Blueing the Black Sea Program (BBSEA)

The World Bank’s Blueing the Black Sea Program (BBSEA) aims to support the creation of a shared regional framework for sustainable management of the Black Sea. The program is implemented jointly with the governments of Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Türkiye, and Ukraine. The BBSEA program cooperates with the Black Sea Commission (BSC) established under the Bucharest Convention, the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) and collaborates with the Common Maritime Agenda (CMA) for the Black Sea, and the European Commission (EC). The BBSEA Program is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), PROBLUE, Quality Infrastructure Investment (QII), and the Jobs Umbrella Multi-Donor Trust Fund. 

The BBSEA Program focuses on economics, marine pollution and ecosystem restoration, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, blue jobs, regional cooperation, and capacity building. The program is comprised of investment projects, new research and knowledge development on pollution, climate change, and the economics of the Black Sea, and regional engagement and partnerships to bring solutions to scale. Through this multifaceted approach together with partners the World Bank supports the countries in developing the foundations for a sustainable Blue Economy in the region.

The Black Sea

The Blue Economy plays a crucial role in fostering sustainable growth across the Black Sea region. Countries rely on healthy coastal environment for fisheries and tourism industries. The health of the sea is the health of its inhabitants, starting from bacteria and its microscopic algae, all the way up to fish, dolphins and humans. According to the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, marine capture fisheries in the Black Sea region produce an estimated total revenue of $350 million annually and support more than 20,000 jobs excluding pre- and post-harvest labor. In the past 20 years, tourist arrivals in the Black Sea region grew faster than the world average.

Over the past two decades, however, the Black Sea has become one of the most polluted seas in Europe. An environmental survey funded by the European Union and the United Nations Development Program showed that the Black Sea has twice as much floating plastic as any other sea in Europe. Using various sampling techniques, the study identified 145 pollutants in water, fish and mollusks. To date, the economic loss from environmental degradation has not been properly estimated but can be significant, especially for coastal communities. 

Pressures from rapid growth in agriculture, coastal urbanization, fisheries, and tourism have exacerbated water pollution in the Black Sea, including:

• Eutrophication caused by excessive nutrients deposited from agriculture activities, chemical pollution, invasive species, ineffective wastewater treatment, industrial hot spots, and atmosphere are among the chief threats to the marine environment in the Black Sea. Eutrophication leads to algal blooms, which can produce toxins harmful to marine life and humans. When these algae die and decompose, the oxygen consumption during decomposition results in hypoxic conditions that create "dead zones" where most marine life cannot survive.
• Plastics pollution causes huge damage to the environment, human health, and the economy. Beaches littered with plastic waste are less attractive to tourists. Plastic pollution can damage fishing gear and reduce fish populations.  Greenhouse gas emissions all along the plastic lifecycle cost billions of dollars each year. Two thirds of plastic waste comes from single use plastics but less than 10% of all plastic waste is recycled.  Interventions are needed at every stage of the plastic lifecycle to stop the leakages and increase circularity.
• Climate change makes the Black Sea increasingly vulnerable to higher temperatures and the risks of waterborne diseases as well as coastal flooding and sea level rise. This not only threatens coastal infrastructure and populations, but also the economic foundations and food security.
• Coastal water quality degradation leads to immediate loss of economic opportunities and diminishes wealth in the long run. Therefore, protecting the Black Sea is critical as it is an important share of each Black Sea country's natural capital. 

Areas for capacity development include: 

• Blue economy knowledge: At both the national and regional levels, there is a significant gap in understanding what the Blue Economy encompasses and how it can contribute to long-term development. This gap persists among policymakers, private sector actors, and the public. Without clear knowledge, it is difficult for stakeholders to implement strategic initiatives that foster sustainable practices or for the private sector to explore innovative solutions in ocean-based sectors.
• Blue economy diversification: Many countries in the Black Sea region are highly dependent on a few traditional sectors, such as tourism, fisheries, and extractive industries. This narrow focus limits their ability to adapt to economic fluctuations and environmental challenges. Diversification into sectors like renewable marine energy, sustainable aquaculture, marine biotechnology, and eco-tourism offers significant potential for sustainable growth. However, the absence of enabling policies and financial incentives hampers progress in these sectors. 
• Private sector engagement: Despite growing interest, the private sector in many of these regions is not fully engaged in Blue Economy initiatives. Barriers include insufficient knowledge of market opportunities, regulatory uncertainties, and lack of access to finance. Furthermore, key industries like shipping, fisheries, and tourism, which could lead the transition to a sustainable Blue Economy, often operate in isolation from regional cooperation frameworks. 

In 2019, recognizing these challenges, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Türkiye, and Ukraine endorsed the European Commission’s Common Maritime Agenda (CMA) for the Black Sea. The CMA includes a focus on the Blue Economy as a key element of the Black Sea and its coastal areas' sustainable economic development. CMA's main goals are: (1) healthy marine ecosystems; (2) a competitive, innovative, and sustainable economy for the Black Sea; and (3) fostering investment in the regional Blue Economy. 

Blueing the Black Sea (BBSEA) GEF Regional Project

The BBSEA GEF Regional Project aims to mobilize the private sector in Georgia, Moldova, Türkiye, and Ukraine to reduce pollution in the Black Sea. 

The key areas of intervention include:

• Promoting eco-innovations to address eutrophication by enabling public sector institutions, development partners, and potential investors to identify, verify, and invest in innovative pollution prevention and reduction solutions.
• Supporting the countries in aligning their regulatory frameworks with international good practice and innovative instruments for managing pollution from agriculture and aquaculture.
• Building capacity of national institutions and experts through knowledge exchange in pollution management.

The project is financed by a $6.4 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) on behalf of the countries. It is aligned with the GEF 7 International Waters (IW) Focal Area and the regional Black Sea Strategic Action Plan, and will engage the Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea and the Black Sea Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.

The BBSEA GEF Regional Project is the first investment building block of the BBSEA Program to develop specific regional stakeholder consultation mechanisms, promote best practices and knowledge exchange within and outside of the Black Sea region, and accelerate pollution reduction efforts in the Black Sea countries. The stakeholder consultations held in 2021 in Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Türkiye, and Ukraine, solicited feedback on the project design to address climate change impacts and marine pollution. These virtual events gathered nearly 500 participants from across the region and the world.

Although the project aims to benefit all Black Sea countries through knowledge exchange and standards building, its national-level activities are focused on Georgia, Moldova, Türkiye, and Ukraine. The project's ambition is, however, to progressively include all Black Sea countries through additional financing and the collaborative structures of regional organizations and partnerships.

Restoring Ecosystems for Marine Pollution Prevention Project (Re-MAP)

The Moldova Restoring Ecosystems for Marine Pollution Prevention Project (Re-MAP) focuses on restoring ecosystem processes directly, resulting in expanded areas of healthier ecosystems (restored functionality) and a broader range of generated ecosystem services through reforestation, forest maintenance, wetland restoration and other Nature Based Solutions along the Dniester River Basin. The project aims to address the impacts of increased nutrient runoff from agricultural activities, erosion, wetland conversion, poor natural resource management, and the degradation of forests and pastures, all exacerbated by climate change. These issues lead to environmental degradation within the country and contribute to marine pollution and the eutrophication of the Black Sea. Re-MAP will increase landscape resilience and provide opportunities to optimize ecosystem goods and services for communities. The project will also increase carbon sequestration and improve land management practices, both crucial for enhancing the resilience of ecosystems in the face of climate change challenges.

World Bank-Financed Projects 

The BBSEA Program is implemented in synergy with projects and analytical services supported by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), including:

• Romania Integrated Nutrient Pollution Control
• Romania: Rural Pollution Prevention and Reduction Project
• Türkiye: Resilient Landscapes Integration Project  

Financing and investments alone cannot solve the challenges in the Black Sea. Innovative ideas and successful experiences from other countries to tackle the ongoing and emerging crises are also needed to move faster towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

The World Bank supports new knowledge products to improve environmental health of the Black Sea through collaboration and public engagement. This technical assistance is facilitating knowledge generation discussing marine pollution and its effects on key economic and human development outcomes. The portfolio of new reports and innovations has informed ongoing projects, strategies, and policies of the Black Sea countries and their institutions.

Highlighted Publications

The Cost of Coastal Zone Degradation in Georgia: A Tool for the Coastal Zone Adaptation and the Nationally Determined Contributions

The Cost of Coastal Zone Degradation in Georgia: A Tool for the Coastal Zone Adaptation and the Nationally Determined Contributions estimates the impact of degradation that occurred in 2017 as a result of pollution, flooding, coastal erosion, and agricultural soil and forest degradation in eight of coastal Georgia’s municipalities. This study is a first attempt to estimate the cost in monetary terms of environmental degradation of Georgia’s coastal zone. Its estimates provide an indication of the real magnitude of damage and of the urgency of action needed to protect Georgia’s coastal zone.

Bulgaria: Toward Blue Economy Development

Bulgaria: Toward Blue Economy Development aims to inform Bulgaria’s vision and strategy for transitioning to a Blue Economy and highlights development risks and charts a way forward, factoring in future challenges and drivers to substantially advance Bulgaria’s policy and investment alignment with the European Blue Economy initiatives. The report reviews the challenges and opportunities that are central to the transition of Bulgaria toward sustainable use of ocean and maritime resources for economic growth and improved livelihoods and jobs, and the lasting health of ocean and maritime ecosystems. It takes a closer look at sector opportunities as a mix of interconnected and complementary economic activities and identifies the challenges and opportunities in shaping Blue Economy based on a holistic ecosystem approach to the management of coastal and marine resources.

Partnerships are foundational to the World Bank's work and the Blueing the Black Sea (BBSEA) Program and vital to realizing the goal of catalyzing investments, deepening knowledge, and creating a shared regional framework for sustainable management of the Black Sea. The BBSEA program recognizes the transformative role of partnerships and the resources they provide. Key partners involved with BBSEA’s efforts include:

• Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) is a close partner to the BBSEA project and shares its vision for a sustainable economic development in the region. In support of the project, BSEC plays a critical role in promoting knowledge sharing and advice on the structure and implementation of the project. Furthermore, the project will take advantage of BSEC’s established platforms and high regional trust to strengthen regional dialogue and capacity building, enhancing preparedness of governments and the private sector for pollution reduction efforts across Black Sea nations.
• The Common Maritime Agenda for the Black Sea (CMA for the Black Sea) is a sea basin initiative to enhance regional cooperation for achieving a sustainable Blue Economy in the Black Sea. It is developed in the broader framework of the Black Sea Synergy. The CMA for the Black Sea recognizes the need for a coordinated approach to address common maritime and blue economy challenges. It is the first initiative of its kind in the region, resulting from a bottom-up process initiated by the countries involved in and backed by the European Commission. CMA for the Black Sea is a unique cooperation framework for the Blue Economy, reinforcing regional dialogue between participating countries and stakeholders to jointly address the challenges and opportunities of blue economy sectors in the area, ensuring environmental sustainability while fostering growth and promoting blue economy projects.
• Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (the Black Sea Commission or BSC) via its Permanent Secretariat is the inter-governmental body established in implementation of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution, signed in Bucharest in April 1992, and ratified by all six legislative assemblies of the Black Sea countries in the beginning of 1994. Referred to as the Bucharest Convention, it is a basic framework of agreement and three Protocols on (1) control of land-based sources of pollution; (2) dumping of waste; and (3) joint action in the case of accidents (such as oil spills).
• Global Environmental Facility (GEF) is a multilateral family of funds dedicated to confronting biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, and supporting land and ocean health. GEF financing enables developing countries to address complex challenges and work towards international environmental goals. The partnership includes 186 member governments as well as civil society, Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth, with a focus on integration and inclusivity. GEF's $6.4 million grant under Blueing the Black Sea (BBSEA) GEF Regional Project aims to support the governments and the private sector in Georgia, Moldova, Türkiye, and Ukraine to reduce pollution in the Black Sea.
• Jobs Umbrella Multi-Donor Trust Fund finances activities and pilots, designed to deliver high-impact jobs solutions across countries. These solutions can be adapted to respond to the needs of various priority groups such as youth, women, the poor, and those living in conflict- affected areas.
• PROBLUE is a Multi-Donor Trust Fund, housed at the World Bank, that supports the development of integrated, sustainable and healthy marine and coastal resources. PROBLUE contributes to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) and is fully aligned with the World Bank’s vision to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. PROBLUE's work focuses on sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture; addressing marine pollution; sustainable development of key sectors such as tourism, maritime transport and off-shore renewable energy; and building government capacity to manage marine resources. Under the BBSEA Program, PROBLUE supports analytical work in aquaculture, plastic pollution, and blue economy industries such as tourism, and coastal ecosystems and resilience.
• The Quality Infrastructure Investment (QII) Partnership is collaborative effort between the World Bank and the government of Japan providing grant support to incorporate the QII Principles in World Bank infrastructure projects as well as raising awareness of the quality dimensions of infrastructure. QII Partnership supports research, analyses, and other activities shaping infrastructure investment projects in 75 countries. It also works in numerous infrastructure sectors, including digital technology, energy, transportation, urban infrastructure, and water.
• The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) provides infrastructure, procurement and project management services to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals responding to partners’ needs and helping increase the effectiveness of peace and security, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Under Blueing the Black Sea (BBSEA) GEF Regional Project, UNOPS, as the recipient and the implementing partner is working jointly with the World Bank, GEF and countries’ governments to help protect the Black Sea by reducing pollution and supporting sustainable development in the region.