P-SIDs Regional Training & Capacity Building Workshop, Nauru

7 Aug 2019 - 8 Aug 2019

AGENDA  | PARTICIPANTS  | PRESENTATIONS

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

In February 2019, the Pacific Regional Training and Capacity-Building workshop was held in Nuku’alofa, Kingdom of Tonga. Organized by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the International Seabed Authority (ISA) with the support of the Kingdom of Tonga, this workshop had two objectives. First, to enable participants to deliberate and agree on how participation of P-SIDS could be increased in activities undertaken in the Area and accordingly, to identify what would be necessary to ensure that they fully benefit from such activities. Second, to clearly identify the main capacity-building needs of Pacific Sponsoring States (Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga) that are necessary if they want to take fully benefit from their participation in activities in the Area with a view of achieving their Blue Economy objectives.

The workshop participants adopted an Outcome document and identified specific capacity-building needs for sponsoring States to fulfill their role and responsibilities under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as ISA’s rules, regulations and procedures.

OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP

The Regional Training and Capacity Building Workshop on the “Role and responsibilities of sponsoring States” scheduled to be held in Yaren, Nauru, aims at bringing two representatives of each P-SIDS sponsoring State. It is anticipated that this workshop will not only enable participants to gain better understanding of the critical elements relating to the role and responsibilities of sponsoring States under international law, but will ensure that participants could identify ways to strengthen existing mechanisms and processes in place that concur to fulfil their responsibilities. Additionally, it is expected that the workshop would provide the opportunity to discuss further how can Sponsoring States can leverage their relationship with contractors to increase their participation in activities in the area (non-monetary benefits) including to support their national objectives.