The　introduction　of　oxygen　vacancies　(Ov)　has　been　regarded　as　an　effective　method　to　enhance　the　catalytic　performance　of　photoanodes　in　oxygen　evolution　reaction　(OER).　However,　their　stability　under　highly　oxidizing　environment　is　questionable　but　was　rarely　studied.　Herein,　NiFe-metal–organic　framework　(NiFe-MOFs)　was　conformally　coated　on　oxygen-vacancy-rich　BiVO4　(Ov-BiVO4)　as　the　protective　layer　and　cocatalyst,　forming　a　core–shell　structure　with　caffeic　acid　as　bridging　agent.　The　as-synthesized　Ov-BiVO4@NiFe-MOFs　exhibits　enhanced　stability　and　a　remarkable　photocurrent　density　of　5.3±0.15　mA　cm−2　at　1.23　V　(vs.　RHE).　The　reduced　coordination　number　of　Ni(Fe)-O　and　elevated　valence　state　of　Ni(Fe)　in　NiFe-MOFs　layer　greatly　bolster　OER,　and　the　shifting　of　oxygen　evolution　sites　from　Ov-BiVO4　to　NiFe-MOFs　promotes　Ov　stabilization.　Ovs　can　be　effectively　preserved　by　the　coating　of　a　thin　NiFe-MOFs　layer,　leading　to　a　photoanode　of　enhanced　photocurrent　and　stability.　©　2020　Wiley-VCH　GmbH