Formal registration as an NGO granted Western Indian Ocean Mangrove Network (WIOMN)  essential funding access, legal identity, legitimacy, and governance needed to fulfill its mission. Although founded in 2011 with members across 10 countries, WIOMN lacked formal NGO status, limiting its potential and stakeholder recognition. To address this, WWF, IUCN, and Wetlands International formed a consortium providing technical and financial support, enabling WIOMN’s successful registration in 2021. Since then, the network secured international project funding and was appointed by the Nairobi Convention to lead the Regional Mangrove Action Plan (RMAP) development.