Africa: AUC Sends a Strong Signal On Africa's Readiness to Protect and Sustainably Develop Its Ocean Resources With the Women and Youth On Board

1 July 2022
African Union (Addis Ababa)
press release

"Women and Youth represent Africa's most underutilized assets, so the African Union Commission is committed to identifying ways to promote their integration fully in the conversation on blue wealth" H.E. Commissioner Josepha Sacko

On behalf of H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Amb. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) at the African Union (AU) Commission led the AU delegation to the United Nations Ocean Conference 2022 (UNOC), which took place from 27 June to 01 July in Lisbon, Portugal. H.E the Commissioner was accompanied by Amb Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations in New York (USA), Harsen Nyambe Nyambe, Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, , Dr Bernice Mclean, Head of Blue Economy at AUDA-NEPAD in South-Africa, Representative from REC, and AUC staff .

The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) co-organized by Portugal and Kenya from 27 June to 01 July 2022 in Lisbon, Portugal was the landmark ocean event regrouping decision makers, innovators, private sector actors and stakeholders towards the implementation of the SDG Goal 14 and Aspiration 1.6 of Africa's Agenda 2063, both related to the management of the Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources for Sustainable Development.

The week-long Conference brought together some 6,500 participants -- including Heads of State and Government, officials of intergovernmental organizations, representatives of civil society organizations, and other stakeholders -- under the theme "Scaling Up Ocean Action Based on Science and Innovation for the Implementation of Goal 14: Stocktaking, Partnerships and Solutions".

The Conference was opened on 27 June by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and following his opening remarks, the Conference elected its officers. The President of Kenya, H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, and the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, were elected by acclamation as the Presidents of the Conference with Statements delivered by each President accordingly.

On the margins of the UNOC, The meeting of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) took place

This year, the participation of AU delegation to the conference aimed to showcase and promote Africa's blue economy and to send a strong signal on Africa's readiness to protect and sustainably develop its ocean resources as well as contribute to the global conversation on oceans by focusing on unlocking Africa's potential for innovative, knowledge-based and high-revenue sectors while fostering sustainability and private sector activity, which further emphasis on the integration of women, youth and Africa's scientific community within the blue economy.

In so doing, the AUC co-organised various side-events including two major Africa focused events: the first event co-organised with IOC-UNESCO on 'Accelerating innovation, science and technology, and promoting the involvement of women and youth in Africa's oceans and seas in the context of the ocean decade' was held on 29th June 2022, and touched upon the need to address cultural norms and stereotypes on the one hand, and address resource gap on the other, and to strengthen women and youth's participation in the blue economy. The second event on "Shaping a sustainable Blue Economy in Africa" co-organised with AUDA-NEPAD, was held on 30th June 2022, and emphasized Africa's vast amount of marine resources which are highly significant to global ecosystem services and need to be managed adequately for the benefits of the citizens;

The AU Commission also co-sponsored the following side events during three consecutive days: (i) 'Blue innovation for multifunctional marine spatial planning', together with the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Government of Sweden and Kenya on 28th June 2022, which emphasized the importance of ensuring that Africa has access to and ownership of ocean data and ensure the need for Africa to develop its own Marine Spatial Planning that will aid to address data gaps; (ii) 'Fostering international and regional cooperation in support of the sustainable development of the blue economy in LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS', together with the International Seabed Authority, on 29th June 2022; (iii) 'Advancing women empowerment and leadership in marine scientific research to support inclusive sustainable ocean governance', together with the International Seabed Authority on 30th June 2022.

In addition, the AUC delivered a statement in the plenary, emphasizing the crucial role that the African continent must play in the global oceans agenda, considering the vast marine resources that it exerts sovereignty over. H.E. Commissioner Sacko informed that the AU Commission is in the process of implementing the blue economy, in various sectors, highlighting that "...we need to enhance traditional ocean-based sectors like fisheries and tourism so that they contribute to the livelihoods of coastal communities that rely on them. But, at the same time, Africa needs to move to a knowledge-based model of developing ocean science and ocean-based technologies. We have the ideas, vision, and ambition to do so."

Also, in the Plenary Session, the Group of African States, emphasized that Africa is determined to sustainably harness the vast potential of its maritime domain and accelerate economic transformation and opportunities provided by the oceans. To realize sustainable ocean-based development, the African Group stresses the need to promote collective efforts to address inherent financial and infrastructure gaps preventing the realization of the full potential of African marine resources. The African Group further emphasized that oceans are a common heritage to mankind, including the African landlocked States. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14 (life below water) and conservation of ocean and marine ecosystems will require bold and ambitious partnership, mobilization of significant financial resources, access to technologies and innovations, capacity-building and effective governance arrangements.

Furthermore, the delegation along with the key partners including the RECs, NGOs, WIMAfrica, Fisheries and Aquaculture Associations participated in various other side events and engaged with innovators, policy makers and stakeholders on a range of issues including conservation, sustainable ocean economies and capacity building, as well as Institutional and policy making and implementation, NGO's and research and civil society organisations, legal instruments.on 1st July 2022, the side event organized by the Republic of Mauritius 'Science Consideration for Protection of Marine Ecosystems in Chagos Archipelago', aimed at advocating on the complete decolonization of the Chagos archipelago. It was an opportunity seized by Office of the Legal Counsel the African Union to reiterate its unconditional support to the Government of Mauritius until the completion of decolonization of Chagos is achieved and enjoyed by the Citizens of Mauritius in accordance with well-established principles of international law and the pertinent decisions and Resolutions of Organization of African Unity (OAU)/African Union (AU) and United Nations.

The UNOC of Lisbon ended on 1st July 2022. The outcomes of the AU Delegation's participation will also be important for the upcoming COP 27.

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