NATIONAL NODE -CÔTE D'IVOIRE
Introducing ECOP Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d’Ivoire has a 566 km Atlantic coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that is central to the country’s economy, food security, and cultural identity. Ocean resources sustain millions of livelihoods through fisheries, maritime trade and coastal tourism. Yet Ivorian early career ocean professionals have historically lacked a dedicated platform to connect, share knowledge and influence ocean policy.
- Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Côte d’Ivoire
- From Cape Palmas (Liberia) in the west to Cape Three Points (Ghana) in the east, over a distance of 566 km
- EEZ area: 200,000 km²
ECOP Côte d’Ivoire (ECOP-CI) was officially established in 2026 as a national node of the Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOP) Programme, an endorsed Action under the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). It brings together early career scientists, engineers, policy advocates, and practitioners working across ocean science, climate change, fisheries, marine biodiversity and the blue economy.
The node was built through a rigorous process: submission and review of a concept note by the ECOP Africa Regional Node, with guidance from ECOP Africa Regional Coordinator Sarah Viana and ECOP Programme Global Coordinator Evgeniia Kostianaia. The coordinating team reflects a commitment to diversity — spanning geophysics, oceanography, GIS and remote sensing, fisheries science, environmental geography, informatics, and communications — and includes members from multiple institutions across Côte d’Ivoire and the WASCAL regional program.
Governance structure: The node is led by a National Coordinator and nine Co-Coordinators covering all key portfolios (STI, Capacity Development, Ocean Literacy, Finance & Partnerships, Secretariat, Communications). A multi-stakeholder Steering Committee provides oversight with 2-year renewable terms and transparent electoral processes.
Goals and Objectives
Our mission: To empower Côte d’Ivoire’s Early Career Ocean Professionals to generate actionable knowledge, influence policy, and drive inclusive, sustainable blue economy outcomes — in line with the UN Ocean Decade.
Our vision: By 2030, make ECOP Côte d’Ivoire a West African model for engaging young professionals in ocean science and the blue economy, where every ECOP has the skills, networks and opportunities to contribute to the ocean we want.
Key activities and what you gain by joining:
- Training and capacity building: hands-on workshops in marine data management, GIS/remote sensing, fisheries science, coastal adaptation and blue entrepreneurship — targeting 100+ ECOPs trained in Year 1.
- Mentorship programme: 6–9 month cohorts pairing early career professionals with experienced mentors from research institutions, government and the private sector.
- Ocean Literacy Week: an annual coastwide event reaching 5,000+ students in 20 coastal schools — in French and local languages.
- Innovation Challenge: microgrants for ECOP-led action research projects on Ivorian ocean challenges (plastic pollution, coastal erosion, fisheries resilience).
- Policy and science dialogues: translating ECOP knowledge into national ocean governance and contributing to Côte d’Ivoire’s Blue Economy strategy.
- Networking and visibility: access to the ECOP Africa regional community, ECOP Global Programme database, and the UN Ocean Decade network.
- Roadshows across coastal cities: San-Pédro, Grand-Bassam, Sassandra, Tabou, Assinie, Bouaké — bringing ECOP-CI to you, wherever you are.
Why join? Whether you are a student, researcher, NGO professional, government officer or entrepreneur working on ocean-related topics, ECOP-CI is your national platform to grow, collaborate and be heard within the global UN Ocean Decade movement.
ECOP Côte d'Ivoire Coordination Unit
N'GUESSAN Césaire Kouadio
National Coordinator
Guy Roland ZAMBLE
Deputy Coordinator
Eunice Nancy Firmine AHI
Secretary General
Ramatou OUATTARA
Deputy Secretary General
Ibrahim SAVADOGO
STI Coordinator (Science, Technology & Innovation)
Tizié Thierry ZAN-BI
Deputy Coordinator (Science, Technology & Innovation,STI)
Julien Gninkan KONÉ
Coordinator (Partnerships & Fundraising)
Marcelle Ghislaine ANIEN Epse Kpain
Deputy Coordinator (Partnerships & Fundraising)
Ferdinand BEBO
Coordinator (Ocean Literacy & Outreach)
Kouadio Elvis KOUASSI
Deputy Coordinator (Ocean Literacy & Outreach)
Koffi Évariste KOUAME
Coordinator (Communications & Media)
ECOP Côte d'Ivoire Highlights
Section under development
Communication Channels & How to Join
Connect with ECOP Côte d’Ivoire and stay informed about activities, opportunities and events:
- Email: cotedivoire@ecopdecade.org
How to register as a member: Fill out the ECOP-CI membership form (online, click here) — link to be shared at launch. Registration is free and open to all early career professionals active in any ocean-related field in Côte d’Ivoire. Inclusion targets: ≥50% women, ≥40% members from outside Abidjan.
Register to the ECOP Global Database: All coordinating members and interested ECOPs are encouraged to register here.
Resources & Ocean Networks
Ocean Decade and regional networks:
- UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO)
- UN Ocean Decade
- ODINAFRICA (Ocean Data and Information Network for Africa)
- UNEP / Abidjan Convention