Background & Objectives
Maritime transport in Africa and the Indian Ocean is critical for delivering goods to countries and their citizens, with ports in Eastern, Western, and Southern Africa serving as vital hubs for both coastal nations and landlocked states. Ports in the Indian Ocean islands also play a crucial role in this trade-dependent region. Although there are disparities in throughput volumes and capacity, traffic has been increasing steadily across the region over the past decade. There remains a significant opportunity to further develop the port and maritime sectors in Africa to drive economic growth and development.
Activities
- Coordinate UNODC/IMO activities and assess national legislation to strengthen maritime authorities.
- Oversee UNODC/IMO efforts to reduce substandard vessels, focusing on capacity-building and reporting progress.
- Lead ISPS Code implementation oversight, advising on capacity-building and monitoring progress in port security assessments.
Results
- Enhanced IOC capacity in coordinating and implementing actions within the Ports Security Project, ensuring supervision, coherence, and complementarity of UNODC, IMO, Interpol, and related initiatives.
- Developed Regional Information Sharing Mechanism and data exchange system for cargo and passenger information exchange.
