IOC Sub Commission for Africa and Adjacent Island States

31/03/2026

🔵As part of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, we contribute to a global mission: turning ocean science and knowledge into action.

IOC is the UN’s lead body for ocean science, coordinating 152 Member States to advance ocean observations, tsunami warning systems, capacity development, ocean literacy, and the UN Ocean Decade.

To explore the full breadth of IOC’s work and stay connected to global ocean action, follow IOC’s official channel — where knowledge, cooperation, and global collaboration come together to support a healthier ocean 👉🏻(https://www.facebook.com/IocUnesco/)

09/02/2026

Ever wondered how early‑career ocean professionals from can gain the skills, confidence, and global exposure needed to drive real impact back home?

Here’s an opportunity worth sharing.

The IOC Sub Commission for Africa and Adjacent Island States Secretariat is pleased to circulate the call for applications for the 2026 UN Nippon Foundation ( ) Strategic Needs Fellowship and the UNNF Ocean Governance Fellowship for — two of the most respected and transformative programmes for developing tomorrow’s ocean leaders.

In line with IOCAFRICA’s commitment to strengthening ocean science and governance capacity, and our role in advancing the UN Ocean Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, we recognise how critical these fellowships are for Africa's
🇲🇺 Mauritius 🇸🇨 Seychelles 🇰🇲 Comoros 🇨🇻 Cabo Verde + 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe + (🇬🇼 Guinea‑Bissau and 🇲🇬 Madagascar) — supporting countries to build the expertise needed to manage and protect their vast ocean spaces.

Running from early September to mid‑December 2026, these fellowships offer deeply customised training for government officials from , , and , equipping them with advanced knowledge in ocean affairs and the law of the sea.

The programme aims to:

🔹 Strengthen capacity for ocean and coastal governance

🔹 Address strategic and time‑sensitive national challenges

🔹 Equip officials taking on key leadership roles

🔹 Help States overcome critical capacity barriers

📌 Deadline to apply: 22 March 2026

📄 Apply here: [https://www.un.org/oceancapacity/content/unnf-ocean-governance-fellowship-sids]

A total of 10 fellowships will be awarded for the 2026 cohort. Successful applicants will be contacted individually, with final announcements by May 2026.

Please help share this across your networks — opportunities like this can transform careers, strengthen institutions, and build the next generation of ocean leaders across Africa’s .

07/02/2026

📢 Call for Expression of Interest

🌊 programme will carry out its 1st international cruise in early 2027, targeting the cold seeps in the West Indian Ocean (see target area proposed by the West Indian Ocean Working Group of the programme (Figure 1) and tentative cruise route (Figure 2).

🎯 Main objectives include:

• mapping and describing known methane seep sites,

• generating high-precision atlases for representative cold seep areas, ensuring a coverage area of at least 10 square kilometers for each target site,

• exploring and discovering new methane sites at all depths from the continental shelf zone to deep waters,

• characterizing the chemical and isotopic composition of gases (mainly methane) and fluids associated with tectonic seepage,

• applying advanced methodologies for detecting and verifying seeps from magmatic and tectonic activity,

• assessing the influence of sediment overlay on fluid migration and escape,

• characterizing the biological communities (microbial, benthic fauna, fish, etc.) around the seep sites and the surrounding area for connectivity and,

• evaluating the impact of these seepages on marine ecosystems and local geological processes.

🚢 Tentative cruise plan

⏰ Time: Last week of January 2027, right after the Digital DEPTH International Cruise on the Indian Ocean vents.

🗓 Duration:~30 days

🛳 R/V: Shen Hai Yi Hao or similar vessel equipped with RoV and/or HoV

🧭 Tentative cruise route:

Option ①: Embarking at Seychelles —— Madagascar cold seep (A) —— Mozambique cold seep (B) —— Tanzania cold seep (C) —— Disembarking at Mombasa.

Option ②: Embarking at Seychelles —— Comoros/Mayotte cold seep (A) —— Madagascar cold seep (B) —— Tanzania cold seep (C) —— Kenya cold seep (D) —— Disembarking at Mombasa.

🗺 Figure 1. Map of the West Indian Ocean countries, including South Africa

🗺 Figure 2: Tentative cruise route for the CliMetS WIO cold seep cruise

🤝 The cruise will be sponsored by Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) (Leading Institution of CliMetS) and The The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST (Otto P**n Center for Climate Resilience and Sustainability).

The cruise plan was drafted by the East African Working Group of the CliMetS, led by Prof. Agnes Muthumbi.

📩 Interested in participating?

If you're interested in participating in the upcoming cruise, please submit your EOI to Ms. Qundi ZENG at [email protected] by March 1, 2026.

The EOI shall briefly state:

• key scientific questions

• personal objectives for attending the cruise

• expected deliverables

• equipment required for achieving personal objectives

• supports already secured and supports required from the CliMetS programme

• a copy of the CV

06/02/2026

🌊🧬 Open call for participating sites: Join eDNA Expeditions 2026–2028!

👉 Are you a marine site manager, or do you work with marine sites that might be interested?

Led by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System and endorsed by the , eDNA Expeditions is building a global biomolecular observatory for marine life using the power of environmental DNA (eDNA).

From 2026 to 2028, the project will establish a global eDNA sampling network across 25 marine sites worldwide. Local teams will lead repeated sampling campaigns, supported by capacity development, complete eDNA workflows, and a rapid feedback loop that delivers results directly back to each site to support monitoring, management, and conservation needs. All biomolecular data collected will be openly shared through OBIS, contributing to global ocean knowledge.

🌟 Why participate?

🔹 Access new biodiversity data from your site
Receive high-resolution, ready-to-use eDNA results from your own samples, including detection of rare or invasive species, without the need for specialised biomolecular facilities.

🔹 Strengthen monitoring and assessments
Add a powerful biomolecular layer to existing monitoring efforts, refine management plans, and contribute confidently to biodiversity reporting at local, national, and global levels.

🔹 Engage local communities and inspire youth
Involve schools, visitors, and communities through simple, hands-on, scientifically robust eDNA sampling activities.

🏆 What participating sites receive
✔️ Training and guidance in eDNA sampling
✔️ Complete eDNA sampling kits
✔️ Access to site-level results and decision-ready insights via a co-designed dashboard
✔️ Visibility as part of a global biomolecular observatory
✔️ Connection to the eDNA Expeditions community

🛠️ What participating sites commit to
➡️ A three-year participation (2026–2028)
➡️ Organising 6–9 sampling campaigns
➡️ Following the project’s sampling protocol
➡️ Organising at least one community-engaged sampling event

📣 Interested in joining this global effort?
➡️ Learn more and express interest: [https://ednaexpeditions.org/]
Deadline to apply: 15 February 2026

05/02/2026

We are pleased to share that Mr. Ibukun Adewumi, Head of the Sub Commission for Africa and Adjacent Island States, will moderate the second panel of the Science Café on Ocean Governance, taking place tomorrow, Friday, 6 February 2026.

Mr. Adewumi will lead the panel discussion on Building interfaces between researchers and policymakers to translate UNOC Recommendations into concrete actions, bringing together leading experts to explore pathways for impactful ocean governance.

📍 Science Café: Ocean Governance

🗓 Friday, 6 February 2026 | 6:00 p.m.

🔗 Hybrid event – join live: [https://webinaire.numerique.gouv.fr/meeting/signin/invite/73447/creator/42466/hash/3f6973b85968851d2c3445cab6177f7170f758d7]

16/12/2025

🌊 Uniting for the Ocean: FUTURO Launches Transformative Research Programme Under the UN Ocean Decade

How can we safeguard West Africa’s vital marine ecosystem? Nearly 70 experts from Africa and Europe gathered in Senegal to launch , an ambitious transdisciplinary research programme endorsed by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and part of the SEAWARD Africa programme.

Co-led by IOC Sub Commission for Africa and Adjacent Island States and Geomar, the decade project will feature a year-long expedition starting in 2029 and a pioneering co-design approach that brings together science, policy, and local communities.

As part of this initiative, has launched a Call to Action through the Saly Declaration, adopted by nearly 70 experts, outlining urgent steps for sustainable ocean management via science, policy, and community collaboration.

📣 Be part of the solution! Explore the Saly Declaration and learn how you can contribute to safeguarding West Africa’s coastal waters for future generations.

Learn more: https://www.ioc-africa.org/news-updates/433-launch-of-the-futuro-research-programme-a-collaborative-effort-to-study-and-protect-west-africa-s-marine-ecosystem.html

11/12/2025

This week, the African Ocean Decade Taskforce is meeting in person to reflect on, assess, and synthesize the progress made in implementing the Ocean Decade Africa Roadmap and the umbrella SEAWARD Africa Programme.

The focus over the coming days includes:
🔹 Reviewing achievements and lessons learned in the five years of Decade implementation
🔹 Developing strategies, structures, and partnerships to accelerate impact
🔹 Drafting a two-year operational workplan and a partnership engagement strategy
🔹 Strengthening collaboration with existing Ocean Decade structures, including , /DCOs, and
🔹 Advancing discussions on the governance framework for the Decade Coordination Office for Africa

This meeting marks a pivotal moment for shaping the future of ocean science and sustainable development across the continent.

The Taskforce invites partners, institutions, and stakeholders for collaboration. Together, we can drive transformative ocean science solutions across Africa and its adjacent island states.

09/12/2025

IOC Sub Commission for Africa and Adjacent Island States is delighted to invite you to a special screening of at the University of Nairobi, a powerful and visually stunning documentary that immerses you in the wonders of the deep.

In this remarkable film, celebrated broadcaster and filmmaker David Attenborough reflects on how his lifetime has unfolded alongside the great age of ocean discovery. Through spectacular sequences of coral reefs, kelp forests, and the vast open ocean, he reveals why a healthy ocean is essential to keeping our planet stable and flourishing.

With breathtaking, immersive cinematography, the documentary showcases the beauty of life beneath the waves while exposing the urgent challenges facing our ocean, from destructive fishing practices to mass coral bleaching. Yet it remains a story of hope, highlighting inspiring examples from around the world and reinforcing Attenborough’s greatest message: the ocean can recover to a state more vibrant than anyone alive today has ever witnessed.

🎥 Watch the Trailer: [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5J7aP2FYH4 ]

📍 Venue: Manu Chandaria Hall, UoN Towers – 6th Floor
📅 Date:15 December 2025
🕒 Time: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

05/12/2025

IOC Sub Commission for Africa and Adjacent Island States-IOCAFRICA is proud to share the official report of the 13th WIOMSA Scientific Symposium.

In September 2025, IOCAFRICA joined Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA), Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, and the Nairobi Convention to convene one of the most significant ocean science gatherings ever held in the Western Indian Ocean.

The result: 1,290 participants from 43 countries, united by a shared purpose, advancing knowledge, cooperation, and practical solutions for our region’s ocean challenges.

The newly released report provides a clear assessment of the region's current state and its future direction. It highlights:

🔹 Stronger links between science, policy, and community knowledge across priority themes, including biodiversity monitoring, blue carbon, marine spatial planning, and regional data systems.

🔹 A powerful youth presence, with Early Career Ocean Professionals making up 60% of all delegates, bringing new energy and grounded, forward-looking perspectives.

🔹 Community-driven approaches that show how local stewardship, traditional knowledge, and lived experience continue to anchor sustainable ocean governance.

🔹 Actionable recommendations for upcoming regional processes, including Nairobi Convention COP 12 and Ocean Decade Africa Roadmap implementation.

For the IOC Sub Commission for Africa and Adjacent Island States-IOCAFRICA, this report is more than a record; it is a working document that will inform ongoing collaboration, strengthen decision-making, and support the momentum built in Mombasa.

📘 To access the report, visit: https://lnkd.in/dqqS7ky3

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

03/12/2025

Do you want to deepen your expertise and play a role in Africa’s blue economy transformation?

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB), in partnership with Shanghai Ocean University-SHOU invites qualified African nationals to apply for the 2026 SHOU Scholarship Programmes.

📍 Study Location:
Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

🎓 Programme Types:

✅Summer School Programmes

✅Graduate Programmes: Master’s and PhD

🔗 Learn more and apply:

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Shanghai Ocean University (SHOU) invite interested and qualified African nationals to apply for the 2026 SHOU Scholarship Programmes.

03/12/2025

One Ocean, One Collaborative Future. WIOMSA is delighted to release the official report for the 13th WIOMSA Scientific Symposium!

Convening over 1,290 participants from 43 countries, advanced regional collaboration and strengthened ties between ocean science, policy, and practice for sustainable ocean governance. The report details the Symposium’s goals, key discussions, outcomes, and future priorities for the Western Indian Ocean region.

To access the report, visit:https://blog.wiomsa.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/13th-WIOMSA-Symposium-report-2025-1.pdf

Nairobi Convention UN Ocean Decade UNESCO Ocean IOC Sub Commission for Africa and Adjacent Island States Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute Embassy of Sweden in Dar es Salaam IUCN Bloomberg Philanthropies WWF-Kenya WWF Madagascar Wetlands International JNCC