Intensified activities in coastal and marine waters require integrated planning and decision-making as well as enhanced efforts to achieve sustainability. By fostering integrated planning and management practices to protect and restore marine and coastal ecosystems, strengthen resilience, and promote a healthy and productive ocean, Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) proves to be an important means to achieve global ocean governance goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly the target 14.2 of the SDG14, i.e., sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems.
The MSPglobal programme is providing the context for active and effective participation of policy-makers, scientists, citizens, and other stakeholders to improve governance at multiple levels and achieve an ecosystem-based approach in support of the blue economy. It is designed to support the implementation of the Updated Joint Roadmap (2022-2027) to accelerate Maritime/Marine Spatial Planning processes worldwide, adopted by the UNESCO-IOC and DG MARE.
MSPglobal runs in phases and is composed of a core MSPglobal project co-funded by the European Union. Its strength comes from the collaboration with partners and associated projects around the world working at global, national and regional level.
MSPglobal – 1st phase (November 2018 to October 2021)
At global level:
> Develop an international guidance on MSP;
At regional level:
> Perform a pilot regional project in the West Mediterranean: Algeria, France, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia (other Western Mediterranean countries also participated in training activities);
> Perform a pilot regional project in the Southeast Pacific with a specific cross-border exercise in the Gulf of Guayaquil (Ecuador/Peru) and training activities benefiting Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Peru.
MSPglobal 2.0 – 2nd phase (July 2023 to June 2025)
At global level:
> The expected result is a larger and strengthened pool of practitioners and stakeholders ready to support MSP. For that, tools complementary to the MSPglobal Guide will be co-developed together with experts working on specific topics, such as data, climate change and ecosystem restoration. Besides, new capacity development and awareness opportunities will be created through a multilingual online training, the 6th edition of the MSPforum and communication activities.
At regional level:
> The project will focus on transboundary pilots in the Atlantic coast of Africa and the Western Pacific regions. Through national and regional activities, the project will provide support towards institutionally strengthened MSP processes.
MSPglobal is co-financed by the European Union.
MSPglobal 3.0 – 3rd phase (August 2025 to July 2027)
At global level:
> The expected result is a well-informed community of MSP practitioners and stakeholders supporting MSP processes worldwide. For that, new guidelines/tools and trainings will be developed. Besides, MSPglobal 3.0 will deliver an international MSP event (4th International Conference on MSP or 7th International MSPforum) and communication materials about all project activities for related target audiences in order to increase awareness about MSP.
At regional and regional level:
> The project will focus on supporting existing initiatives in Africa, Latin America and Caribbean, as well as Asia and Pacific, providing support towards institutionally strengthened MSP processes and improved regional ocean governance.