OKEANO – Supporting the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance

Project Description

The objectives reflect the Alliance motto “Connecting – Cooperating – Acting.” OKEANO supports the transition of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research & Innovation Alliance toward a long-term, sustainable, and highly impactful international partnership capable of delivering transformative science, innovation, and concrete benefits for Atlantic communities.

The project provides expert support to the core operations of the All-Atlantic Ocean Research & Innovation Alliance and contributes to the development of long-term governance structures. It supports the creation of an All-Atlantic Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, helping coordinate marine and maritime research and innovation activities with stakeholders across the Atlantic.

OKEANO also works to consolidate and strengthen existing initiatives aligned with the priorities of the All-Atlantic Declaration, encourage systematic dialogue and coordination between AAORIA and stakeholders at local, national, regional, international, and multilateral levels, and design inclusive capacity-development initiatives for Atlantic communities.

The project further supports the organization, monitoring, communication, and outreach activities of three All-Atlantic Fora.

The consortium consists of 15 organizations, ensuring broad geographic representation of countries supporting the All-Atlantic Declaration across the Atlantic Ocean.

In addition, the consortium brings together complementary expertise, technical capacity, and connections with relevant citizen and stakeholder networks that are essential for achieving the project’s objectives.

Project Objectives

• Management and coordination, and professional support for AAORIA governance

• Structured dialogue at local, national, international, and multilateral levels

• Support and consolidation of existing AAORIA activities, including capacity building for Atlantic Early-Career Ocean Professional communities

• Supporting the coordination of marine and maritime research and innovation activities with Atlantic stakeholders

International Collaboration on SDG Data Gathering and Measurement

Through OKEANO, Ibn Tofail University participates in an international framework for gathering, comparing, and monitoring data relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Working with 15 international partner organizations, the project supports the development and use of shared indicators, common data-collection approaches, monitoring frameworks, and governance guidelines for ocean research and sustainability.

These collaborative mechanisms enable partners to generate comparable evidence, assess progress, and support coordinated decision-making related primarily to SDG 14 – Life Below Water, with additional links to SDGs 13 and 17.

The resulting indicators, data-collection protocols, monitoring outputs, and governance guidance contribute to the All-Atlantic Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda and strengthen international evidence-based cooperation on ocean sustainability.

This international collaboration demonstrates the institutional role of Ibn Tofail University in contributing to the collection, comparison, interpretation, and use of SDG-related data within a multi-country research and innovation framework.

OKEANO and Ocean Awareness Outreach

As part of its contribution to ocean education and awareness, Ibn Tofail University participated in the ECOP Morocco Ocean Dialogue: Strategy and Roadmap for UNOC-3, held in Rabat on 30 April 2025.

During the seminar, Ms. Sanaa Zebakh presented the OKEANO project and its contribution to ocean education and awareness.

Discussions addressed major ocean challenges, including overfishing, and highlighted marine biodiversity protection, sustainable economic models, and capacity building for young professionals.

The event brought together researchers, civil society representatives, and ocean professionals to strengthen collaboration and promote ocean conservation in Morocco.

Source:
https://allatlanticocean.org/news/ecop-morocco-ocean-dialogue-strategy-and-roadmap-for-unoc-3/

International Cooperation and SDG Best Practice

Ibn Tofail University serves as Morocco’s coordinator within the All-Atlantic Ocean Research & Innovation Alliance.

Through this role, the University works with 15 international partners to review comparative approaches and co-develop international best practices related primarily to SDG 14, with links to SDGs 13 and 17.

OKEANO contributes to the development of the All-Atlantic Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, convenes structured dialogue from local to multilateral levels, including the All-Atlantic Fora, and supports capacity building for Early-Career Ocean Professionals.

Project outputs include shared indicators, data-collection approaches, monitoring mechanisms, and governance guidelines that support comparative analysis and the dissemination of evidence-based practices across partner countries.

Educational Outreach and Capacity Building

Through OKEANO, Ibn Tofail University contributes to educational outreach and capacity-building activities for local and national coastal communities.

These activities raise awareness of major ocean sustainability challenges, including overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, destructive fishing practices, marine biodiversity protection, and sustainable fisheries management.

By combining research, international cooperation, stakeholder dialogue, data monitoring, and capacity building, OKEANO contributes to strengthening sustainable ocean governance and supports the implementation of SDG 14 – Life Below Water, while reinforcing partnerships under SDG 17.