Fahd Al-Guthmy
Program Director of Conservation Finance, WCS
Fahd Al-Guthmy’s career in marine conservation hasn’t followed the usual path. Unlike most of his colleagues at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), he doesn’t have a background in marine biology. Instead, he arrived via commercial banking, UN project management, and a string of academic achievements, including four degrees in business, governance, and environmental policy.
Now, as Programme Director for Conservation Finance at WCS, he leads the Miamba Yetu programme, an ambitious initiative working to protect coral reefs along the proposed transboundary coastline of Kenya and Tanzania, from Malindi to Dar es Salaam, including Zanzibar.
Fahd is not your typical environmentalist. But, as he explains, “this is not your typical grant-based program – it’s been a massive learning curve; not just for us, but for our partners, government, communities, and the private sector on the ground.” Helping Fahd navigate these challenges has been MERMAID; a tool which he describes as playing “a vitally important role” in the project.
From Pipeline to Profit: Incubating Reef-Positive Businesses
Launched under the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), the Miamba Yetu programme – meaning “Our Reefs” in Swahili – aims to bridge the divide between conservation and commerce. Its core mission is to identify and support businesses that can reduce threats to coral reefs while also generating sustainable revenue and delivering tangible benefits to communities. To achieve these aims, the program uses a three-pronged strategy:
1. Halting further degradation of resilient coral reef sites, particularly in marine protected areas (MPAs)and community Co-Managed Areas (CMAs);
2. Securing benefits for local communities through job opportunities, sustainable livelihoods, and gender equity approaches; and
3. Strengthening business performance, in order to demonstrate that conservation doesn’t come at the cost of the bottom line.
“We want to show businesses you can be both profitable and conservation-positive,” explains Fahd, who is working to develop a pipeline of ventures that demonstrate this dual benefit. This portfolio includes Sanivation, a wastewater-to-value treatment project in Malindi and Watamu; EcoWorld, a circular economy plastic recycling initiative also in Watamu; and the Zanzibar Seaweed Company, a state-owned off-taker that guarantees premium prices to seaweed farming communities.
A New Era of Monitoring: MERMAID's Expanding Role
As the Miamba Yetu programme develops over time, so too will its need for streamlined data management. Initially designed for ecological fieldwork, MERMAID – working in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme – has expanded to include financial and social reporting as a cornerstone of GFCR’s M&E work.
“MERMAID has been a blessing in disguise—except that it isn’t in disguise anymore,” Fahd says with a smile. “It helps us organize our work much, much better.”
At Miamba Yetu, the team has moved from scattered Excel files to the more centralized, user-friendly MERMAID platform. This makes it easier for them to input, compare, and visualize ecological, social, and financial targets and progress. Fahd has noticed a significant improvement in how the team works—especially when it comes to standardization and usability.
“The manual system before… it was torture,” remembers Fahd. “Indicators kept changing. Now we’ve got it down pat and covered. What I love about MERMAID is that it archives our data much better than Excel, and in a much more structured way.” When asked why other programs dealing with large amounts of ecological, social, and financial information should use it, he replies: “It's a standardized method of recording your data – why wouldn’t you want to use it?"
What I love about MERMAID is that it archives our data much better than Excel, and in a much more structured way.
Standardized, Streamlined, and Secure Data Reporting
An important milestone for the Miamba Yetu programme was the 2024 Annual Report for the GFCR. For the first time, Fahd and his team used MERMAID as the primary reporting tool, converting outputs into polished summaries and visualizations that met donor requirements. “It was our first full cycle with MERMAID and, honestly, I feel like I’m almost at the pro level now,” Fahd laughs. “Almost.”
With MERMAID, financial data is now recorded per project, allowing clear linkages between investment and outcomes. Fahd believes the diversity of benefits on offer are making a real difference: “There’s a clear distinction between the financial, ecological, and social reporting now; on the financial side, it’s anchored to the business, and that’s essential.”
With MERMAID, Fahd and the Miamba Yetu team can now track their progress towards the ambitious targets they have set for 2030:
The Miamba Yetu Project: 2030 Targets
104,000 ha coral reefs under conservation and sustainable management
US $70 million in private investment, returns & co-financing
51,000 community members benefitting from sustainable livelihoods
9 reef-positive local businesses supported by GFCR funding
From Boardroom to Reef: Fahd’s Conservation Journey
Fahd’s background in international finance might seem like an unlikely foundation for coral reef conservation, but it’s exactly what makes his perspective so valuable. As he explains, “I’m not a marine scientist, but I’ve found my place; I try to bridge the gap between the business world and the conservation world.” Born and raised in Mombasa, Fahd’s connection to the ocean runs deep. “I grew up in a boat. My dad loved deep-sea fishing – he even named his boat after me: Fahd. Those trips made a big impression.”
Today, he still swims and snorkels regularly, supporting WCS field teams in ecological surveys and waste sampling. And these experiences are just as impactful as those first fishing trips with his father. “Looking down into coral reef sites is like looking up at the stars,” he reflects. “It’s vast and mysterious; you realize how different it can be between degraded ‘boneyards’ and vibrant MPAs.” That sense of awe continues to fuel Fahd’s commitment to his project.
Looking Ahead: Turning Potential Into Progress
With nine reef-positive businesses being considered for investment in Kenya and Tanzania, a robust monitoring and evaluation framework in place, and new partnerships forming across sectors, Miamba Yetu is ready to transition from groundwork to impact. “Going forward,” explains Fahd, “the biggest change is going to be how project beneficiaries and stakeholders are engaged, and how data is collected and shared.” In MERMAID, the program has a powerful platform to track its progress, tell its story, and support a new generation of reef-positive businesses. These data can then be used to analyze outcomes and plot the next steps for coral reefs and coastal communities.
“As we move toward 2030,” says Fahd, “MERMAID will be our one-stop shop for data, for reporting, and for showing the world what’s possible when finance and conservation truly come together.”