ArcX Programme Forum 2025: Dialogue, Knowledge sharing and Regional Action

Africa Regional Centres of Excellence Programme Forum 2025: Dialogue, Knowledge sharing and Regional Action 

 

 

The Africa Regional Centres of Excellence (ArcX) programme is an innovative initiative funded by the European Union working to advance sustainable development in Sub-Saharan Africa through Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI). Launched in 2023 under the European Commission’s Directorate for International Partnerships (DG INTPA), ArcX strengthens collaboration between African and European institutions, fostering inclusive green growth and supporting Africa's transformative agenda in key areas: Agroecology, Biodiversity & Forests, Water and Ocean, with Climate to be added from 2026. The ArcX forum marked the first annual gathering of the ArcX Programme, providing an operational platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and regional action to support Africa’s green transition. Bringing together Africa Regional Centres of Excellence (RCoEs), African and European institutions, researchers, private sector actors, and civil society, the event showcased how RCoEs bridge science and policy, turning research into tangible solutions for sustainable development. Through plenaries, thematic sessions, and continued meetings of the Thematic Coordination Committees and Steering Committee, the forum served to align strategies, share innovations, and reinforce synergies. As part of the broader AU–EU STI Partnership and aligned with the Global Gateway Strategy, the Forum contributes to shaping impactful research and innovation collaborations ahead of the 9th AU–EU High-Level Policy Dialogue and the 2025 AU–EU Summit, marking 25 years of partnership.

 

Unveiling the Ocean Component 

Launched in January 2025, the Ocean Component is represented by the project OPERA – Ocean Prediction Enhancement in Regions of Africa, a project implemented by Mercator Ocean International through its coordinating role in the OceanPrediction DCC. Working with Africa Regional Centres of Excellence, OPERA serves to strengthen cooperation and capacity in ocean forecasting and development of downstream applications and services for sustainable ocean development. This includes ocean forecasting for disaster risk reduction, marine ecosystem conservation and sustainable economic activities relying on the ocean. 

“38 of the African continent’s 54 states are coastal countries. 90% of Africa’s trade is sea-borne. Ocean forecasting is an essential tool for anticipating, understanding, and managing marine and coastal dynamics that directly influence the sustainable development of African societies. The OceanPrediction DCC Africa Regional Team will be at the core of the OPERA development, working together with other organizations and initiatives” – Prof AFFIAN Kouadio, Chair of OceanPrediction DDC African Regional Team, Chair of GOOS Africa, University Felix Houphouet-Boigny

During the event, Lillian Diarra and Enrique Alvarez Fanjul from Mercator Ocean International, the OPERA project manager and the OceanPrediction DCC Technical Coordinator respectively, presented the implementation plan of OPERA and took part in various panel discussions with representatives from other ArcX components. This included the introduction of new activitiesfocused on building an African digital ocean data infrastructure and environment, private sector and stakeholder engagement.. The Calls for Grants to establish the OPERA Africa Regional Centres of Excellence are expected to be launched in October 2025. 

“The ocean component is the common thread that connects all the ArcX components— ocean data and knowledge are needed to advance science and deepen our understanding on climate change, biodiversity, food security, and water resources.” – Lillian Diarra – OPERA Project Manager, Mercator Ocean International 

 

Strengthened AU-EU Partnership 

The introduction of the Ocean Component/ OPERA is very timely in light of the European Ocean Pact launched in June 2025. The EU Ocean Pact is the first-ever EU long-term ocean vision that applies both inside and outside the EU. The document restates the European Commission’s commitment to the AU-EU partnership and reaffirms the importance of cooperation between the two continents for an improved international ocean governance, for the sustainable development of the blue economy, and enhanced maritime security. The EU Ocean Pact also intends to advance ocean science and knowledge, while strengthening EU ocean diplomacy and international ocean governance, and maritime security. Recognizing that the ocean is interconnected beyond national borders, the Pact emphasizes coordinated international action is essential to protect marine ecosystems, manage shared resources sustainably, address climate change and pollution, and share scientific knowledge and best practices.

Join the OceanPrediction DCC community by registering in our web site, be featured in our Atlas, and stay informed about OPERA activities — Click here to get started.

 

   

 

        

 

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