On Sunday 4th and Monday 5th October, the High Seas Alliance brought together civil society organisations from Benin, Cameroon, Kenya, Namibia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia in Dar es Salaam in a Civil Society Capacity-Building Workshop on the BBNJ Agreement. The workshop aimed to provide a platform for African civil society organisations to deepen their understanding of the Agreement, exchange experiences and good practices, and strengthen regional collaboration in support of effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.
The workshop was led by HSA Africa Coordinator Hellen Kuria and ably supported by policy experts Daniel Kachelreiss, Tekau Frere, Rizza Dejucos and Farzaneh Shakeri from HSA, and AOSIS Ocean Head Negotiator, Angelique Pouponneau and Brazilian International Marine Law Expert Julia Schutz Veiga, who all brought deep and diverse perspectives to the room.
Over two days, the workshop provided participants with detailed briefings on the Treaty’s four key pillars and institutional arrangements, an opportunity to ask questions and analyse its applicability in different national circumstances, and provided a basis for fleshing out needs, challenges and opportunities for civil society to support and drive ratification and implementation across the continent, in a way that best reflects the continent’s priorities and aspirations for ocean conservation, sustainable development and the Blue Economy.
While nearly half of the African States have ratified the Agreement, effective implementation will require sustained engagement by governments, civil society and other stakeholders. And if its energy we need, this group has it! A special thanks to the youth for leading the energizer activities that kept us focused and engaged.
The workshop was thoroughly enlightening, challenging, uplifting and invigorating, and not one participant walked away without contributing their valuable perspectives, brain power and laughter.
Many thanks to all the participants for their time and energy. We look forward to continuing to work together!
