the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA)

France (Reunion)

South Africa

Government of Comoros

Government of Madagascar

Government of Mauritius

Government of Seychelles

The main goal of the GEF(WB)/ IOC Regional Oil Spill Contingency Planning Project is to improve the regional state of oil spill preparedness and response in the Western Indian Ocean Region with the following objectives:

Assist Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles in establishing an effective national and regional response structure for dealing with major oil spills through the mobilization of external assistance and industry support at the national and regional levels; and

Encourage national and regional ratification and implementation of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation, 1990 (OPRC Convention), and the conventions relating to oil spill compensation (1992 Civil Liability Convention (CLC) and 1992 Fund Convention).

In March 1998, the World Bank and the IOC signed a Grant Agreement to assist the Western Indian Ocean Islands members of the IOC to implement an integrated project whereby these islands could prepare National and Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plans to deal with small and large oil spills individually and collectively. This project is made of five main components which are;

ratification of the OPRC, CLC and the Compensation Fund.

preparation of National Oil Spill Contingency plans

identification and supply of Oil Spill Combat equipment

Capacity Building/training of trainers

Regional Plan and Agreement and setting of Regional Coordination Centre.

Requests from Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania have been received to join the project and thus the regional plan would then cover the whole sub region from south Africa in the south to Seychelles in the north.

This partnership initiative is in line with Agenda 21 and in particular supports the following potential areas for partnershipsdiscussed during the WSSD preparatory process:

Global network of related institutional support structures, including information systems, technology centres, and research and development institutions to promote greater transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries

Partnerships to link regional centres of excellence that would contribute to the development of the knowledge capacity of developing countries

Regional activities that can be replicated in other parts of the globe

The initiative explicitly supports the objectives and goals of Chapters: 2, 17, 34, 36 and 37 of Agenda 21.

This initiative is particularly responsive to the needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and enables their development of proper institutions.

The results include enhanced national and regional cooperation between government and industry including the establishment of national and regional contingency plans in Africa. Enhanced capacity building in oil spill preparedness and response through training, workshops, seminars, exercises, drills and joint training .

The specific targets include the following:

Assisting small islands developing countries to ensure that their oil spill contingency plans are in place

To encourage the ratification of the various relevant oil spill conventions

Ensure consistent training and exercises to test the contingency plans

The above targets are ongoing until the end of the project and will continue after the project has ended.

At an international level, the Global Initiative Steering Committee coordinates the GI activities for the industry and the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the IMO coordinates the GI activities for the governments.

At a national level, a set of focal points have been established in both government and industry such that work can be continued on a national basis.

The IOC produces quarterly reports. There is also a project Steering Committee that meets once a year to monitor and direct the project.

A report is also prepared and submitted to the council of Ministers of the IOC once a year.

At national level a national coordination unit has been set up within the ministry of Environment, whilst at the regional level a project coordination unit has been set up at the IOC.

The World Bank supervision team monitors the implementation of the project in the field twice a year and the Regional Coordinator produces a quarterly report for circulation to the World Bank, sponsors and beneficiary countries.

The initial funding comes from the World Bank. All the beneficiary countries as well as the IOC and France and South Africa contribute in kind. IOC for example provides the regional coordination office with the secretariat. The IMO and IPIECA also provide technical expertise and in-kind support to the project.

The aims of the WB/IOC project are to improve oil spill preparedness and response in the islands developing countries by encouraging effective and sustainable oil spill contingency planning. This is done through the implementation of this very comprehensive project which comprises of training of nationals and helping them thereafter to prepare the plans and carry out regular training.

Sustainability in the long term is guaranteed through the setting of special national funds which would finance the continuity of the project at the end of the WB funding..

The WB/IOC project relies on the continued support of IMO and IPECA and is very much part of the IMO/IPIECA GI project which itself is closely associated to the UNEP Regional Seas programme and the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee’s activities. Our objectives are very similar in that we look to protect the environment and especially our oceans. We also look to enhance cooperation between government and industry and work on a regional basis.

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