As the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region gears up for the 12th Conference of Parties to the Nairobi Convention (COP12), the mandate for inclusive, science-informed, and forward-looking marine governance has never been clearer. Coastal economies across Africa are at an inflection point: balancing biodiversity preservation, climate resilience, and equitable socio-economic development under expanding frameworks like the BBNJ Agreement and the UN Ocean Decade.
At the center of this transition are youth and early-career ocean professionals (ECOPs). Bringing transformative data, community-grounded perspectives, and innovative technologies, the next generation is actively redefining ocean stewardship.
To ensure youth-generated research and local priorities directly shape intergovernmental policy agendas, WIOMSA, alongside regional partners, is convening a targeted consultative virtual forum: “Youth Voices in Ocean Governance and Sustainable Ocean Economy” on 01 October 2026 at 14:00 EAT.
Moving beyond open-ended dialogue, this session will explore:
- Biodiversity & Regional Protocols (BBNJ & Beyond)
- Science-to-Policy Integration
- Sustainable Blue Innovation & Enterprise:
Insights from this virtual forum will feed directly into the WIO Youth Policy Position for COP12 and inform the Africa Regional Ocean Decade Solutions Blueprint.
If you are a young scientist, policy practitioner, blue entrepreneur, or community ocean steward, this platform is built for your voice.
- Date: 01 October 2026
- Time: 14:00 – 15:15 EAT
Register here.
