Previous Page Table of Contents Next Page


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE


1. At its Fourth Session in December 2002, the FAO Advisory Committee on Fisheries Research (ACFR) identified human capacity as a high priority issue, especially with respect to meeting the targets set by the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in (i) the areas of global reporting and assessment of the state of the environment by 2004, (ii) elaborating National Plans of Action (NPOAs) for combating illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing by 2004 and for reduction of fishing capacity by 2005, (iii) applying the ecosystem approach by 2012 and (iv) maintaining or restoring fish stocks by 2015. The Committee felt that past models for delivering on these needs (i.e. formal training provided by experts from developed countries to developing countries) would also need to change to accommodate the newer approaches to fisheries management. It would need to be based on a more mutual learning process, so that information and knowledge could be shared more efficiently and effectively by all involved. Human capacity would need to be built not just for science but also for management and the needs of other stakeholders.

2. In response, the ACFR commissioned a “Discussion Paper on Human Capacity Development in Fisheries” (ACFR/WP/HCB/I/2). This draft was finalized in March 2004 and constituted the basis for a subsequent “Draft Strategic Framework for Human Capacity Development in Fisheries” (ACFR/WP/HCB/I/3). These two documents formed the primary resource materials for the Working Party.

3. The main purpose of the Working Party was to review and comment on both the discussion paper and the draft Strategic Framework for Human Capacity Development in Fisheries. In doing so, the Working Party was invited to pay particular attention to the nature and scope of such a strategy, its guiding principles, objectives and the key strategies to reach these objectives. It furthermore undertook an assessment of the main actions in terms of activities, sectoral responsibilities and priorities required to enable these strategies to be effectively implemented, and outlined an implementation pathway for the strategic framework.


Previous Page Top of Page Next Page