The IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) is looking for suitable experts in marine spatial planning.

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) has gained considerable importance all around the world over the past decade. Since it organized the first international workshop on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in 2006, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC/UNESCO) has become a leading institution in this field.

In response to the pressing demands of IOC Member States in the region, the IOC Sub-Commission for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) initiated and officially registered an UN Ocean Decade Action UN21: Accelerate Marine Spatial Planning in the Western Pacific. The proposed Action will capitalize on the MSPglobal Initiative and its results, and further promote and accelerate MSP in the Western Pacific, with a view to assisting Member States in applying an ecosystem-based approach to the management of marine space and resources therein, developing a blue economy, and ultimately achieving SDG 14 and the 2030 Agenda as a whole.

To this end, we are pleased to seek your nominations of qualified MSP expert(s) in your respective countries/institutions/network(s), who have a strong willingness to join the collective effort in promoting, facilitating and accelerating marine spatial planning in the region. The Group of Experts will be formed with due considerations given to member’s expertise, working experience related to MSP, geographic representation, generational and gender balance. The detailed Terms of Reference is attached to this letter for your further reference.

Please send your nomination, together with his/her CV, to iocwestpac@unesco.org, with a copy to Zhiwei Zhang at z.zhang@unesco.org, at your convenience, preferable no later than 10 June 2023.