As part of the Decade Advisory Board, the new expert members will play a key part in building the Ocean Decade roadmap to 2030 and have a strong presence at high-level events such as the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference and the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference.
The Decade Advisory Board (DAB) is a multi-stakeholder advisory body that assists the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO in performing its function as coordinator of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, 2021-2030 (the ‘Ocean Decade’).
The Board reports both to the IOC Governing Bodies and the IOC Executive Secretary. The Board’s advice to the IOC Governing Bodies concerns strategic elements of the Decade implementation, such as reviews of the Decade progress in moving towards the Decade societal outcomes and on the research work in the domains of Decade challenges, identifying gaps and opportunities, advising on data stewardship strategies, the development of resource mobilisation strategies, and supporting broad engagement and outreach. This includes a strategic role in the Vision 2030 process that will be a centrepiece of the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference. The Board also provides advice and operational support regarding endorsed Ocean Decade Actions, identifying major priorities to scope future Calls for Actions and gaps in regional and national coordination structures.
The new expert members of the Board will be selected through a call for nominations which is open until the 30th October 2023. The new Board will be named with due consideration to expertise, geographic, generational, and gender balance and will provide assistance on a voluntary basis. The members will serve a two-year term from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2025 which is a critical time for the Ocean Decade as both the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference and the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference will take place in this period.
Proposals for nominations can be put forward by Member States of IOC-UNESCO, United Nations or United Nations entities, as well as by intergovernmental organizations. Self-nominations will also be possible to encourage nominations from non-governmental entities.
The nomination form for membership of the Decade Advisory Board can be found here.
The full Terms of Reference for the Board, the eligibility criteria for expert members, and information on how to apply can be found in the Circular Letter which can be downloaded here.
For more information, please contact:
oceandecade@unesco.org.
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About the Ocean Decade 2021-2030:
Proclaimed in 2017 by the United Nations General Assembly, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) (‘the Ocean Decade’) seeks to stimulate ocean science and knowledge generation to reverse the decline of the state of the ocean system and catalyse new opportunities for sustainable development of this massive marine ecosystem. The vision of the Ocean Decade is ‘the science we need for the ocean we want’. The Ocean Decade provides a convening framework for scientists and stakeholders from diverse sectors to develop the scientific knowledge and the partnerships needed to accelerate and harness advances in ocean science to achieve a better understanding of the ocean system, and deliver science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 Agenda. The UN General Assembly mandated UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) to coordinate the preparations and implementation of the Decade.
About the IOC/UNESCO:
The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC/UNESCO) promotes international cooperation in marine sciences to improve management of the ocean, coasts and marine resources. The IOC enables its 150 Member States to work together by coordinating programmes in capacity development, ocean observations and services, ocean science and tsunami warning. The work of the IOC contributes to the mission of UNESCO to promote the advancement of science and its applications to develop knowledge and capacity, key to economic and social progress, the basis of peace and sustainable development.
