine plant physiology and ecology) and Senior Lecturer Mariam Issa Hamisi for research collaboration.
• Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC UNESCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO body contributing board member Ms. Laura Meyer as Stakeholder Coordination Officer for UN Decade of Ocean Science. Provides global ocean governance connections.
• DOTANK PlussupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability agency supporting organizational capacity building, impact management, and project design. Director Nikos Therapos serves on SOA Tanzania board.
• Blue HopeminorOthersOrganization referenced alongside SOA Tanzania with combined logo presence on website.
• Oasis TechnologiessupportingTechnology or IntegrationWebsite hosting and technology infrastructure provider powering SOA Tanzania's digital presence (noted as website developer/host).

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Blue Ventures: International marine conservation organization operating community-based programs in Madagascar, Tanzania, and other coastal regions. Comparable in combining marine restoration, blue economy development, and community-led conservation, but operates at significantly larger scale.
• Rare: Global conservation organization running coastal fisheries and ocean stewardship programs across developing countries including East Africa. Comparable on coastal community engagement and behavior-change-driven marine conservation.
• Conservation International Tanzania: Tanzania operations of global conservation NGO focused on coastal ecosystem protection including mangroves. Comparable on marine habitat restoration and community-based blue economy, with deeper institutional resources.
• Wildlife Conservation Society Tanzania: Tanzania operations of international WCS working on marine protected area management and coastal ecosystem conservation. Comparable on marine protected area partnerships with government agencies in Tanzania.
• WWF Tanzania: Tanzania office of a global conservation NGO working on marine and coastal ecosystem protection. Comparable mission around marine protected areas and community engagement, but with substantially larger resources and broader geographic mandate.

Direct peers

• Pwani Watch: Tanzanian community-based organization working on coastal environmental monitoring and marine pollution. Comparable as a domestic coastal NGO combining citizen science, pollution advocacy, and community engagement.
• Marine Conservation Tanzania (Sea Sense): Tanzania-based marine conservation NGO focused on coastal community engagement and marine species protection around Mafia Island. Directly comparable as a Tanzanian coastal NGO combining marine conservation, community livelihoods, and citizen science.
• Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA International): Parent international NGO of which SOA Tanzania is a national hub. Directly comparable as the umbrella network providing global ocean conservation resources, mentorship, and advocacy platforms to youth-led national chapters.

Emerging players

• Mangrove Action Project: International NGO specializing in community-based mangrove restoration using CBEMR methods. Comparable on the technical methodology side, with board member Paul Matonya having led CBEMR assessments for them in Tanzania.
• Mikoko Pamoja: Kenyan community-based mangrove carbon credit project providing a tested blueprint for monetizing mangrove restoration through voluntary carbon markets — directly comparable revenue model to SOA Tanzania's Mikoko Yetu blue carbon aspirations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SoahubTz
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcT3QdhEjsBHYD2C5aqzLVQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/soatanzania
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tanzania-soa-hub
• Instagraminstagram.com/soatanzania_
• TikToktiktok.com/@soa.tanzania

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SOA TANZANIA