OPERA - Ocean Prediction Enhancement in Regions of Africa

The project OPERA - “Ocean Prediction Enhancement in Regions of Africa” aims to strengthen Ocean prediction capabilities and cooperation at national, regional, pan-African levels in Sub-Saharan Africa. Funded by the European Union, OPERA is the ocean component of the African Regional Centres of Excellence for the Green Transition (ArcX) programme. This overarching programme is dedicated to strengthening Digital and Science, Technology, and Innovation capacities in Sub-Saharan Africa, fostering scientific knowledge and innovation-driven sustainable development. Mercator Ocean International, through its coordinating role in the OceanPrediction Decade Collaborative Center and leveraging the African Regional team, has been entrusted with implementing OPERA. 

 

OPERA Budget: €7 million | Implementation duration: 2025-2028 

Objectives: Improve Ocean resources sustainability and human welfare in Sub-Saharan Africa by strengthening digital and scientific capacities in ocean monitoring and forecasting.  

Specific targets: 

  1. Strengthen African capacities in ocean monitoring and forecasting at national, regional, and pan-African levels.  

  1. Develop regional autonomy through Regional Centres of Excellence for locally operating and using ocean data and forecasts. 

  1. Develop fit-for-purpose digital ocean tools and services to improve coastal hazard mitigation, support sustainable blue economies and safeguard marine ecosystems 

  1. Increase policymaker awareness of innovative decision-support tools for coastal zone and Ocean management.  

  1. Expand the African ocean prediction community and foster cooperation within Africa and globally   

     

Beneficiaries  

  • African governments and policymakers 

  • Regional Centres of Excellence and other institutions involved in ocean science 

  • Regional and local authorities involved in coastal management and disaster risk reduction 

  • Blue economy stakeholders (fisheries and aquaculture, coastal development, offshore energy, maritime transport and security, etc.) 

  • Civil society (citizen scientists, coastal communities, non-governmental organisations)  

     

 

Organisational setup 

The project is part of the collaborative efforts between the European Union and Mercator Ocean International and various African and international partners. It emphasizes co-design and co-development with stakeholders to ensure the development of fit-for-purpose Ocean prediction tools and services. This project is part of the European Union’s support to strengthening Digital and Science, Technology, and Innovation capacities in Sub-Saharan Africa for sustainable development.  

Lead organisation 

Mercator Ocean International implements OPERA through its role as coordinator of the OceanPrediction Decade Collaborative Centre, leveraging its expertise as the implementer of the Copernicus Marine Service and its role in the European Digital Twin Ocean Programme.  

Regional Centres of Excellence 

African Regional Centres of Excellence, organised into three consortia, will be central to project implementation: 

  • One consortium will focus on building capacities for operating Ocean forecasting systems at regional and coastal scales, 

  • Two consortia will develop tailored applications integrating Ocean data products. 

Enhanced African-European collaboration on knowledge-driven sustainable development 

The Ocean component - OPERA, is the newest addition to the ArcX programme, complementing existing thematic components focused on biodiversity and forestry, water, and food security. The launch of the Ocean component underscores the European Union’s ongoing commitment for strengthened international Ocean governance and African European cooperation towards scientific knowledge-based, innovation-led sustainable development.  

With over 30,000 km of coastline and over 1.5 million km2 of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), African countries are highly dependent on the Ocean, making accurate Ocean prediction and knowledge even more vital for environmental, economic, and social well-being.  

 

OPERA will serve the Ocean information and knowledge priorities outlined in African strategic frameworks, while aligning with the European Union’s commitment to scientific knowledge-based, innovation-led sustainable development. By integrating these frameworks and shared goals, OPERA will enhance Ocean prediction capacities to address Ocean information and knowledge priorities in a coordinated collaborative network. 

Key strategic frameworks: 

 

  • African Union Agenda 2063: ‘the Africa We Want’ 

  • Africa Blue Economy Strategy 2019 

  • Ocean Decade Africa Roadmap, with particular focus on priorities to enhance ocean forecasting capabilities and develop a digital twin Ocean knowledge hub. 

  • The European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, which fosters sustainable and high-standard infrastructure investments in partner countries, including support for ocean governance and marine resource management.  

  • The EU Ocean Pact, reinforcing commitments to ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries, and climate resilience. 

The European Union (EU) remains a leading supporter of SDG 14 (Life Below Water) – the least funded Sustainable Development Goal. Through OPERA, the EU is bridging financial and technical gaps, ensuring that Ocean sustainability efforts receive the attention and investment necessary for long-term impact. Supporting the Ocean is critical for maintaining biodiversity, regulating climate, and sustaining livelihoods for millions of people worldwide. By investing in Ocean sustainability, we help preserve marine ecosystems, protect coastal communities from extreme weather events, and secure a resilient blue economy for future generations. The scientific and technological capacities will also contribute to mitigating and adapting to climate change (SDG 13), developing new economic opportunities (SDG 8) and digital infrastructure innovations (SDG 9).   

 

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