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Today the Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine Ecosystems (ASCLME) Project joined 17 other organisations in forming an African Centre for Capacity-Building in Ocean Governance (AfriCOG). Together they will ensure that African nations are equipped with the
personnel and scientific information they need to meet their national
and international obligations to support sustainable development,
safeguard the marine and coastal environment and ensure maximum benefits
are derived from the goods and services offered by the oceans to
sustain their people and economies.
Dr. David Vousden, AfriCOG’s Interim Coordinator and Director of the
UNDP supported GEF financed Agulhas and Somali Current Large Marine
Ecosystems Project said that “AfriCOG represents a rare opportunity for
organisations across Africa to join together in creating integrated
learning and capacity-building programmes and in fostering research
links, ongoing research programmes and ensuring sound management advice
for managers and decision-makers”. With regard to the need for a body
like AfriCOG, he noted that this was important “because it is clear from
all the ocean governance initiatives undertaken over the past decade or
two that effective management of the oceans and marine ecosystems is
not achievable – particularly in Africa – until we can strengthen
capacity across many sectors, including research, monitoring,
prediction, translation in to policy and management advice and actually
carrying out management, compliance and enforcement activities.”
Considering
the importance of capacity building, Dr. Vousden said “Training is a
vital part of this, and can take place at both institutional and
personal levels. Institutional training is vital as many organisations
recognise the need for this type of training but are not sure how to
proceed, or lack the expertise needed to create sound training
programmes. Ensuring institutional training, rather than just training
individuals is vital, because as people become more trained, they are
often lost from research into more lucrative - but usually unrelated -
government or private sector employment opportunities. Making certain
that ongoing training programmes exist and creating sustainable
employment opportunities for trained individuals is vital to ensuring
we’re able to meet the information needs resource managers and policy
makers have, and in creating rewarding and fulfilling careers and
research for marine and coastal governance experts. The partners in
AfriCOG recognise these challenges and will work together and leverage
international support to meet them head on”.
The initiative enjoys strong regional and international support.
Mr.
Sloans Chimatiro, Senior Fisheries Advisor of the NEPAD Planning and
Coordination Agency noted that “NEPAD is very pleased to see this
important Pan-African initiative for capacity building and training
moving ahead in its development through this foundational signatory
process” and that AfriCOG “could support the African Union Commission
and NEPAD in delivering a Pan-African Fisheries Policy Framework and
Reform Strategy”.
The UNDP’s Head of Water and Ocean Governance
Programme, Andrew Hudson, said that “Millions of people in Africa are
directly dependent on coastal and marine resources for their well-being
and food security. These coastal communities are also highly vulnerable
to economic, climatic and social change”. He further elaborated that
AfriCOG would “develop experience and resource networks that build
capacity for pro-poor growth and human development; piloting and
replication of new management approaches and best practices;
institutional level rather than just individual training; and the
overall promotion of science, technology and innovation as important
drivers of growth and sustainable development”.
Wendy
Watson-Wright, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO
congratulated the partners and expressed their support for the
initiative. “It is with considerable interest and strong enthusiasm that
we at the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO take
note of today’s important proceedings and this landmark signature by the
founding institutions to establish and develop an African Centre for
Capacity-Building and Ocean Governance. IOC-UNESCO now looks forward to
seeing AfriCOG grow and expand to include more academic and research
institutes throughout the continent of Africa and its island states,
thereby strengthening its remit to be truly pan-African in its outreach
and forging ever stronger partnerships throughout the region and,
indeed, throughout the world”.
Indeed, partnerships and
cooperation are the cornerstones of AfriCOG, which recognises that
considerable expertise exists within the region, but that it needs to be
better coordinated, ensure long-term institutional capacity is
maintained, and build scientific consensus and management advice to
advance the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources
throughout Africa. AfriCOG’s partner organisations will support not only
training but also ongoing research to answer key research questions
that affect the people and economies of the regions, most notably around
the effects of climate change, ecosystem variability, trends and
patterns and ecosystems goods and services.
The 18 founding partners
include the University of Fort Hare, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University, Rhodes University, University of Cape Town, Department of
Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries of the University of Dar es Salaam,
University of Namibia, World Maritime University, International Ocean
Institute, Benguela Current Commission, Oceanographic Research
Institute, the NRF’s South African Environmental Observation Network and
South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South African
National Biodiversity Institute, Bayworld Centre for Research and
Education, Nelson Mandela Bay Maritime Cluster, International Union for
Conservation of Nature, GEF International Waters Learning Exchange and
Resource Network and the GEF financed UNDP supported Agulhas and Somali
Current Large Marine Ecosystems Project.
The signature ceremony was conducted at the iconic seafront Winchester Mansions Hotel in Sea Point, Cape Town.
About AfriCOG
The
African Centre for Capacity-Building in Ocean Governance (AfriCOG)
seeks to foster partnerships and support for training and strengthening
Pan-African capacity and skills in Marine Resource Management and Ocean
Governance and to enhance and encourage the use of trained human
resources in the sustainable management and use of coastal and marine
goods and services for the long-term security and welfare of associated
countries and communities.
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