Publication Name

30 / 96

30
The World Bank has already approached GRID-Arendal
with respect to designing and facilitating the 2014 WAVES
partnership meeting. Although the broader impacts (for
example on the state of ecosystems) of a workshop are
difficult to ascertain, the positive response from partici-
pants on the process chosen and implemented, and the
renewed interest demonstrated by the World Bank can be
counted as recognition of GRID-Arendal’s capacity to de-
liver innovative group facilitation.
ii) Collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat
In April 2012, GRID-Arendal facilitated a half day Think
Session with 46 participants from 23 developing coun-
tries of the Commonwealth. Country representatives were
inter-ministerial and included members of parliament,
academia and finance, foreign, fisheries and environment
ministries. The Think Session was part of a 3 day Com-
monwealth Ocean Governance Forum which included
UNEP Regional Seas and was a first step towards a capac-
ity development partnership with countries to create and
operationalize enabling conditions for a green economy
for countries dependent on the oceans.50
SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME: Meeting partner
expectations (3)
Extract from a letter from José Maurel, Director,
Commonwealth Secretariat
“I would like to extend my personal thanks to GRID-
Arendal for helping to make this event such a success and,
in particular, for assistance in both delivering an extremely
thought provoking half-day workshop on the Green
Economy in a Blue World and for preparing material
which was displayed at an evening reception during the
forum. My Division has collaborated with GRID-Arendal
for a number of years relating to submissions [to the] UN
Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. I
understand that both UNEP and GRID-Arendal are keen
to develop this relationship further in the area of ocean
governance and in particular the application of the Green
Economy concept to the oceans. I welcome the opportunity
to work collaboratively in this area.”
8 May 2012
UNEP, GRID-Arendal and the Commonwealth Secretariat
subsequently convened a Caribbean Green Economy in a
Blue World exploratory workshop in Montego Bay, Jamaica
in April 2013. The workshop was a deeper exploration of the
opportunities and challenges presented by a green econo-
my transition. Delegates from 12 Caribbean island states
explored different pathways to a sustainable future with an
environmental economist and an ecological economist.
50. A press release of the event can be found at:
0412oceansgovernance.htm
SIGNIFICANT OUTCOME: Benefits of partnership
Collaborative agreements with partners such as the
World Bank, the Commonwealth Secretariat and Duke
University have multiple benefits - they strengthen the
projects we are currently working on together, but also
reduce the transaction costs, enhance the continuity
of collaborative work, ensure more stable, continuous
resources and enhance conservation science, policy
and action more effectively than either organization
working on its own.
iii) Collaboration with Duke University
In discussions between GRID-Arendal and Duke, four ar-
eas of mutual interest have been identified, with collabora-
tive work underway in two. These are: ecosystem services
(underway), deep sea mining (underway), blue carbon
and enabling a green economy in a blue world. An MoU
with Duke University on these areas of mutual interest
was formalized in October 2012 and runs until June 2015.
TEEB for Oceans
In January 2012, GRID-Arendal in collaboration with The
Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) Secre-
tariat and Duke University produced a Think Piece, ‘Why
Value the Oceans?’ 51 The Piece gathered commentary
from 22 global marine experts and laid the foundation
for the development of a full TEEB for Oceans and Coasts
study.
GRID-Arendal, in partnership with UNEP Regional Seas
and Duke University, with funding from UK DEFRA and
under the auspices of the UNEP TEEB Office, has sub-
mitted a full project proposal to UNEP for a 4-year TEEB
for Oceans and Coasts valuation study. The proposal has
been approved for inclusion in UNEP’s 2014-2015 PoW.
TEEB for Oceans and Coasts will support the mainstream-
ing of biodiversity and ecosystem considerations in na-
tional policymaking and broader societal perspectives.
Together with the UNEP TEEB Office and UNEP DEPI,
GRID-Arendal is now engaged in fundraising for the
4-year TEEB study. A large number of potential partners
have already been identified.52 In addition a TEEB knowl-
edge portal,53 developed by GRID-Arendal, was launched
in February 2013.
51.
52. TEEB Secretariat, Global Ocean Commission, World Ocean
Council, national government policy advisors (e.g. options: Ecuador,
Columbia, US, EU, Norway, UK, Pacific Island Countries), UNEP,
UNDP, WAVES, Academia (e.g. Duke University, McGill, UBC,
others TBD), Community-based decision makers (particularly from
SIDS and Developing Coastal States - the Many Strong Voices
network), member(s) of relevant Arctic Council Workgroups,
Civil Society (e.g. WRI, CI, IUCN, WWF, Earth Economics, other
TBD), Social Innovation Groups (e.g. Presencing Institute) and the
mainstream media.
53.