With over 20 participants from 7 different OCM Member IGOs: the CARICOM Secretariat, IOC-UNESCO, OSPESCA, UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat, UN ECLAC and UNDP, plus the ACS as observers, and supported by the  PROCARIBE+ Project Unit, the participants collectively discussed the initial way forward for the mechanism. The meeting focussed, among other things, on setting up the Group’s governance arrangements, and on fleshing out the OCM’s Work Programme for the period 2025-2028.

This historic “first meeting of the OCM Executive Group was the culmination of 15 years of preparatory work supported by 3 consecutive UNDP/GEF-funded projects”, said  Emmanuel Chamberlain, Head of the Environmental Sustainability Division of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Convener and Chair of this virtual meeting, held on February 24, 2025. 

Santiago Carizosa, UNDP representative at the meeting, stated:  “This now paves the path for enhanced region-wide, integrated ocean governance”

Recommendations from the Executive Group will now be taken to the OCM Member Countries, which are expected to meet in May, ahead of this year’s UN Oceans Conference. 

We celebrate the countries and IGOs that have already joined the OCM, and stand ready to support additional countries and IGOs on their journey towards full membership.