UNU-FTP announces voluntary commitments at UN Oceans Conference on SDG 14
This week, UNU-FTP is participating in the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development, convening at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The conference aims to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14.
UNU-FTP’s contribution to the Oceans Conference is centred on issues relating to capacity building and innovation in SIDS and LDCs in African coastal states. Through contributions to side events and partnership dialogues, UNU-FTP will address our experience of the specific needs and challenges facing our partner countries when building capacity to sustainably manage and develop fisheries. In addition, UNU-FTP has registered two voluntary commitments at the UN Ocean Conference to affirm our dedication to building capacity in fisheries.
“Research and capacity development supporting SDG 14 and sustainable fishing harvest and Blue Growth in SIDS”
Each year for five years, UNU-FTP will provide a full fellowship to four early to mid-career fisheries professionals for its six month post graduate training programme in Iceland. UNU-FTP will deliver at least three regional courses targeting SIDS over the next five years. These initiative will be planned and managed in cooperation with SIDS and UN DESA.
This voluntary commitment builds upon the established partnership between the UNU-FTP and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism and our continuing focus on partnership in other SIDS countries. UNU-FTP commits to create targeted training activities for fisheries scientists, managers, and policy makers in the developing countries. Through an institutional capacity building approach, UNU-FTP will collaborate with partners to identify priority areas related to fisheries management and will create tailor-made regional short courses to address these needs in cooperation with local partners and institutions. UNU-FTP will also provide rigorous, post-graduate level training on relevant topics to selected fisheries professionals from SIDS countries in areas which may include fisheries stock assessment, fish handling and processing, fisheries policy and industry management, or aquaculture. Specific topics of research and training will be identified through dialogue with partners and will take into consideration their priorities and aim to establish synergies with other development activities.
“Research and capacity development to support livelihood and food security and safety in African Coastal Communities”
Each year for five years, the UNU-FTP will provide a full fellowship to four early to mid-career fisheries professionals from African coastal states for its six month post graduate training programme in Iceland. In partnership with local institutions, UNU-FTP will deliver at least three courses targeting African Coastal states over the next five years.
In many low income countries, small scale fisheries is of particular importance for food security and livelihoods. There is a large potential to improve the economic value, nutritional quality, and food safety in these areas. For the past several years, the UNU-FTP has been developing and promoting improved processing methods for preservation of small pelagic fish, which are particularly perishable, including salting, smoking, and drying. UNU-FTP will continue to work towards developing appropriate technologies, adaptation by fishing communities, and product marketing. This commitment aims to address SDG 14.7. Through research and capacity building activities in African LICs where fisheries are an important resource, UNU-FTP will invite fisheries professionals to participate in six month post-graduate training in Iceland. Also, UNU-FTP will collaborate with partner organisations to develop custom made training courses to be offered in-country. These will target resource managers, and trainers, and practitioners.