leadership programme to develop National OA Actions
The leadership programme supports invited Ministries, departments and policy officers in the development and implementation of unique national commitments to domestic OA activities.
The OA Alliance directly supports invited governments in finding their unique approach to domestic OA Actions, leading to national implementation of UN SDG 14.3 “to minimize and address OA.”
The leadership programme includes:
1-1 calls between your government and the OA Alliance.
Surveys to better understand your needs, goals, and capacities.
Webinars to help your government through the process.
In-person meetings of members at high-level conferences like the Our Ocean Conference, UN Ocean Conference, or UNFCCC COPs.
High-level leadership events at UN Conferences or international conveninings.
Participating governments should expect to:
Designate an “OA lead” within their appropriate ministry or department to work with the OA Alliance.
Expect to contribute about 2 hours a month to this programme.
Have demonstrated efforts to account for OA across domestic policies within 1 year of joining.
Send high-level leadership delegations to participate at events across the Our Ocean Conference, UN Conferences and UNFCCC.
getting started
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Invitation letter
Welcome to the National OA Action Planning Leadership Circle. Review the Invitation Letter to learn more about the programme aims, what’s required of your government and support the OA Alliance will provide!
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Intake Survey
We know that domestic approaches to OA Action Planning will be different across governments.
To get started, we ask that you fill-out this brief intake form in order to better understand your government's goals and current capacity for domestic OA actions.
Estimated time to complete form, between 20-30 minutes.
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Getting Started Checklist
The OA Alliance has created specific guidance to help governments find the right approaches to OA Action Planning that work best for them.
The Getting Started Checklist will guide your government through designing an appropriate OA Policy Goal using 4 steps.
Policy Guidance
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Member States of the European Union will learn how to integrate OA across relevant descriptors of the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
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Parties of the Paris Climate Agreement will learn how to include OA mitigation, adaptation, technology capacity and financing needs across Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
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Members of the High-Level Panel on Ocean Sustainability will learn how to integrate OA activities or priority knowledge gaps across related outcomes of Sustainable Ocean Plans having to do with ocean wealth, health, equity, knowledge, and finance
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Format and Content: Step-by-step guidance for drafting your OA policy text including a high-level narrative, format and content ideas.
Additional Resources
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OA Action Plan Toolkit
The OA Action Toolkit contains both regulatory and non-regulatory actions that members might consider when crafting their own OA Action Plan. Not all OA Action plans will have the same framework or structure, as there is no “one- size fits all” approach.
Some members may choose to write a stand-alone plan, while others may decide to integrate ocean acidification science, mitigation, and adaptation across existing policy frameworks.
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Communications Pack
Here you can find set of materials created by the OA Alliance to increase our collective impact and support members in their own messaging.
You can use these materials to: 1) Amplify their leadership role on OA; 2) Create talking points for climate or ocean conferences; 3) Communicate with colleagues within their own government or organization; 4) Support education and outreach efforts; and 5) Begin drafting their own OA Action Plans.
Calls in 2026:
To join the Leadership Circle or enquire about resources, contact Jturner@unfoundation.org and AFrosch@unfoundation.org
getting started webinars
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Webinar #1: Getting Started Why is domestic OA Action Planning important?
Suggested approaches to OA Action Planning and guidance available from the OA Alliance.
Homework: Choosing your approach to OA Action Planning and assigning an OA lead from your government as primary contacts for this programme.
Fill out this introduction survey.
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Webinar #2: Taking Inventory
How do you know what OA science and research is happening in your area? What is the best way to take inventory of local OA knowledge and to prioritize gaps. Which entities can help you do this?
Homework: Filling in worksheet that will help identify your local science resources, state of knowledge, and prioritize any gaps that are most important to your government.
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Webinar #3: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies
How do you identify the best mitigation or adaptation strategies for your government? What resources or sectors are most connected to this work?
Homework: Beginning to connect relevant mitigation and adaptation efforts to OA information. Charting out where OA efforts should be incorporated across the specific policy document/ framework you chose to focus on.
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Webinar #4: Updates Towards OA Action Planning
How has your chosen approach to OA Action been going? What barriers are you encountering that need extra support?
Homework: If needed, review “Format Guidance” for writing OA Policy Text. Review progress to date with OA Alliance, receive feedback and move towards finalizing your approach to OA Action Planning and drafting OA Policy Text for your chosen pathway.
In person meetings
OUR OCEAN CONFERENCE
28-30 April, 2025
Busan, Korea
OUR OCEAN CONFERENCE
National OA Action Planning Leadership Circle High-Level Meeting
17 April 2024 | 11:00am-11:45am
Greece
UN OCEAN CONFERENCE 2025
9-13 June, 2025
Nice, France
IMMERSED IN CHANGE
National OA Action Planning Leadership Circle High-Level Meeting
8 June 2024 | 1:30-2:30pm
Costa Rica
COP30
10 - 21 November, 2025
Belem, Brazil
COP29
11 - 22 November 2024
Azerbaijan