OPERA Capacity Development Activities Officially Launched to Strengthen Ocean Forecasting Expertise in Africa
- Feb 9
- 3 min read
February 9, 2026
Cotonou, Benin - February 9, 2026 - The OPERA Capacity Development Activities have officially entered their operational phase, marking a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen ocean science and ocean forecasting capacity across Africa.
OPERA Capacity Development is implemented as part of Ocean Prediction Enhancement in Regions of Africa (OPERA) project, supported by the European Union and coordinated by Mercator Ocean International, in alignment with the objectives of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the OceanPrediction Decade Collaborative Centre.
Implementation framework
The OPERA Capacity Development is implemented by the International Chair of Mathematical Physics and Applications (ICMPA-UNESCO Chair), hosted by the University of Abomey-Calavi in Benin, in collaboration with the Gulf of Guinea Ocean Sciences Summer School (GGOSSS). ICMPA-UNESCO Chair ensures the institutional and operational implementation in accordance with contractual and governance requirements. GGOSSS acts as a technical and scientific reference, contributing to scientific orientation, pedagogical coherence, and regional anchoring of capacity development activities.
ICMPA, in collaboration with GGOSSS, was selected to implement OPERA Capacity Development through an open and competitive selection process, based on demonstrated expertise in ocean science, capacity development, education, and regional engagement.
Strengthening Capacity from Ocean Literacy to Operational Forecasting
OPERA Capacity Development addresses the growing need for locally grounded expertise in ocean forecasting as Africa’s coastal regions face increasing pressures from sea-level rise, coastal erosion, flooding, fisheries stress, and climate-related extreme events. While ocean prediction is critical for resilience and sustainable development, access to reliable forecasting systems and specialized skills remains uneven across the continent. OPERA Capacity Development responds to this gap by strengthening the entire ocean forecasting value chain, from awareness and education to advanced operational applications, serving researchers, students, scientists, decision-makers, maritime and coastal professionals, science communicators, NGOs, civil society organizations and the wider community of ocean data users.
“Africa faces some of the world's most pressing ocean and climate challenges,” said Dr. Babette Tchonang, Physical Oceanographer at Florida State University, under contract with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and founder & coordinator of GGOSSS.“OPERA Capacity Development is designed to ensure that expertise, tools, and knowledge are developed locally, sustainably, and in close collaboration with those who will ultimately use them. Ocean forecasts only create impact when people and institutions have the capacity to understand and apply them.”
Integrated Capacity Development Activities (2026-2029)
Over the next 38 months, OPERA Capacity Development Activities will deploy an integrated suite of educational and training resources, including:
· Ocean literacy materials focused on ocean forecasting and its applications, integrating scientific and technological advances from OPERA.
· Four Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) delivered through the Ocean Teacher Global Academy (OTGA), each addressing a core component of the OceanPrediction DCC virtuous loop for ocean forecasting and its applications.
· The development of educational software for Simple Educational Access for Forecast and Warning Developers (SEA-FORWARD), an innovative educational software environment enabling users to experiment with simplified ocean forecasting systems without heavy infrastructure, while remaining aligned with international operational standards.
· Interactive advanced activities, including technical workshops, didactic materials, hackathons, and webinars, fostering knowledge exchange and practical uptake of ocean forecasting tools.
Supporting Coastal Resilience and Societal Impact
“By strengthening forecasting capacity, these activities are expected to contribute to safer navigation and fishing, improved coastal infrastructure planning, and more effective early-warning systems to protect populations,” said Dr. Frédéric Bonou, Associate Researcher at the ICMPA-UNESCO Chair and member of the OPERA Capacity Development Activities team.
While OPERA does not directly deliver forecasts to communities, it reinforces the institutions and professionals who serve them, enabling downstream benefits for coastal populations and ecosystems.
Empowering the Next Generation of African Ocean Scientists
A central pillar of OPERA Capacity Development is the creation of structured pathways for early-career African scientists, including mentoring, certification opportunities, immersion in internationally recognized forecasting environments, and direct engagement with operational and research communities.
By aligning training with global standards while responding to regional needs, OPERA supports the emergence of a new generation of African experts capable of contributing to-and leading-ocean prediction efforts.
More information on OPERA is available at:
Press Contacts
ICMPA-UNESCO Chair
Odette M. ATEYIHO
Communication officer
Email : odette_ateyiho@icmpa.net
Mercator Ocean International & OceanPrediction DCC
Yandeh Sallah-Muhammed
Communications & User Engagement Officer
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