From 4 to 7 March 2024, GEO Blue Planet held a workshop on “Ocean Observation and Prediction for Coastal Sustainability in Africa” at the United Nations Office in Nairobi. Organised in collaboration with UNEP, the workshop was supported by the EU4OceanObs project with funding from the European Union. The four day workshop brought together 58 participants from 17 countries representing multiple stakeholder groups from the UN, regional and international bodies, national agencies, research and civil society organisations, and the private sector.
The workshop had two main goals:
- Explore the role of ocean observation and prediction in addressing stakeholders needs aligned with the AU blue strategy, the UN Ocean Decade roadmap for Africa and the formulation of international frameworks.
- Identify priorities and needs for ocean observations and prediction to address the challenges of coastal sustainability in Africa
During the workshop, participants shared and discussed challenges and opportunities to leverage ocean and coastal observations in responding to the emerging needs of multiple stakeholders in Africa. Moreover, the workshop served to unpack the EO-driven information and services needed by decision makers working in various sectors such as marine policy, blue economy activities, marine conservation, disaster risk reduction, climate change actions. etc. Under the umbrella of coastal sustainability, the workshop was orientated around four themes:
- Shoreline changes and seabed mapping
- Coastal flooding and inundation
- Coastal water quality
- Coastal ecosystem mapping
For more information, visit the event webpage: https://geoblueplanet.org/ocean-observation-and-prediction-for-coastal-sustainability-in-africa/
Useful links
- News post on GEO Blue Planet website – https://geoblueplanet.org/nairobi-coastal-workshop-post/
- News post on Mercator Ocean International website – https://www.mercator-ocean.eu/en/news/strengthening-collaboration-with-the-marine-stakeholders-and-ocean-data-users-in-africa/
