The GEF LME:LEARN Ocean Governance online course provides an introduction into governance concepts relevant for practitioners working within Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) and their Coasts. This course aims to provide project leads, partners, and others with practical approaches, lessons on governance and illustrative case studies. It also serves to promote an integrated, collaborative approach to ocean and coastal management.

After completing this course, participants will be able to apply good governance principles and tools to develop and sustain effective governance of Large Marine Ecosystems and their Coasts.

About this Course

This online course will familiarize participants with key components of good ocean governance. As an Introduction, the course will review the governance arrangements and processes that reflect internationally accepted norms, principles, and values. It also provides basic information about relevant global- and regional-scale policy and legal frameworks as well as institutional structures relevant to the governance of Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) and their coasts.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course participants will understand and become familiar with:

• Key principles of good governance;
• The importance the role of values and ethics in supporting good governance;
• The role and process of stakeholder engagement;
• Approaches to sustainable finance;
• International legal and institutional frameworks relevant to ocean governance on a global and/or regional scale;
• The role of national and international agencies in implementing these global and regional instruments;
• Key elements of effective governance;
• The importance of and tools for effective communication as a component of effective governance;
• Ways to integrate science into LME governance and assess science needs;
• Ways to assess governance measure.

Participants

The course is open to participants representing various stakeholder groups from the entire water sector worldwide who are interested to actively follow the course and complete all modules:

• stakeholders and professionals forming part of water management, civil society, river basin or international organizations; development programmes and members of UN organizations; and representatives of the private sector;
• Sustainable Development Goals focal points and facilitators within national governments.
• decision makers, policy makers, and high-level professionals and managers active in governmental bodies;
• capacity developers active in the fields of ocean and water governance, marine spatial planning, and Integrated Water Resources Management,  amongst others

Contents and course structure

In each module participants will find valuable and updated readings, videos, suggested web sites, and experiences from the ground.

• Module 1: Good Governance of Large Marine Ecosystems
• Module 2: Legal and Policy Frameworks (international and regional scales)
• Module 3: Effective Governance of Large Marine Ecosystems

Course approval criteria and certificate

Responding the quiz at the end of each module and obtaining at least 60% correct responses is a condition to move into the next module, completing the course, and receiving the certificate. There are three opportunities to reach 60% of correct answers, and in all cases the platform will indicate the wrong answers.

 Certificate

After completing the 3 modules, participants are invited to answer a short feedback survey of the course. Once this survey is answered, participants may download their certificate. Participation in the course, as well as the download of the certificate, has no cost for the participants.