Marine Regions Forum 2023
Navigating Ocean Sustainability in the Western Indian Ocean and beyond
07 – 09 November 2023, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
ABOUT
The 2023 Marine Regions Forum conference in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region was hosted in the United Republic of Tanzania, in collaboration with the Republic of Seychelles. The conference was organized in partnership with the Nairobi Convention Secretariat and regional partners.
The Marine Regions Forum 2023 conference explored what is needed to enhance cooperation and coordination to advance ocean governance within the Western Indian Ocean region and beyond. In addition to highlighting the successes and challenges in the WIO region, the conference brought together experts from the WIO region and from other marine regions to encourage knowledge exchange and share examples of good practice in regional governance processes. The conference was developed, shaped and delivered in close collaboration with our partners, aiming to address the pressing challenges and add value to on-going and relevant (future) processes.
By complementing existing processes, facilitating open exchange and dialogue across sectors, and disseminating emerging recommendations to the formal policy processes including, among others, the conference supports implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14.
- The Conference Report is available here.
- A short Key Messages document is available here.
- Watch the Conference Impressions video here (and below).
- Watch the teaser video here
- Daily reports are available from WIOMSA and from IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin.
- Watch the daily impressions videos to get a feel of each day of the conference as they happened.
- Browse photos from the event – taken by Empower Limited.
Conference Programme
The conference incorporated interactive workshops, engaging panel discussions and keynote presentations as well as providing space for creativity and meaningful networking. You can download the full Conference Programme here.
The content and results of the discussions and workshops are presented in details the Conference Report, available here. Key messages that emerged from the Marine Regions Forum 2023 were co-created with the participants and available as a seperate document here.
PLENARY SESSIONS
7th November 2023: The welcoming plenary set the stage for the Marine Regions Forum 2023, providing a unique opportunity to hear from the host countries, funders, and the coordinating team. This session aimed to highlight the key objectives and priority outcomes of the conference, inviting active participation from all attendees. Our welcome plenary included: Mary Ngelela Maganga, Denis Matatiken, Charlina Vitcheva, Dixon Waruinge and Barbara Neumann.
7th November 2023: The first plenary session, “building a shared understanding” was designed to launch the conference and set the tone for the following days. Following the welcoming messages, keynote speakers introduced the four topical strands that guided the conference discussions, thereby facilitating a shared understanding among participants regarding the thematic trajectory of the event. Meet our keynote presenters: David Obura, Aboud Jumbe, Minna Epps and Dixon Waruinge.
8th November 2023: The plenary panel explored “inclusivity and innovation in ocean governance“. The panelists explored the challenges, achievements, and opportunities in regional ocean governance. The discussion shed light on the diverse roles to be played in advancing scientific knowledge, promoting sustainability, and driving innovation within the marine science and maritime sectors. Meet our panelists: Samantha Petersen, Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy, Lorna Inniss, Jacqeline Uku and Valerie Hickey.
9th November 2023: The concluding plenary panel, “shaping the path ahead” provided an opportunity for representatives from Africa to share their priorities and actions for the future of ocean governance and their perspectives on the deliberations that unfolded during the conference. This session was an opportunity to show how to take ocean governance forward in the future and provide a reflection on what is needed at regional and national levels to implement positive change. The panelists included Dustan Shimbo, Denis Matatiken, Dixon Waruinge, Abdoulaye Diagana and Kareen Andriantsiferana.
TOPICAL STRANDS
The conference tackled pressing topics through four distinct thematic strands, each with a dedicated focus on inclusivity (day 1), innovation (day 2), and implementation (day 3):
- Tackling the Triple Planetary Crisis
- Fostering the sustainable blue economy
- Implementing global goals at the regional level
- Regional ocean Governance
Find more details on the workshop sessions held under these strands in the Conference Programme and the Conference Report.
Find out more about the Marine Regions Forum 2023 conference in this teaser video below.
Credits
The Marine Regions Forum 2023 conference was coordinated by the Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS), the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), and TMG – Think Tank for Sustainability.
The Marine Regions Forum 2023 was developed and implemented in close partnership with the Nairobi Convention Secretariat and the Steering Group of the Marine Regions Forum, and advised by a group of international experts that form the Marine Regions Forum’s Advisory Board.
It received funding from the European Union, the Swedish Ministry of Climate and Enterprise, and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection.
The Marine Regions Forum 2023 was co-hosted by
The United Republic of Tanzania in collaboration with The Republic of Seychelles
The Marine Regions Forum 2023 was delivered in partnership with
