Capacity Development Hub - Africa
Credit: Fabrice Duderhofer / Ocean Image Bank
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ABOUT THE HUB
The Capacity Development Hub of the ECOP Africa Node (CD Hub – Africa) was officially launched in December 2024 as a collaborative capacity building platform to bridge the gap between African ECOP members, scientific and governance institutions, and the private sector willing to support the implementation of quality skill-building opportunities within the ocean affairs including but not limited to hands-on training, structured learning pathways, internships and mentoring programs.
Today, the CD Hub – Africa consists of a member-driven platform to conceptualize, plan and implement alongside interested partners and sponsors dedicated capacity building opportunities that are aligned to the regional professional needs and priorities through our key themed programmes. In order to achieve this, the CD Hub – Africa facilitates collaboration between qualified African ECOP experts, centres-of-excellence in Ocean Sciences and the Sustainable Blue Economy, and interested sponsors.
The CD Hub – Africa beneficiaries are the registered African members of our network, government and academia, and the private sector who are interested in establishing meaningful commitment to the UN Ocean Decade and, more specifically, Priority 8 of the Ocean Decade Africa Roadmap.
MISSION & VISION
Our Vision
A collective capacity building platform aiming to provide dedicated professional opportunities for the registered members of the ECOP Africa Node.
Our Mission
To deliver quality and member-driven capacity development opportunities within the Ocean Sciences and Sustainable Blue Economy through a collaborative approach between members, partners and sponsors.
OBJECTIVES
The Capacity Development Hub – Africa aims to:
- Offer dedicated and frequent in-person and online training for African ECOPs — workshops, courses, webinars, internships, and mentoring programmes.
- Facilitate multidisciplinary and collaborative partnerships between research institutions, businesses, and organisations across the region and internationally.
- Accelerate information sharing of professional opportunities, recruitment, funding, and capacity development resources for African ECOPs.
Our Guiding Principles
- Member-centricity — all programming is grounded in member needs, priorities and challenges and community feedback gathered through network assessment surveys.
- Partnership leverage — our strength lies in activating a network of institutional partners and qualified members who contribute resources, expertise, and opportunity.
- Quality over scale — smaller, well-designed programmes deliver deeper impacts.
- Practical orientation — hands-on training, internships, mentorship address the gap between theoretical knowledge and applied technical skills.
- Regional equity — capacity building for ALL allows access to knowledge and skills to members of all backgrounds, nationality, religion, gender and sexual orientation
CD HUB - AFRICA COORDINATION
The CD Hub – Africa currently is lead by:
Elizabeth Okullow is a blue economy and impact innovation expert with over eight years in aquaculture, bioeconomy, and climate resilience across Africa. She co-founded AquaMnara, supporting smallholder farmers with data-driven services, and founded Bionala, converting fish by-products into valuable products. She leads capacity development in sustainable livelihoods and youth entrepreneurship. Elizabeth holds a Master’s in Impact Entrepreneurship, a BSc in Microbiology, and has received awards including Mandela Washington Fellow (2021).
Elizabeth Okullow
Blue Economy & Impact Innovation Professional
Lawrence Dogli is a maritime security and blue economy expert with over six years of experience. He holds a BSc in Ports and Shipping Administration from the Regional Maritime University, Ghana. He has promoted youth and women’s participation in the blue economy in West and Central Africa, contributing to Ghana’s maritime strategy and capacity building initiatives.
Lawrence Dogli
Maritime Security & Blue Economy Professional
THEMED PROGRAMMES
The CD Hub – Africa accommodates five thematic programmes that were designed taking into consideration recommendations and suggestions of our members through recent needs assessment surveys and regional consultations.
Our capacity building opportunities are conceptualized, planned and implemented aiming at providing focus and output-driven solutions to the members’ current needs, challenges and priorities.
| # | Theme | Focus |
| 01 | Climate Change Adaptation | To understand, monitor, and respond to the effects of climate change in marine and coastal systems. Covers climate science, ecosystem-based adaptation, and climate-resilient blue economy practices. |
| 02 | Blue Economy | To strengthen knowledge and skills in sustainable ocean-based economic sectors including fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, coastal tourism, and energy. |
| 03 | Ocean Innovation & Entrepreneurship | To develop entrepreneurial mindsets and innovation skills within the ocean private and technology sector. Covers business model development, impact entrepreneurship, and blue economy startup pathways. |
| 04 | Marine Biodiversity & Sustainability | To build essential technical and scientific capacity in marine biodiversity, conservation and sustainable management of ocean resources,and ecology. Includes practical training and field-based experience. |
| 05 | Marine Technology | To introduce ocean observation technologies, data collection and management, remote sensing, and digital tools for forecasting and information systems. |
OUR COURSES & ACTIVITIES
The Hub delivers capacity development through four core activity streams:
In-Person Practical Trainings
Hands-on and small-cohort training through workshops or short courses conducted at partner institutions. Participants work has individualized guidance with qualified experts in laboratory, field, or institutional settings.
Annual Webinar Series
Regular webinars covering topics across the five themed programmes. Webinars are 90-minute virtual sessions with invited expert speakers followed by interactive discussion.
Internship Programme
Structured 3–6 month internship placements within the ECOP Africa Node and partner organisations, providing members with short deliverables-oriented and refined practical working experience.
Mentoring Programme (under development)
Six-month virtual mentoring cycles pairing members with experienced ocean professionals within different knowledge areas within the Ocean Sciences and Governance.
CALLS FOR APPLICATIONS
OPENING SOON
Introduction to DNA Barcoding for Marine Biodiversity Assessment and Monitoring
23-27 November and 7-11 December 2026
The call for applications for the first workshop organized by the CD Hub – Africa will open soon.
Apply Here
Enquiries: capacity.development_africa@ecopdecade.org
PARTNERS & SPONSORS
The CDHub – Africa operates through a strategic partnership model. Partners and sponsors are encouraged to contribute towards facilitating human resources, access to technical facilities and equipment, and logistical support
Committed Partners
- Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute — Ghana
- Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection — Morocco
- OceanTeacher Global Academy (UNESCO/IOC) — Global
- International Ocean Institute — Southern Africa
- Revamp Rave Network — Nigeria
- OPERA Project by Mercator International
- National Research Foundation, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB) – South Africa
- Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) – Norway
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations The EAF-Nansen Programme
- Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, through the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Capacity Development Facility (CDF)
We are actively seeking new partnerships. If your organisation shares our vision to build ocean capacity for ECOPs across Africa, kindly contact us through the channels below.
