Socio-Ecosystem Diagnostic Analysis (SEDA) Structure |
|
|
GEF-UNDP-IOC-SSC project:
Strengthening the stewardship of an economically and biologically significant high seas area – the Sargasso Sea
In June 2020, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council approved its latest Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) programme entitled "Common Oceans - Sustainable utilisation and conservation of biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction"; the programme is financed under the GEF's International Waters focal area. One component of the GEF ABNJ programme is the project, "Strengthening the stewardship of an economically and biologically significant high seas area – the Sargasso Sea".The overall objective of the 4-year, nearly $3 million project is to facilitate a collaborative, cross-sectoral, and sustainable stewardship approach for the Sargasso Sea through improvement of the knowledge base and strengthened frameworks for collaborative management and governance.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the GEF implementing agency for the project, and after a detailed review of prospective organisations, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (IOC-UNESCO) was selected to serve as UNDP Implementing Partner (Executing Agency). IOC will work closely with stakeholders for the project, including UNDP, the Sargasso Sea Commission and its Signatory Governments, GEF-eligible beneficiary countries, and other partners, including the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, the Duke University Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, the Imperial College London Centre for Environmental Policy, the University of Edinburgh, the World Maritime University, and the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM).
Common Oceans Programme
The Common Oceans Program is a global partnership funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), promoting sustainable fisheries and biodiversity conservation in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) with a particular focus on tuna and deep-sea fisheries, the Sargasso Sea and cross-sectoral cooperation. Led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Program brings together the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), regional fisheries management organizations, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector, civil society and academia.IW:LEARN
One of the outputs of the project is to engage with IW:LEARN activities. IW:LEARN is the Global Environment Facility's (GEF) International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network. The IW:LEARN project was established to strengthen transboundary water management around the globe by collecting and sharing best practices, lessons learned, and innovative solutions to common problems across the GEF International Waters portfolio. It promotes learning among project managers, country official, implementing agencies, and other partners. 1% of the Sargasso Sea Child Project budget will be dedicated to GEF IW portfolio learning activities through engagement in a range of IW:LEARN activities such as biennial GEF IW Conferences, website support, thematic meetings (annual LME meeting), etc.