Capacity Building and Technical Cooperation

With respect to the IHO, Capacity Building is defined as the process by which the Organization assesses and assists in sustainable development and improvement of the States, to meet the objectives of the IHO and the Hydrography, Cartography and Maritime Safety obligations and recommendations described in UNCLOS, SOLAS V and other international instruments.

In 2002 the International Hydrographic Organization created a new Committee called the Capacity Building Sub-Committee (CBSC). The principal terms of reference for this Committee are:

1. To assess continuously the hydrographic surveying, nautical charting and nautical information status in nations and regions where hydrography is developing, using an appropriate and agreed methodology. This includes the development and maintainance of IHO publication C-55, "Status of Hydrographic Surveying and Nautical Cartography Worldwide".

2. To cooperate in the establishment and maintenance of close relationships with national agencies and international organizations, which may provide funding or other support to technical assistance projects, and to study the procedures required to access the funds for Technical Assistance available from such organizations.

3. To cooperate with Regional Hydrographic Commissions (RHCs) in the creation of Study Teams or Action Groups to carry out assessment studies in the areas identified by the IHO in its 5-year "Work Programme" and in the subsequent monitoring of the recommendations resulting from those Study Teams or Action Groups' Reports

4. To cooperate in the provision of advice to all maritime nations requesting support to develop hydrographic capabilities, following the implementation of SOLAS regulation V/9.

A Capacity Building Fund has been created to provide support for the main categories of capacity building activity i.e. technical assistance, training and education, financial assistance for participation in IHO events and start-up funding for hydrographic elements of projects, as identified in the IHO Capacity Building Strategy.

For additional information, see the Capacity Building Sub-Committee section