• The constituting Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) enabling the creation of an Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) for the wider Caribbean was finalised at the last UNDP/GEF CLME+ Project Steering Committee Meeting held on 11-12 October 2021. This historic meeting was attended by representatives from twenty-five (25) States and Territories and fifteen (15) Organizations from the Wider Caribbean region.

   

• language reconciliation completed

   

• Opening of the OCM MOU for signatures by the States, Territories and Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) listed in Annex 1 to the MoU. As per its Article XX.3., the MOU is expected to commence (and thus the OCM comes into being) on the date that a minimum of twenty-three (23) States or Territories and IGOs listed in Annex 1 to this MOU, including no fewer than seventeen (17) States or Territories and six (6) IGOs, have signed this MOU.

   

• The minimum required number of IGO signatures was achieved on XXXX 2024

   

• On X December 2024, through the signature of the OCM by The Bahamas, the criteria for MOU commencement stipulated in Article XX.3. are met

The Secretariat of the CLME+ Interim Coordination Mechanism (ICM) was mandated to act, up and until the commencement of the OCM MOU in December 2024, as the custodian of the OCM MOU and of the signatures thereto. On 2 October 2023, the function of ICM Secretariat was formally assigned to the PROCARIBE+ Project Management and Coordination Unit (PMCU) by the ICM Membership.

A counter has been installed on the homepage of the CLME+ Hub (clmeplus.org) that will allow progress towards this target (see the “Interactive Timeline” section on the homepage).

The landmark decision on the MoU has now cleared the road towards a multi-stakeholder platform that will allow to convene and discuss, plan and coordinate actions to restore and protect the region’s marine assets, in support of sustainable ocean-based economies and climate-resilient development.

The CM will seek to enhance collaboration and coordination for the conservation and sustainable use of the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems. In connection to this decision, members of the Steering Committee decided in key aspects of this Coordination Mechanism, which was requested under Action 3.2 of SAP CLME+

Is “the whole of interactions (among societal actors) taken to solve societal problems and to create societal opportunities”

Improvements in ocean governance at national, sub-regional and regional levels are vital for a successful achievement of SDG14 and other ocean-related SDGs.  The 10-year CLME+ Strategic Action Programme  (2015-2025) explicitly acknowledges weaknesses in ocean governance as one of the main root causes of ongoing degradation of the marine environment.

Given the high levels of fragmentation of ocean-related efforts in the wider Caribbean, the development of effective regional integrating and coordinating mechanisms is critically needed.

With the support of the UNDP/GEF CLME+ Project, 2 interim Coordination Mechanisms have been created, while the region works towards defining a Permanent Ocean Governance Coordination Mechanism and a prospective wide-ranging Partnership.