IOC Group of Experts on Capacity Development

The Assembly,

Recognizing the importance of Capacity Development as one of the six functions of the IOC Medium-Term Strategy (2014–2021), enabling all Member States to participate in, and benefit from, ocean research and services that are vital to sustainable development and human welfare on the planet,

Recalling the adoption, at its 28th Session, of the IOC Capacity Development Strategy (2015–2021),

Welcoming the contributions of its Member States towards capacity development at the global and regional level through financial and in-kind contributions,

Stressing the need to share, across programmes and regions, experience and expertise in capacity development, and to coordinate efforts to increase efficiency and maximize impact,

Establishes the IOC Group of Experts on Capacity Development with the following terms of reference:

(i) assist global and regional programmes with the implementation of capacity development needs assessments in a consistent manner;

(ii) assist global and regional programmes with the development of programmatic and regionally relevant capacity development work plans based on the IOC CD strategy and related needs assessments, building on ongoing activities and making use of existing training and education facilities;
(iii) assist with the mobilization of financial and in-kind resources to enable the implementation of global and regional capacity development work plans;

(iv) provide advice to global and regional programmes on relevant methods and tools to improve the quality and impact of CD efforts;

(v) advise the Assembly on, and start implementation of, the Transfer of Marine Technology Clearing House Mechanism (CHM) as requested by the IOC Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology (IOC/INF-1203), making use, to the largest extent possible, of existing data and information systems already available at IOC;

Invites Member States to nominate suitable candidate members for the Group;

Instructs the Group to report to each session of the Assembly;

Decides to allocate resources in the IOC Programme and Budget draft resolution XXIX-(11.1) to cover a meeting of the group per biennium ($ 30,000).