Project Moroccan Coordinator: Pr. ECHCHELH Adil
Project Period : 2023-2026
Funding Partners: Fisheries and Oceans Canada website, European Union, United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Consortium :
Project Description:
The objectives reflect the Alliance motto ‘Connecting-Cooperating-Acting’, OKEANO, will serve to scale and transit the Alliance to a long-term, sustainable, and highly impactful international partnership capable of delivering transformative science, innovation and concrete benefits for Atlantic communities.
The AAORIA’s core operations will receive expert support from this initiative, along with guidance on legacy and long-term governance structures. Create an All-Atlantic Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda to support the coordination of marine and maritime research and innovation activities with All-Atlantic stakeholders. Consolidate and strengthen current initiatives that are in line with the priorities of the All-Atlantic Declaration. Encourage systematic dialogue and coordination between the AAORIA and All-Atlantic stakeholders at national, regional, and international levels. Design and implement inclusive capacity development initiatives for Atlantic communities.
OKEANO will also support the organization, monitoring, communication, and outreach activities of three All-Atlantic Fora.
The consortium, which consists of fifteen organizations, guarantees a thorough geographic coverage of countries that support the All-Atlantic Declaration along and across the Atlantic Ocean.
In addition, the consortium offers a well-balanced combination of special skills, expertise, and connections to pertinent citizen and stakeholder networks that are necessary to achieve the project’s goals.
Project Objectives:
- Management and Coordination, and Professional Support for the AAORIA Governance
- Structured Dialogue at Local, National, International, and Multilateral Levels
- Support and Consolidation of Existing AAORIA Activities, Including Atlantic Early-Career Ocean Professional (ECOP) Communities Capacity Building
- Supporting the Coordination of Marine and Maritime Research and Innovation (R&I) Activities with Atlantic Stakeholders.
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. Link: https://allatlanticocean.org/news/ecop-morocco-ocean-dialogue-strategy-and-roadmap-for-unoc-3/
Ibn Tofail University serves as Morocco’s coordinator within the All-Atlantic Ocean Research & Innovation Alliance, the University works with 15 international partners to review comparative approaches and co-develop international best practice for the SDGs; primarily SDG 14, with links to SDGs 13 and 17. OKEANO co-develops the All-Atlantic Strategic R&I Agenda, convenes structured dialogue from local to multilateral levels (including the All-Atlantic Fora), and delivers capacity-building for Early-Career Ocean Professionals. Outputs include shared indicators, data-collection protocols, and governance guidelines that are tested and disseminated, demonstrating UIT’s institutional role in shaping SDG best practice.
Through OKEANO, Ibn Tofail University leads educational outreach activities and capacity-building initiatives for local and national coastal communities. These outreach programs specifically raise awareness on overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and destructive fishing practices, promoting sustainable fisheries management, shared governance guidelines, and the protection of marine biodiversity under SDG 14.
Ibn Tofail University serves as Morocco’s coordinator within the All-Atlantic Ocean Research & Innovation Alliance, the University works with 15 international partners to review comparative approaches and co-develop international best practice for the SDGs; primarily SDG 14, with links to SDGs 13 and 17. OKEANO co-develops the All-Atlantic Strategic R&I Agenda, convenes structured dialogue from local to multilateral levels (including the All-Atlantic Fora), and delivers capacity-building for Early-Career Ocean Professionals. Outputs include shared indicators, data-collection protocols, and governance guidelines that are tested and disseminated, demonstrating UIT’s institutional role in shaping SDG best practice.
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