IOC ESTABLISHES A SUB COMMISSION FOR AFRICA

The 26th Session of the Assembly of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO has established the IOC Sub-Commission for Africa and the Adjacent Island States, as a framework to improve the Commission’s visibility, facilitate coordination among the Member States in the region, and to ensure the efficient implementation of IOC programmes in Africa. At the session, which was held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France from 22 June – 5 July 2011, the Assembly also decided that:

(i) the existing IOCEA and IOCWIO Regional Committees will be dissolved during the first Session of the IOC Sub-Commission for Africa, including Adjacent Island States, without prejudice to existing international cooperation in the regions;
(ii) specific characteristics of the regions will be addressed through targeted programmes developed by thematic working groups to be created by the Sub Commission. The Assembly requested the Executive Secretary of IOC to:

• Take the necessary measures for convening the First Session of the Sub-Commission before the Forty-fifth Session of the IOC Executive Council;
• Establish an IOC Regional Office for Africa as the Technical Secretariat for the Sub-Commission;
• Continue the implementation of the IOCEA and IOCWIO Work Plans pending the First Session of the Sub-Commission;
• Present to the Executive Council, at its Forty-fifth Session, a report on the implementation of this resolution;

The Assembly called upon all Member States, in particular from Africa, including the Adjacent Island States, to support and participate actively in the programmes of the Sub-Commission.