The IOI Delegation attended the UN Ocean Decade Conference, and participated in several satellite and side events in the week 8 - 12 April
The 2024 Ocean Decade Conference in Barcelona, Spain, convened a diverse array of stakeholders united by a common purpose: to celebrate achievements, reflect on progress, and chart a course for collective action in the remaining years of the Decade. With 1,500 participants physically present and another 3,000 joining online, the conference served as a pivotal moment for the global Ocean Decade community. The Barcelona Statement, the cornerstone outcome, outlined priorities spanning knowledge generation, infrastructure improvement, and cross-cutting initiatives, setting the stage for future endeavours. As participants provided input into draft white papers, the conference laid crucial groundwork for advancing Ocean science and sustainability.
Amidst the vibrant discourse and collaborative spirit, the International Ocean Institute delegation made up of Managing Director A Vassallo, IOI Governor P Leder and IOI Project Officer C Chivu, made significant contributions through participation in four side events, each addressing key facets of Ocean capacity building, literacy, inclusivity and leadership. The IOI group were able to take advantage of the considerable networking opportunities offered by a Conference of this calibre to create new synergies and outreach with like minded organisations.
Capacity Development for the Ocean We Want: Exploring Science Communication and Solving Global Capacity Development Challenges (Monday, 8th April):
In this interactive Satellite Event, IOI Project Officer, Cosmin Chivu, delivered a compelling presentation titled "Empowering ECOPs: The Impact and Continuity of the IOI's Capacity Building Programmes in creating global Ocean leadership." Highlighting IOI's commitment to nurturing future Ocean leaders through training programs like the international IOI Ocean Governance courses, Cosmin underscored the imperative of equipping early career ocean professionals (ECOPs) with the skills and tools needed to address real-world challenges. He also mentioned the extremely successful IOI Ocean Academy programme which capitalises on the expertise and dedication of IOI Alumni to provide Ocean Literacy level modules back to their communities where local knowledge is used effectively to encourage pro-Ocean actions. Additionally, during a very inspiring and fruitful mini-hackathon, A Vassallo used her extensive experience to coach one of the groups during this exercise and also presented on the group’s findings in tandem with other ECOPs co-hosts.
Diving from local to global Ocean Literacy - Exploring, sharing, and developing successful practices to know, feel and join the living Ocean (Tuesday, 9th April):
IOI Managing Director, Antonella Vassallo, contributed to the panel on "Removing barriers to accessing Ocean Literacy globally," emphasising the importance of targeted Ocean Literacy outreach programmes in overcoming language and accessibility barriers while disseminating Ocean information. By sharing insights on how the IOI Ocean Academy programme addresses these challenges, the IOI contribution enriched discussions on fostering Ocean literacy across diverse sectors and communities.
The Inclusivity We Need for the Ocean We Want (Tuesday, 9th April):
Participating in Panel 2 on “Intersectoral Inclusivity”, Antonella Vassallo highlighted IOI's efforts to promote inclusivity in Ocean governance, particularly in reaching underrepresented communities in the global South, and emphasising the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to governance. By sharing IOI's experience in establishing the IOI capacity development and ocean literacy programmes, and the importance of other IOI events reaching out to underrepresented communities, the IOI contributed to discussions on reducing barriers to accessing Ocean opportunities in capacity development and literacy and to emphasise and amplify diverse voices in high-level fora.
Building Ocean Leadership: Fostering Networking, Creativity, and Resilience (Friday 12th April):
At this Satellite Event, invited panellists spoke on the importance of networking, creativity and resilience in reaching the UN Decade aims globally; the special emphasis of the event was to consider Ocean Leadership and how to foster this among ECOPs in order to encourage equity, geographic coverage, and diversity in Ocean leadership representation. Building on the panellists’ inputs, Antonella Vassallo delivered the concluding remarks, while emphasising the importance of empowering early career professionals with the skills, knowledge, and networks necessary for meaningful contributions to Ocean science and sustainability. She built on the panellists’ input.
IOI Alumni Reunion on the fringes of the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference
One particularly memorable aspect of this conference was the Informal Get-Together of IOI Alumni, held on the evening of April 10th at La Garriga Eixample in Barcelona. This gathering provided a unique opportunity for former participants of the IOI’s training programmes to reconnect and forge new connections within the global IOI family. The IOI delegation and 13 IOI Alumni and IOI Ocean Academy Directors from various corners of the globe (Brazil, China, Germany, IR Iran, Kenya, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain) exchanged warm greetings and shared tales of their Oceanic endeavors since their graduation from the IOI training programmes. The Informal Get-Together of IOI Alumni served as a reminder of the power of community and collaboration in driving positive change for our Ocean.
IOI's engagement at the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference exemplifies its dedication to fostering Ocean leadership, literacy, inclusivity, and capacity building. By actively participating in side events and sharing expertise, IOI contributes to the collective efforts aimed at realising the vision of the Ocean Decade: a thriving, sustainable Ocean for present and future generations. As the Decade progresses, the IOI remains committed to advancing Ocean stewardship and empowering individuals worldwide to champion Ocean governance and sustainable development.