Capacity Building

Introduction

Capacity building refers to the development of skills, knowledge, and resources that empower individuals, organizations, and communities to achieve their goals in managing marine and coastal environments. As the world faces increasing challenges from climate change, biodiversity loss, and overexploitation of marine resources, capacity building has become an essential component in fostering sustainable development and effective ocean governance. 

Why It Matters

Building capacity is fundamental to the success of marine conservation efforts. It ensures that local and national institutions can assess, monitor, and govern ocean resources, adapting to environmental changes and making informed decisions. Capacity building enhances the ability of countries to implement multilateral environmental agreements, improve scientific research, and develop cross-sectoral strategies that integrate marine biodiversity conservation, pollution control, and climate resilience. 

What We Do

The Regional Seas Programme provide a platform for regional cooperation, offering resources, training, and technical assistance to enhance capacity for marine conservation. The Programme supports the following areas: 

• Standards and Training: The UNEPThe RSCAPs conduct training on various topics, such as marine spatial planning, biodiversity conservation, pollution monitoring, and climate adaptation. For example, the Nairobi Convention provides training on ecosystem-based management and water quality monitoring, the COBSEA Secretariat provides regional training on marine litter monitoring and assessment.. 

• Financial Support: The Programme facilitates access to financial resources, helping countries develop sustainable marine and coastal management practices. Efforts under the Mediterranean Action Plan (Barcelona Convention) include securing funding for environmental projects through partnerships with regional donors and international organizations. 

• Communication and Education: The RSCAPs work to improve public participation and environmental awareness through educational initiatives, workshops, and knowledge-sharing platforms. The Wider Caribbean (Cartagena Convention) promotes capacity building through webinars, reports, and best practice dissemination. 

• Data and Information Sharing: By supporting regional data systems and fostering collaboration between research institutions, the RSCAPs enhances countries' capacity to access and use marine data for decision-making. Initiatives such as COBSEA’s East Asian Seas Regional Node of the Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML) provides access to marine pollution database, knowledge, resources, and networking for informed action. 

Protocols, Agreements, and Publications

Regional Seas Programme work on capacity building is underpinned by multilateral environmental agreements, including the Paris Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Sustainable Development Goals. These global frameworks guide regional efforts to build institutional capacity, foster leadership, and improve technical expertise for the sustainable management of marine ecosystems. 

Some selected examples of the Regional Seas Programme and Action Plans’s Capacity Building Initiatives: 

• Nairobi Convention: Provides technical support and training on marine pollution control and ecosystem monitoring, empowering local authorities to implement sustainable management practices. 

• SPREP (Pacific): Focuses on building capacity for biodiversity conservation and climate resilience, promoting community-based marine protected areas. 

• Barcelona Convention: Delivers targeted capacity building on pollution reduction, particularly related to land-based sources of marine pollution in the Mediterranean region. 

• COBSEA Secretariat: Provides regional training on marine litter monitoring and assessment, and launched the East Asian Seas Regional Node of the Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML).