Formation and management of a Consortium of sub-Saharan African institutions for the co-design, installation, and operation of Ocean forecasting systems in the framework of the OPERA project

About the OPERA Project

The OPERA (Ocean Prediction Enhancement in Regions of Africa) Project (https://www.unoceanprediction.org/en/opera-ocean-prediction-enhancement-regions-africa) is funded by the European Union through the European Commission’s Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA). OPERA represents the ocean component of the ArcX programme “Support to Africa Regional Centres of Excellence related to Green Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa” (https://arcx.green/). OPERA is implemented by MERCATOR OCEAN as part of the OceanPrediction DCC activity. A five-year project (January 2025 to December 2029), OPERA aims to strengthen regional, pan-African, and international cooperation for the development of Ocean forecasting systems, services, and applications required for sustainable Ocean management and priorities identified in African strategic frameworks, including the Ocean Decade Africa Roadmap (https://oceandecade.org/publications/ocean-decade-africa-roadmap/).

Objective of the call for proposals

The overall objective of this call for proposals is to support one Action led by an eligible institution (also referred to as the “Grant Beneficiary”) to strengthen and structure regional and coastal ocean forecasting capacities in Sub-Saharan Africa contributing to the objectives of the OPERA project and reinforcing Africa’s role within the OceanPrediction DCC framework and global Ocean monitoring efforts.

The proposed Action is expected to be implemented through a structured partnership of institutions in Sub-Saharan African coastal countries to jointly design and manage one regional Ocean forecasting system and four coastal forecasting systems and support the transformation of these institutions into Regional Centres of Excellence. Additional entities may participate as Associated Partners where relevant and justified.

Evidence of stakeholder engagement such as letters of interest for regional and coastal ocean services in sub-Saharan Africa is strongly encouraged. Applicants should clearly articulate the anticipated socio-economic, environmental, and/or policy benefits resulting from the use of the generated data and services from the ocean forecasting systems.

The present call for proposals does not constitute a procurement of services. Applicants retain full responsibility for the design, methodology, and implementation arrangements of their proposed action.