What is co-design, and why is it fundamental to ocean action for sustainable development? Where and how to start? What are the steps for bringing co-designed actions to life? With its new online training course on co-design, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030 (‘Ocean Decade’) aims to support the needs of its existing and future partners, guiding them towards successful execution of transformative ocean solutions.
The self-paced training course has been developed under the umbrella of the Ocean Decade Capacity Development Facility, in collaboration with the OceanTeacher Global Academy (OTGA) of the IOC/IODE Project Office and the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT). It is funded by the Government of Ireland through its Marine Institute, UNESCO/Flanders Fund-in-Trust (FUST), and Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
What is the objective?
The course aims to equip participants with a fundamental understanding and knowledge of co-design methodologies for the implementation of current Decade Actions and development of Decade Action proposals. Enriched with expert insights, quizzes, and diverse learning materials, the training will build ocean stakeholders’ practical skills for effective leadership in co-design processes and contribute to collaborative ocean research and policymaking.
How is it structured?
Six modules offer an extensive introduction to co-design, its concept, objectives, and the main phases of the process. Building on the learned co-design steps, participants will then be able to devise a joint vision and goals for co-design projects, and develop a conceptual Decade Action proposal. To turn ideas into action, the course provides the key elements needed to identify relevant stakeholders, formulate sustained engagement strategies, and design equal partnerships as well as impact monitoring plans for long-term success.
Who can participate?
To engage various ocean communities in co-design, the training course remains open and inclusive. It is dedicated to existing Decade Action leaders wishing to enhance their skills in co-design, stakeholders in ocean science, policy, and management who are planning to develop a Decade Action, and more broadly, for all ocean actors interested in this approach.
“Over the past four years, the Ocean Decade has been demonstrating that co-design is at the heart of all ocean initiatives, playing a transformative role in achieving our Vision 2030,” said Julian Barbière, Global Coordinator of the Ocean Decade. “Thanks to the expertise and support of our partners in designing and implementing this course, today we have expanded the co-design concept on a broader scale, bringing collaborative ocean research to a global audience.”
How does it work?
The 18-hour course is self-paced, allowing participants to progress at their own speed, and is free for everyone to join. Anyone can enroll and start their co-design experience beginning on 27 May 2024!
This course is part of continuous efforts undertaken by the Ocean Decade to promote co-design approaches, including Call for Decade Actions No. 06/2023 with a focus on the co-design of Decade Actions in Africa and Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and a pilot edition of the Ocean Decade Co-design training course for African stakeholders developed with ZMT in late 2022.
Learn more about co-design in the Ocean Decade in this publication.
Access more details about the course and registration on OceanExpert.
For more information, please contact:
Ocean Decade Communications Team (oceandecade.comms@unesco.org)
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About the Ocean Decade:
Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (‘the Ocean Decade’) seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyse new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem. The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’. The Ocean Decade provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system, and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN General Assembly mandated UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade.
About the UNESCO-IOC:
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO-IOC) promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the ocean, coasts and marine resources. The IOC enables its 150 Member States to work together by coordinating programmes in capacity development, ocean observations and services, ocean science and tsunami warning. The work of the IOC contributes to the mission of UNESCO to promote the advancement of science and its applications to develop knowledge and capacity, key to economic and social progress, the basis of peace and sustainable development.
