Kingston, Jamaica – 17 October 2024 — The Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) hosted its sixth annual ceremony to present end-of-training certificates to nationals from developing States who benefited from opportunities provided by ISA Contractors under the Contractors’ Training Programme (CTP) in 2023 and 2024.
The ceremony celebrated the successful completion of training by 29 trainees from 16 developing States, including 15 women, representing 52 per cent of the recipients. This diverse group of trainees benefited from placements provided by eight ISA contractors. Notably, eight trainees were nationals of the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, which ISA identified as a priority regarding capacity development.
In his welcome remarks, the Secretary-General of ISA, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, commended all trainees for their accomplishments and expressed his appreciation to the contractors for their unwavering commitment to supporting the capacity development activities of ISA. “The CTP is one of the main vehicles through which individuals representing developing States can receive tangible benefits immediately,” he said.
“This collaboration is crucial to enhance the visibility of ISA’s and its contractors’ work in relation to our capacity development mandate. ISA remains committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to develop our capacity development programmes in a pragmatic and inclusive manner, fostering a future where all truly share the benefits of deep-sea activities,” he concluded.
Secretary-General Lodge highlighted ISA’s long-standing and strong commitment to gender equality in deep-sea research. He noted with appreciation that 20 of 21 contractors have already pledged to allocate 50 per cent of their placements to women under the ISA Women in Deep-Sea Research project, demonstrating a collective effort to promote diversity and inclusivity in the field.
The representatives of seven contractors attended the ceremony. Dr. Thomas Kuhn, Project Coordinator for Exploration of Seafloor Massive Sulfides in the Indian Ocean, represented the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources. Mr. Nabil Sultan, Director of the Physical Resources and Deep-Sea Ecosystems Department, spoke on behalf of the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea. The Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security was represented by Ms. Yumiko Arai, Deputy Director of the Administration Division, Seafloor Mineral Resources Department. Mr. Oystein Larsen, COO, represented Loke CCZ (formerly UKSR Ltd). Dr. Farran Redfern, Chairman of Marawa Research and Exploration Ltd., provided a pre-recorded video message. Ms. Rachel Houmphan, Social Impact and Stakeholder Engagement Lead, represented Nauru Ocean Resources Inc., while Ms. Muimui Napaa Lino, Country Manager, spoke for Tonga Offshore Mining Limited. While unable to attend the ceremony, Global Sea Mineral Resources NV also provided training opportunities.
Training completed under this cohort included at-sea and post-cruise training, online theoretical training on deep-sea geology, biology and technology, internships, fellowship Master programmes and participation in ISA’s Deep-Dive e-learning programme.
Three trainees shared their experiences during the ceremony, providing insights into the impact of the CTP. Ms. Alessandra Rivero Cortés from Bolivia spoke about her participation in at-sea and post-cruise training with the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources. Ms. Iyani Inumi Jayaneththi Subasinghe Muthukuda Arachchige from Sri Lanka discussed her experience as a recipient of a Master’s fellowship from the Global Sea Mineral Resources NV. Ms. Ann Wanjau from Kenya shared what she learned from the internship in geological studies she completed with the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea.
Training and capacity development have been a cornerstone of ISA’s activities since its establishment in 1994. This commitment is firmly recognized in the Strategic Plan and High-Level Action Plan for 2019-2025, ISA’s Capacity Development Strategy and MSR Action Plan. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1994 Agreement, all ISA contractors are legally obligated to provide and fund training opportunities for personnel from developing States and those of ISA. Since its inception, the CTP has benefited more than 300 professionals, significantly contributing to building and developing expertise in deep-sea research and related fields.
To further support and connect CTP’s alumni, the ISA Secretariat launched the Capacity Development Alumni Network (iCAN) in February 2024. The iCAN network currently comprises 80 members, including 58 former CTP trainees. All new CTP graduates are encouraged to join iCAN, fostering a growing community of skilled deep-sea research and resource management professionals.
About ISA
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous intergovernmental organization mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to manage the mineral resources of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for the shared benefit of humankind. ISA is committed to the principle that all economic activities in the deep seabed, including deep-seabed mining, must be regulated and responsibly managed using the best available scientific evidence for the benefit of all nations of the world. ISA works to ensure that the voices of all States, including developing States and other stakeholders, are effectively heard in discussions around the sustainable development of the deep seabed.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr. Philip Janikowski, Communications Specialist, ISA, pjanikowski@isa.org.jm
For more information, visit our website, www.isa.org.jm, or follow us on Twitter @ISBAHQ.