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

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.