The Fifth Session of the IOC Group of Experts on Capacity Development (GE-CD) was held in Paris, France from 27 to 29 February 2024.
The GE-CD discussed the progress in its work plan from the 4th session and in line with the instructions from the 32nd session of the IOC Assembly (2023), following its adoption of the IOC CD Strategy 2023-2030 together with the promotional and outreach plan to promote the visibility of the new CD Strategy. The global and regional programmes and projects, and regional subsidiary bodies also reported on their activities in support of the implementation of the IOC CD strategy and their respective CD work plans. The Group also discussed the outcomes of the CD regional webinar series and IOC CD Needs Assessment Survey, including its next edition for 2024-2025, as well as other proposals and new initiatives such as the Ocean Training Internships and the Biodiversity Data Hub for the High Seas.
Among other things, the Group decided to:
The meeting was attended by some 30 participants including members of the IOC Group of Experts on Capacity Development, invited experts, observers, IOC staff, and members of the CD Secretariat. More information about the workshop can be found here. The report of the meeting can be found here.
Through its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC/UNESCO), UNESCO has launched the prototype of a web-based tool for developing country professionals to discover capacity development opportunities around the world in ocean science and management.
Accessing the Ocean CD-Hub platform, individuals can easily search for information on available capacity development opportunities, saving precious time and increasing the accessibility of many so far little known valuable opportunities (e.g., trainings, fellowships, internships, grants, etc.) offered by national, regional and global organisations from all over the world.
The Ocean CD-Hub also aims to identify synergies and potential partnerships between organizations providing capacity development opportunities to avoid duplication of efforts and mutualize resources.
“As a central repository to easily search for available CD opportunities, the Ocean CD-Hub aims to contribute to a more accessible and equitable capacity development for ocean science and management.” - Peter Pissierssens, IOC CD Coordinator.
It can also make it easier for national governments to report on progress and availability of capacity development opportunities in the context of global efforts such as the Sustainable Development Goals, and the challenges of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).
Are you an Early Career Professional, Manager, Scientist, Educator, or other category of ocean stakeholder?
Discover and explore our OCEAN CD-Hub: https://OceanCD.org
For further enquiries, please contact: Peter Pissierssens (p.pissierssens@unesco.org) and Johanna Diwa (jp.diwa@unesco.org)
More than a hundred participants from various international organizations, governments, universities and other stakeholder groups joined the online launch of a new global search platform for capacity development opportunities in ocean science and management on 3 February 2023. The session was opened by Peter Pissierssens, IOC CD Coordinator and Head of the IODE Project Office.
Watch this recording as Johanna Diwa-Acallar of the IOC CD Secretariat walks you through the features and functions of the Ocean CD-Hub!
The third meeting of the Steering Group for the OceanTeacher Global Academy (SG-OTGA) was held from 21-23 November 2022 in Oostende, Belgium.
This hybrid meeting reviewed the activities of the 17 OTGA Regional and Specialized Training Centres. During 2022, a total of 29 online training courses were delivered by the global network with over 2200 applications received and more than 1300 learners enrolled in courses which were delivered in English, Spanish and Portuguese. In addition, 17 online training courses were hosted by the OTGA e-learning platform on behalf of partner organizations.
The SG-OTGA prepared a work plan for the 2023-24 period and elected Mr Udaya Bhaskar (RTC India) and Mr Aidy Muslim (RTC Malaysia) as Co-chairs for the next intersessional period.
More information about the meeting can be found here. The report of the meeting will be available here.