UNESCO-IOC Self-driven Capacity development Program for Marine
Sciences:
Through Workshops in Leadership, Proposal writing, and
Team-building
What prompted the program?
Oceans cover more than 70%
of the earth’s surface, with the coastal zones having the densest populations
and a spectrum of competing interests. Taken in conjunction with an effectively
diminishing capacity to scientifically self-manage coastal and open ocean
spaces, it is not surprising that marine resources are degrading at an
accelerating rate. The IOC Assembly in June 2005 debated these issues and
concluded that the present method of building capacity needed a new strategic
direction. The Assembly approved an initial implementation plan that focuses on
harnessing the self-drive of directors of marine science institutes to break
the spiral of non-sustainable dependence on external donor agencies. The plan
fosters partnerships with agencies that develop capacity through interventions
that are locally owned with meaningful societal outcomes, sustainable,
effective and efficient. [Check http://ioc.unesco.org/iocms/files/IOC-XXIII_3finalfinal.pdf
pages 30 to 34 and Resolutions 10 and 11].
What are the program components?
There are 3 components
spread over 3 years. The present program addresses the first 2 components.
1. Component 1 is designed
to strengthen institutes by conducting workshops that:
a. Empower networks
of directors with leadership skills
b. Support networks
of scientists with proposal-writing skills
c. Build scientific
teams to collaborate on funded projects
2. Component 2 is designed
to raise awareness of the importance of marine scientific research by strengthening
institutes through training workshops in Decision Support System tools that:
a. Deliver visible
local benefits based on science
b. Use existing
data & operational products where possible
c. Create openings
for research & education
3.
Component 3 will be designed to enrol civil society’s
support for marine science capacity-building and develop participatory skills in
good governance.
What are the expected benefits?
Expected benefits from Component 1 are:
q
The immediate outcome from the first leadership
workshop will be the joint identification of a core regional capacity development
need. Directors will also be transferred the skills to initiate change in their
organisations. The HR consultant will work
with directors for 3 years.
q
The tangible outcome from the proposal-writing
workshops will be funded projects. The consultant
will work with the scientific teams from concept to funds realisation.
q
The immediate outcome of the team-building
workshops will be a significant change in degree of scientific collaboration in
the institute and within the funded project. Leadership skills will also be transferred
so that this group of scientists can be enrolled in institutional management. The HR consultant will work with the group
of scientists for 3 years.
Expected benefits from Component 2 are:
q
Participants
will be trained in coastal numerical models, satellite remote sensing, and
Geographical Information Systems as tools that form the basis of a Decision
Support System [DSS]. Such systems can be powerful means of raising awareness
and support for marine science amongst decision-makers and communities. Skills at using such a DSS will also empower
directors to earn extra-budgetary funds from coastal industries.
Who can participate and how?
Heads of marine science,
fisheries or meteorological institutes/academic faculties /international
science programs/or national funded projects will be the constituency. The
targeted participant will be one with authority over a functional entity that
has manpower/equipment/infrastructural resources.
How many workshops, where and when?
The entire program consists
of 11 workshops - 3 Leadership, 3 Proposal-writing, and 3 Team-building
workshops. We will also conduct 2 extended training workshops in remote
sensing, GIS, and coastal modelling utilising GOOS data and products where
possible. A generous Swedish International Development Agency grant will allow
5 of the 11 workshops to be conducted in each of the IOC regions.
The first
leadership workshop was conducted in collaboration with WIOMSA in
Workshops |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
|||||||||
|
Leadership |
|
|
S |
|
|
S |
|
|
S |
|
|
|
|
Proposal-writing |
|
|
|
S |
|
|
R |
|
|
R |
|
|
|
Teams |
|
|
|
S |
|
|
R |
|
|
R |
|
|
|
Training Tools |
|
|
|
R |
|
|
R |
|
|
|
|
|
|
‘S’ denotes
funds available. ‘R’ denotes funds yet to be found. |
||||||||||||
|
Workshops
will be conducted by consultants especially selected for their expertise.
They will provide mentoring during the entire program of implementation. |
||||||||||||
The first leadership
workshop will be held in
What do you need to bring to the
workshop?
There are three “thought”
items to engage in prior to attending the first Leadership Workshop.
1. Compile a list
of regional capacity development [CD] needs.
After the leadership workshop, we intend to spend a half day to
prioritise the regional CD needs which will then serve as the basis in drafting
a suitable proposal for funding.
2. Jot down some
out-of-the-box ideas to attract matching funds to the Sida contribution. We would benefit from your thoughts on this.
3. Think about some
guidelines to establish a baseline on marine science institutes so that
progress in institutional improvement can be monitored over the next 3 years.
IOC believes
that the self-drive of heads of institutes and their scientists is the most
important element in developing capacity to conduct marine scientific research and
operations, and has formatted the series of workshops accordingly.