Side Event - 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference UNOC3
Bridging Science, Policy and Society for sustainable ocean management in Africa – MeerWissen and Future West African Marine Ecosystem (FUTURO)
Panel discussion and lunch networking reception
10 June 2025, 13:00 – 15:00
Research Vessel METEOR, Nice Harbour, Quai Île de Beauté
Organisers:
German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) / Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
co-organised by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Sub-Commission for Africa and the Adjacent Island States (IOC-AFRICA)
About the event:
Global inter- and transdisciplinary partnerships between science, politics and society are key to achieving the ambitious goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular Sustainable Development Goal 14 “Life Below Water” (SDG14).
To stimulate science-based ocean action for the implementation of SDG14, the UNOC3 Side Event event “Bridging Science, Policy and Society for sustainable ocean management in Africa – MeerWissen and Future West African Marine Ecosystem (FUTURO)” brings together experts from science, politics and civil society across borders.
A panel discussion and a networking reception will help to identify options to strengthen multi-stakeholder cross-sectoral partnerships to improve knowledge-based ocean governance and marine conservation.
The particular focus on Africa is illustrated by the MeerWissen Initiative and the planned year-long international ship-based research campaign Future West African Marine Ecosystem (FUTURO) that also contributes to the goals of the United Nations Ocean Decade.
The event will be held on board the German research vessel METEOR in Nice harbour.
Agenda:
12.45 – 13.00
Arrival of participants
13.00-13.25
Welcome
- Prof. Dr. Katja Matthes, GEOMAR Director
- Peter Grönwoldt, BMFTR
- Dr. Andreas Schaumayer, BMZ
- Ambassador Peter Thomson, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean
Keynote
- HE Eng Jorge Santos, Minister of the Sea Cabo Verde
13.25 – 13.30
MeerWissen – Impacts, Partnerships and Sustainability
- Sven Stöbener, GIZ
13:30 - 13:35
FUTURO - Future West African Marine Ecosystem
- Prof. Dr. Arne Körtzinger, GEOMAR
13:35 - 13:40
Keynote: FUTURO, SEAWARD AFRICA and IOC-AFRICA
- Ibukun Adewumi, Head IOC-AFRICA
13.40 - 14.30
Panel discussion
- Gunnar Finke, GIZ
- Prof. Dr. Katja Matthes, GEOMAR Director
- Assist. Prof. Dr. Corrine Almeida, Universidade Técnica do Atlântico
- Dr. Khallahi Brahim, Permanent Secretary of the United Nations Food and Aquaculture Organisation Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission (SRFC)
- Gaoussou Gueye, President African Confederation of Professional Organizations of Artisanal Fisheries (CAOPA)
questions from the audience can be submitted via Slido
14:30 - 14:35
Closing
14:35 - 15:00
Lunch reception and networking
Moderation: Dr. Edem Mahu, Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences of the University of Ghana
About FUTURO:
FUTURO - Future West African Marine Ecosystem is a multi-scale, year-round, co-designed and multidisciplinary concerted observational campaign in the tropical North Atlantic upwelling system initiated by GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. It aims to enhance our understanding and the sustainable management of the tropical upwelling area in the Atlantic Ocean off West Africa, one of the most productive but least observed marine ecosystems in the world, severely affected by climate change. FUTURO contributes to the goals of the United Nations Ocean Decade.
Further information: https://futuro-campaign.org
About MeerWissen:
The initiative MeerWissen – African-German Partners for Ocean Knowledge seeks to provide policymakers with the scientific information they need to take profound decisions for the effective management and conservation of Africa’s ocean and coasts. The MeerWissen Initiative strengthens partnerships between marine research institutions in Africa and Germany. It follows a strong co-design approach and builds on the regional expertise of African partner countries and Germany’s internationally leading role in marine research. The initiative helps ensure that future policy decisions are based on better information. MeerWissen is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and facilitated by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Further information: https://meerwissen.org
