As part of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the Government of Flanders has approved USD 1.1 million in funding for a new Capacity Development Facility within the framework of the UNESCO/Flanders Fund-in-Trust (FUST).
To achieve the Ocean Decade’s transformative vision of supporting the generation and use of ocean science for sustainable development, it is important that all actors – regardless of geography, gender or generation – are able to actively participate and benefit. Fostering and strengthening the necessary skills and expertise for the co-design, co-delivery and uptake of ocean knowledge in decision making and policy are key.
The new Ocean Decade Capacity Development Facility, supported by the Government of Flanders (Kingdom of Belgium), will build on the long-standing experience of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) in capacity development. Through a flexible and demand-driven approach, the Facility will support the capacity strengthening needs of individuals and institutions involved in the Ocean Decade.
Capacity development is a tenet of the Ocean Decade: both an underlying theme and requirement for all 10 Decade Challenges, and significantly, Challenge 9 (“Skills, knowledge and technology for all”) which specifically refers to capacity development. All initiatives that are submitted for endorsement as Decade Actions, no matter which Challenge they focus on, must demonstrate how they contribute to capacity development, with particular emphasis on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs).
The new Facility will support actors wishing to engage in the co-design of future Decade Actions, as well as the existing Decade Actions who may require further support on targeted capacity development initiatives:
- Determinar las necesidades prioritarias de desarrollo de capacidades de los actuales y futuros proponentes de acciones del Decenio
- Llevar a cabo iniciativas para satisfacer las necesidades de desarrollo de capacidades identificadas a través del Mecanismo.
- Apoyo a la facilitación de una Comunidad de Prácticas Decenio del Océano centrada en el desarrollo de capacidades.
The Facility will integrate specific activities to mobilize resources and establish partnerships with philanthropic partners, governments and industry to secure financial and in-kind contributions to operational costs and thus ensure its sustainability throughout the Ocean Decade and beyond.
“The Government of Flanders and IOC/UNESCO have been collaborating in the field of ocean science for over 20 years now, and this Facility is yet another milestone,” said Julian Barbière, Head of the Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section of IOC/UNESCO and Global Coordinator of the Ocean Decade. “We thank the Government of Flanders for their generous contribution in recognition of the support that is required for capacity development, which will contribute greatly to the Ocean Decade movement – and beyond, for long-term skills.”
The project will be implemented over an initial period of 24 months under the strategic guidance of a Steering Group. The Flanders Marine Research Institute (VLIZ) is one of the key project partners and a long-standing supporter of IOC/UNESCO, and will provide in-kind resources to help develop capacity strengthening initiatives.
The Ocean Decade Capacity Development Facility builds on the earlier commitments of the Flemish Government in supporting, through the UNESCO/Flanders Fund-in-Trust (FUST), IOC/UNESCO projects which are Ocean Decade endorsed, such as OceanTeacher Global Academy, e-DNA Expeditions, PacMAN and Ocean InfoHub.
Para más información, póngase en contacto con
Decenio del Océano Equipo de Comunicación(oceandecade.comms@unesco.org)
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Acerca de Decenio del Océano:
Proclamada en 2017 por la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas, la Década de las Naciones Unidas de Ciencias Oceánicas para el Desarrollo Sostenible (2021-2030) ('la Decenio del Océano') busca estimular la ciencia y la generación de conocimientos sobre los océanos para revertir el deterioro del estado del sistema oceánico y catalizar nuevas oportunidades para el desarrollo sostenible de este enorme ecosistema marino. La visión de Decenio del Océano es "la ciencia que necesitamos para el océano que queremos". Decenio del Océano proporciona un marco de convocatoria para científicos y partes interesadas de diversos sectores con el fin de desarrollar el conocimiento científico y las alianzas necesarias para acelerar y aprovechar los avances en las ciencias oceánicas para lograr una mejor comprensión del sistema oceánico, y ofrecer soluciones basadas en la ciencia para alcanzar la Agenda 2030. La Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas encomendó a la Comisión Oceanográfica Intergubernamental (COI) de la UNESCO la coordinación de los preparativos y la ejecución del Decenio.
Acerca del COI/UNESCO:
La Comisión Oceanográfica Intergubernamental de la UNESCO (COI/UNESCO) promueve la cooperación internacional en ciencias del mar para mejorar la gestión del océano, las costas y los recursos marinos. La COI permite a sus 150 Estados Miembros trabajar juntos coordinando programas de desarrollo de capacidades, observaciones y servicios oceánicos, ciencias del mar y alerta contra tsunamis. El trabajo de la COI contribuye a la misión de la UNESCO de promover el avance de la ciencia y sus aplicaciones para desarrollar el conocimiento y la capacidad, claves para el progreso económico y social, base de la paz y el desarrollo sostenible.
