Formation and management of a Consortium of sub-Saharan African institutions for the co-design, development and operation of applications using ocean forecasts 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 the following Action “Strengthening Regional Capacities to Develop and Apply Ocean Forecasting Solutions for Sustainable Ocean Management and Governance in Sub-Saharan Africa”. This Action will contribute to the objectives of the OPERA project and reinforce Africa’s role within the OceanPrediction DCC framework and global Ocean monitoring efforts.

Each grant will be implemented by a consortium composed of institutions located in Sub-Saharan African coastal countries. Each consortium will co-design, co-develop, and implement two applications using ocean forecasting data. The applications will be used for sustainable ocean development and will support the transformation of these institutions into Regional Centres of Excellence.

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.