WIO Symphony technical data handling training for strengthened capacity for national and regional MSP in the WIO

The Nairobi Convention and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwaM) are collaborating on a joint effort to enhance data handling and integration for Marine Spatial Planning and Strategic Environmental Assessments in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. The main focus is to strengthen the capacity of National Data Centers in Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, and the United Republic of Tanzania to update and integrate data into the WIO Symphony tool. The initiative ultimately aims to support marine spatial planners in the WIO region by providing them with the data they need for assessments and planning, making the WIO Symphony tool more useful for decision-making on sustainable Marine Spatial Planning and ocean governance in the region.

In preparation for the training in October, a National planning group will have identified missing or inadequately represented data in the WIO Symphony tool by September. The workshop will bring together National Data Center groups and various resource persons with expertise in data handling, integration, and marine spatial planning. These resource persons will include technical experts from Swedish institutions and organizations, experts from suggested countries (France, Seychelles, and South Africa) who will share their best practices, the Nairobi Convention Secretariat with specialized knowledge in IT and GIS systems, and Marine Spatial Planners from each country.

This training will be based on real data from the planners’ countries to ensure its practicality and direct relevance. It will include hands-on exercises and presentations to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to strengthen sustainable Marine Spatial Planning within their national and regional contexts. A detailed schedule for the workshop will be released in September 2023.