Progress report for
Promote and Facilitate the Conduct of Marine Scientific Research (MSR) under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
Achievement at a glance
Focusing on SIDS, two regional deliveries of the training course developed by DOALOS/OLA in cooperation with the IOC of UNESCO and with the financial and other support from the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) were held respectively, for the Pacific SIDS in Busan, Republic of Korea, 7-11 December 2015, in cooperation with The Pacific Community (SPC) and for the Caribbean region, in Castries, Saint Lucia, 2-5 May 2017, in cooperation with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).<br>In total, 46 individuals were trained, including technical staff involved in MSR coordination and implementation at the governmental level and scientists involved in scientific and data assessment and management issues relating to MSR projects.
<br>The feedback from participants on both courses was very positive. In particular, participants unanimously indicated that they would recommend the course to colleagues.
<br>The vast majority of participants agreed that the training had facilitated the development of new relationships and networks. The course was seen as a platform to enhance the relationship and interactions between scientists and coastal States’ technical and legal policy officers from the region, as well as other stakeholders such as resource persons, representatives from researching States from developed countries who participated in both deliveries. The latter have expressed interest in participating and contributing to further deliveries
<br>Based on the experience gathered from the first two deliveries, as well as the positive feedback received, it is estimated that the impact of the training will be long lasting including through trainees training others at the national level. This training programme is thus viewed as a highly effective and beneficial programme to be continued beyond the expected third delivery, including in cooperation with partners such as the International Seabed Authority and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat.
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Challenges faced in implementation
The partnership between DOALOS/OLA and IOC/UNESCO consists of a needs-driven training programme focusing on the legal, technical and scientific aspects relating to marine scientific research (MSR) to be delivered through training courses at the regional level, in the various small island developing States (SIDS) regions, as well as through an Internet Portal for marine scientific research professionals. This training programme is viewed as a highly effective and beneficial programme that should be continued beyond the expected third delivery. The main challenge will thus be to secure funding for further deliveries.<br>During the two deliveries, there were some logistical challenges including delayed deliveries and confirmation of itineraries, last minute cancellations, etc. There were also challenges relating to finding the best period for delivery to ensure in particular, availability of international and regional resources persons.
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Beneficiaries
The direct beneficiaries of the regional training programmes were government officials and scientists from both coastal and researching States, including technical staff involved in MSR coordination and implementation at the governmental level and scientists involved in scientific and data assessment and management issues relating to MSR projects. Across the two deliveries, individuals from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cook Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America took part in the regional training programmes.
<br>In addition to the benefits mentioned above, the partnership is expected to strengthen the capacity of States to implement UNCLOS and thus promote and facilitate the conduct of marine scientific research and effective dissemination of data, samples and research results. As an inclusive programme, the partnership is also expected to facilitate interactions between Government officials and scientists, including as representatives from developing coastal States and researching States. Furthermore, it is expected to lead to an improved knowledge of the marine environment. By applying the acquired knowledge to management and decision making, this programme can make a major contribution to sustainable development. For that reason, and considering the trickling effect resulting for example from trainees training other trainers, a broader range of stakeholders including at the level of local communities would emerge as indirect beneficiaries of this programme.
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Actions
DOALOS/OLA in cooperation with IOC/UNESCO and with the financial and other logistical support from the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), developed this training course to strengthen the capacity of developing countries in particular SIDS to conduct MSR under UNCLOS. Stakeholders from the regions involved joined the aforementioned partners to assist in tailoring the training course to their needs and specificities and in the delivery of the course. International and regional experts in their respective fields were present to function as resource persons and aid in the delivery of the programme. Travel arrangements were made for, and full board provided to, all participants and resource persons participating in the training.<br>The course was delivered through modules covering major topics related to the conduct of MSR under UNCLOS, including with regard to data management and assessment. Participants were given in-depth training on the legal, technical and scientific aspects related to the conduct of MSR, in particular with regard to the rights and obligations of coastal and researching States under UNCLOS. Parallel streams provided an opportunity for in-depth study of the various aspects of the different stages of MSR projects of relevance to the expertise of participants, including through presentation of case studies, exercises, sharing of experience and role play. Where feasible, the course also included a discussion on next steps with the identification of opportunities for capacity-development, networking and support to decision-making in relation to MSR, overcoming challenges in promoting MSR and maximizing opportunities.
<br>Furthermore, the training facilitated the development of new relationships and networks. The course which brought together government officials and scientists was seen as a platform to enhance the relationship between scientists and coastal States’ technical and legal policy officers from the region, as well as other stakeholders.
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