International Maritime Organization (IMO)

International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA)

Local governments throughout Africa

Local industries throughout Africa

The main goal of the IMO / IPIECA Global Initiative is to improve the global state of oil spill preparedness and response with two main objectives:

Assist developing countries in establishing an effective national response structure for dealing with major oil spills through the mobilization of external assistance and industry support at the national and regional levels

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

In March 1996 an IMO / IPIECA oil spill planning meeting was held in Cape Town, South Africa. This meeting was attended by international experts and delegates from 33 African countries. The event saw the formal launch of the Global Initiative Programme (GI had been endorsed by the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee in 1995). An action plan and certain expectations of support were raised at this meeting and a number of activities followed in the Africa region. The follow-up to this meeting remains part of the GI strategy to ensure improved oil spill contingency planning in this region.

This partnership initiative is in line with Agenda 21 and in particular supports the following potential areas for partnerships identified 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.

The initiative is also in line with the overall goals of NEPAD by building national institutions in African countries to allow continued development while protecting the environment.

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 and seminars.

The specific targets include the following:

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

To encourage the ratification and effective implementation of the various relevant marine environment protection related conventions

Ensure consistent training and exercises of such contingency plans

These are ongoing targets and therefore do not have a fixed deadline.

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

A set of focal points has been established in both government and industry such that work can be continued at national level .

Global Initiative Newsletters are issued 2 to 3 times a year and reports are also given at the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee meetings which take place every eight months.

The joint IMO/industry Global Initiative in Africa is coordinated by both the IMO and IPIECA Secretariats in London, UK, through the various oil company representatives that sit on IPIECA’s Oil Spill Working Group and through other key partner organizations that bring technical expertise to this group. Within IPIECA (the industry), the programme is coordinated by a Global Initiative Steering Committee which includes representatives from the various oil companies and technical organizations.

Government and industry focal points in each country were set up to facilitate flow of information and prevent duplication of effort. At the national level, co-operation between local industry and government is key to success.

The initial funding comes from the IMO Integrated Technical Co-operation Programme and the IPIECA Secretariat budget although a significant amount of both in-kind and financial support is given by local industry when an event is organized in a particular country.

The aims of the GI in Africa are to improve oil spill preparedness and response in developing countries by encouraging effective and sustainable oil spill contingency planning. This is done through various workshops, training sessions and seminars in various countries.

The IMO / IPIECA Global Initiative is closely linked to the UNEP Regional Seas programme and the activities of the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee. Their objectives are very similar in that they aim at protecting the marine environment. They also aim at enhancing cooperation between government and industry and work on a regional and global basis.

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