The Third Session of the IOC Group of Experts on Capacity Development (GE-CD) was held online on 1-2 December 2021. 

The GE-CD discussed the instructions from the 31st session of the IOC Assembly (2021) as well as their follow-up actions, and noted the revised terms of reference of the Group as decided by IOC-31. They also examined the outcomes of the second Capacity Development Needs Assessment Survey, and discussed recommendations for the next CD Needs Assessment Survey 2022-2023. The global and regional programmes and projects, and regional subsidiary bodies provided information on the implementation of the current IOC CD strategy within their respective work plans. The Group discussed the Capacity Development Chapter of the UN Ocean Decade (Decade) Implementation Plan and Decade actions related to Capacity Development. A summary of the work undertaken by the GE-CD Task Team on a review of the current IOC CD Strategy was provided, followed by agreement on the next steps to revise the Strategy. 

Among other things, the Group decided to:

• Re-elect Mr Ariel Troisi and Mr Alan Evans as co-Chairs of the IOC Group of Experts on Capacity Development;
• Abolish the Inter-sessional Task Team on CD requirements of Member States in relation to the IOC CD Strategy - as it was reported that the required actions had been completed during the inter-sessional period - and that future needs assessments would be  carried out by the Secretariat, in coordination with the GE-CD 
• Abolish the Inter-sessional Task Team responsible for reviewing the current IOC CD Strategy - as it was reported that the required actions had been completed;
• Establish a Working Group to revise the IOC CD Strategy, to present at the 32^nd Assembly of the IOC in 2023; and
• Agree on the GE-CD workplan including the 3rd CD Needs Assessment Survey and the approach to promoting visibility and outreach of the revised IOC CD Strategy.

The meeting was attended by more than 30 participants including members of the IOC Group of Experts on Capacity Development, IOC CD national focal points, invited experts and members of the IOC Secretariat.

More information about the workshop can be found here. The report of the meeting is now available here.