The global ocean is a natural resource unique in its magnitude, its contribution to sustaining life on Earth, and in its status as a global commons. As such, the international community is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of governing and managing it in a global context. This awareness is reflected by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which is the most comprehensive international agreement with respect to the oceans and their governance in existence. The expectation of global international cooperation in the pursuit of knowledge to understand, forecast and wisely manage the oceans and its resources is an ambitious goal, and the IOC is active in facilitating its achievement.

To date, ocean research efforts have greatly contributed to our knowledge of the seas and its systems, and ocean modelling and climate forecasting have been improving and playing increasingly important roles in modern ocean science. Modelling and forecasting represent a shift in the focus of marine scientific research efforts from observational science to operational science - scientific knowledge that has practical applications to the sustainable use of the world's resources. Turning scientific ability and knowledge into a useful tool that can fulfil society's needs is fundamental to effective resource management and governance, and is the broad principle guiding the IOC's CB &TEMA initiative. Specifically, the TEMA programme seeks to build capacity.

Capacity refers to the ability of a region, nation, and/or community to implement laws, policies and programs. There are different categories of capacity, all of which are fundamental to governance: legal and administrative capacity, financial capacity, technical capacity and human resources capacity (NOAA, 2003). Human resource capacity building involves the development of local expertise: in situ training and education of managers, users and policy makers to the sustainable exploitation and governance of marine resources.

It is often the case that the coastal nations with the least capacity are also the ones that are most vulnerable to the effects (and potential effects) of poor ocean and coastal resource management, and most susceptible to man made and natural disasters in the coastal area. Sound advice from local experts is essential to successful policies and decision making in such countries. The development of local expertise requires multiple related activities such as scientific education, technician training, knowledge and capacity for integrated management techniques, research infrastructure, and an operating ocean service system that is fully integrated into a global network. All in all, a challenging task.

Training, Education and Mutual Assistance (TEMA) is a strategy that has been adopted by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO in support of the IOC's commitment to Capacity Building, as mandated in chapter 17 of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development's (UNCED) Agenda 21. Also, the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on sustainable Development (WSSD) call for "strengthen the ability of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other relevant international and regional and subregional organizations to build national and local capacity in marine science and the sustainable management of oceans and their resources".

The mechanisms by which CB & TEMA operates include: training programs, workshops, UNESCO Chairs and grants.

The structure and nature of TEMA within the IOC has taken different forms, reflecting the wishes of IOC-UNESCO member states. Initially, TEMA was an IOC program, however, in recent years TEMA program elements have become aspects of each of the IOC's section programs. Accordingly, the Ocean Sciences, Ocean Services and Operational Observing Systems sections all have responsibilities to TEMA objectives. Recently, a new section was created to focus on CB & TEMA. Pending approval by the General Conference of UNESCO (October, 2003), TEMA is moving towards becoming, once again, a programmatic Main Line of Action.

The method of TEMA is to link existing and planned national and regional programs by acting as a communication hub for people and activities and providing a means of exchange between the various stakeholders, thereby enhancing the success rate of CB & TEMA activities. The IOC's regional subsidiary bodies can help to make national efforts more sustainable and effective and can provide mechanisms to stimulate capacity building IOC programmes formulating cooperative regional projects built on existing national actions and addressing identified national and regional needs and priorities. CB & TEMA aims at regional pooling of resources and joint capacity building, and draws upon the global programs of the IOC for expertise, results and advice.

The IOC is not a funding agency and has limited financial resources. Although it has acted as a liaison for potential donor agencies, it has had limited success to date. The CB & TEMA budget is a combination of IOC funds and direct contributions from IOC member states. More substantial support must be found from outside donor agencies (including the private sector) and via other appropriate means.

THE TEMA PROCESS

Developing and strengthening capacities for sustainable marine environmental management involves the integration of human resources, institutions, and an infrastructure that supports and sustains relevant activities into a local/national/regional/global framework. However, actual program implementation can be difficult, notably because of the complexity of jurisdictions within and amongst nations and the extreme variations in ability and capacity between countries. Because of these differences, capacity-building activities must be tailor-made to the specific needs of a country or a region. A number of overall conclusions can be drawn about marine (see below)

THE NATURE OF CAPACITY BUILDING -

• It is a long-term process.
• The involvement of the recipient government is crucial
• Approaches must be tailored to specific country or regional needs
• Active involvement of the community in the recipient countries is necessary for building indigenous capacity
• Partners in developing countries are the most effective and persistent advocates for marine science and technology.
• Capacity building activities can vary from a single training course to the installation of a complete environmental monitoring system.
• The best instruments for capacity building are activities in which scientists, engineers, socio-economists, and users work closely together (learning by doing, teaching the teachers) in the execution of projects, programs, and partnerships.
• Governments, international organizations, the private sector, and donors should join forces in capacity building. Substantial interaction is needed between science agencies and donor organizations, because most donor organizations are unsure of marine issues.
• Creation of awareness in the minds of the public and policy makers is essential for raising national and international support.
• All participants must recognize the need to sustain capacity once it has been built.

  Capacity building is achieved by a variety of methods:

• On the job training of individuals in both home and externally.
• Fellowships to individuals for scientific, technical, and engineering training/formal education.
• Regional cooperative development projects directed at limited attainable objectives; this may be more cost effective than via individual national projects.
• Assistance in securing resources needed for developing/enhancing infrastructure needed for specific activities.
• Short-term residential courses/workshops dealing with specialized subjects, which may result in the award of appropriate accreditation (e.g., limited diploma) or international recognition from an international institution or a research or academic institution.
• Courses taught by distance learning.
• Including strong capacity building components in global and regional research programs.
• Creating awareness of the importance of IOC’s programme activities and of the need for capacity building.

Background documents on the TEMA programme:

• Principles and Strategy for IOC Capacity-building as approved by the IOC Assembly, June 2005: working paper (13 pages): eng, fra, esp, rus
• 31st Session of the IOC Executive Council: Item 5.6
• Background elements, concepts definitions and pilot implementation of recent capacity building actions within the TEMA programme (31st Session of the IOC Executive Council, Paris, 17-27 November 1998 - Doc IOC/INF-1112)
• 19th Session of the IOC Assembly - Item 9
• A strategy and Framework Plan for TEMA-Capacity Building: Summary Report of the Second Meeting of the TEMA Group of Experts for Capacity Building (Bremen, Germany, 12-14 May 1997 - Doc IOC/TEMA-CB-II/3)
• Summary Report, First Meeting of the TEMA Group of Experts for Capacity Building (Paris, July 1996 - Doc IOC/TEMA-CB-I/3)
• TEMA Strategy ad hoc Meeting, Summary Report (Paris, 21-24 March 1995; Paris, 9 May 1995 - Doc IOC/INF 999)