This biennial survey is held every two years, with the next one planned in 2022-2023. Launched in October 2018 through Circular Letter 2738, the first survey developed by the Group of Experts focussed largely on regional needs and those of Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries. The results of the survey (Annex VI of IOC/GE-CD-I/3) also assessed the functional needs of a Clearing House Mechanism (CHM) as a tool ‘to provide interested users in Member States with direct and rapid access to relevant sources of information, practical expertise in the Transfer of Marine Technology (TMT), as well as to facilitate scientific, technical and financial cooperation to that end’. This finding materialized in April 2020 as the IOC Ocean InfoHub Project that focusses on the development of the CHM/TMT in Latin America and Caribbean region, Africa and Pacific SIDS (see Executive Council document IOC/EC-53/4.3.Doc for detail).  

As instructed by the 30th Session of the IOC Assembly (2019) the IOC GE-CD has implemented the 2nd IOC Capacity Development Needs Assessment Survey. Launched in September 2020 through Circular Letter 2803, the 2020 revised survey expanded overall the scope of CD stakeholder groups (while the first survey focused on researchers, academic and IOC contacts only) as follows: 

1. IOC contacts (IOC focal points, IOC CD focal points)
2. Ocean researchers and research service providers (including heads of institution, data centre staff)
3. Academic staff (Higher Education Institution lecturers as well as Learning Services Provider staff)
4. Students (at Higher Education Institution)
5. Local government official (including councils, national park authorities)
6. National government officials
7. Policy-makers (senior government officials)
8. Industry (using, extracting and/or developing ocean resources)
9. Private sector operating in coastal zone (e.g. hoteliers, developers)
10. NGOs (e.g. conservationist)

Widening the scope of stakeholders will provide additional information on the expertise available in the countries – especially in relation to the IOC-UNESCO Global Ocean Science Report, and on capacity gaps (human, infrastructure, coordination, communication and policy). It is anticipated that the second survey will enhance opportunities for closer coordination and cooperation between the various stakeholder communities, with the aim of reinforcing and optimizing national and regional capacities.