On 6 July 2023, the Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) hosted the fourth ceremony to present the end-of-training certificates to nationals from developing States who benefitted from opportunities provided by ISA exploration contractors under the Contractors’ Training Programme (CTP) between July and December 2022. The ceremony was held in a hybrid format. Members of the Legal and Technical Commission and ISA Secretariat attended the ceremony in Kingston, Jamaica, while contractors and trainees joined online.
The ceremony highlighted the successful completion of training by 29 trainees from 14 developing States, including seven women, who benefitted from placements provided by five exploration Contractors. Among the 29 trainees, 12 were nationals from the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries or small island developing States, identified as a priority by ISA in terms of capacity development.
In his welcome remarks, the Secretary-General of ISA, H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, reiterated the importance and the impact of the CTP. “The CTP is one of the main vehicles through which developing States, including least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, can receive tangible benefits immediately,” he said.
In his closing remarks, the Head of the LTC subgroup on training, Mr. Mario Aurelio, commended contractors on the tremendous work carried out through CTP thus far. “As part of contractors’ legal obligations, the CTP has so far delivered the most successful and tangible outcomes in the implementation of exploration contracts,” he said.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation provided eight theoretical training placements between June and November 2022 under its polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese contracts. JSC Yuzhmorgeologiya provided six theoretical training placements in November 2022. Companhia de Pesquisa de Recursos Minerais provided eight at-sea placements between October and December 2022. Deep Ocean Resources Development Co. Ltd. provided five at-sea and on-land training placements between October and December 2022. The Republic of Korea provided two at-sea placements in December 2022.
Training and capacity-building have been integral features of the activities of ISA since its establishment in 1994. This responsibility is also recognized in the Strategic Plan and High-Level Action Plan for 2019-2023 under Strategic direction 5 (Build capacity for developing States) and Strategic direction 6 (Ensure integrated participation by developing States). All ISA Contractors have a legal obligation to provide and fund training opportunities for personnel from developing States and those of ISA. More than 300 opportunities have been made available under the CTP since 2013.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms. Stefanie Neno, Communications Specialist, ISA, sneno@isa.org.jm