As an endorsed programme of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), the EAF-Nansen Programme is committed to advancing ocean science, sustainable fisheries, and the skills of Africa’s Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs). In its current phase (2024–2028), the Programme is strengthening support for early career experts by promoting inclusivity and inter-generational collaboration in fisheries science, management, and wider ocean governance. The Programme has also established a partnership with the Africa Node of the Early Career Ocean Professionals Programme, also endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade, aiming to maximize collaboration and support for ECOPs within the areas of the Programme’s work.
Take this survey to share your perspectives, needs, priorities, and challenges in capacity development, upskilling, and inclusivity as an ECOP from Africa and the Bay of Bengal. The results will help the Programme tailor its future scientific, educational, communication, and decision-making initiatives within partner countries and institutions for the benefit of current and future generations of ocean experts.
The survey includes 38 mostly multiple-choice questions across six themes:
Demographics and Background
Education and Expertise
Participation in the Ocean Field
Perceived Gaps in Ocean Knowledge
Barriers to Professional Capacity
Youth and ECOPs Inclusivity
About the Programme
The EAF-Nansen Programme, celebrating 50 years in 2025, is FAO and Norway’s longest-running fisheries development initiative. Executed with the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR), regional organizations, and 32 countries across Africa and the Bay of Bengal, it supports sustainable fisheries management for food and nutrition security.
It contributes to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) and FAO’s vision for the Blue Transformation of aquatic food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all.
About ECOPs definition of Youth
For the purposes of the FAO EAF Nansen Programme, the subset of focus out of the wide age range of “youth” includes young people anywhere from being close to obtaining an undergraduate qualification up to professionally early in their career (under 10 years of experience) in fields related to fisheries. This is typically or usually from 21 to 35 years old, with unique exceptions acknowledged.
An ECOP is a person that self-identifies as being early in their career, within 10 years or less of professional experience in any field related to the ocean. This definition includes post-secondary students and any volunteer roles, so not only employed/paid positions. The term ‘professional’ is used to be inclusive of professionals from various sectors of society.
