Business Of The Ocean Coordination Mechanism - MEETINGS, EVENTS, KEY DOCUMENTS

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OCM STEERING GROUP OCM EXECUTIVE GROUP OCM Work Programme OCM WORKING GROUPS Key OCM Documents and Products Representation by Chairmanship and Secretariat OCM RELEVANT MEETINGS AND EVENTS (Calendar) Status Update: Wet OCM MOU Signature Pages at the OCM Secretariat WHO IS WHO OCM virtual and in-person meetings

OCM STEERING GROUP

Overview of the Steering Group (incl. SG Rules of Procedures)

The Steering Group (SG) of the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) is composed by representatives of the States and Territories that have signed the OCM MoU

At its First Regular Meeting (SGM1.2, 6 August 2025), the OCM SG adopted the “Steering Group Rules of Procedure” (RoP) document (v1.5), noting that the SG RoP may be revised or further complemented if a request for such is supported by a simple majority of the membership.

The Rules of Procedure (RoP) document can be accessed here.

As of August 12, 2025, 20 States/Territories have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that creates the OCM, affirming their commitment to more integrated ocean governance.

*Additional eligible member countries and organizations, highlighted in grey, are invited to consider joining the OCM at their earliest convenience.

SGM1.2: Continuation of the 1st OCM Steering Group Meeting, 6 August 2025, Convened Virtually +

The Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) successfully convened its Steering Group Meeting 1.2 (SGM1.2) virtually on August 6, 2025. The meeting aimed to advance the strategic direction of the OCM by addressing pending matters from SGM1 and considering new business relevant to its mandate, objectives, and functions. A total of 53 participants attended, representing 17 Steering Group Member States and Territories*, 6 Observer States and Territories, and 7 Executive Group Intergovernmental Organization Members.

During the meeting, the Steering Group approved significant outcomes that will strengthen the OCM’s governance and operational capacity. These include: (a) the adoption of the OCM Steering Group Rules of Procedure, (b) a formal mandate to establish OCM Working Groups, and (c) the adoption of the SGM1 Decisions & Recommendations, providing clear strategic guidance to advance thefor the OCM work. Additional discussions focused on enhancing OCM branding and visibility, opportunities for regional coordination on key issues such as sargassum, and engagement with ongoing international initiatives.

*Following the explicit request of the USA participant, it is to be noted that their participation was in a listening-only capacity.

SGM1: 1st OCM Steering Group Meeting, 13-14 May 2025, St George's, Grenada +

The inaugural Meeting of the Ocean Coordination Mechanism Steering Group was convened by the OECS Commission and celebrated in Grenada on 13 and 14 May. The primary objective of this meeting was to launch and operationalize the OCM, and to conduct a collective discussion leading to the provision of a general direction to further the OCM mandate.

The event brought together a total of 55 participants representing respectively 17 and 7 OCM Steering Group Member and Observer States and Territories and 8 and 1 Member and Observer Executive Group Intergovernmental Organizations. Key appointments made during the meeting include Grenada as Steering Group Chair, Panama as Vice Chair, and PROCARIBE+ PCMU as the formal secretariat of the Ocean Coordination Mechanism.

Additional outcomes include the provisional adoption of OCM SG rules of procedure, the adoption of the (preliminary) Steering Group Rules of Procedure and the adoption of the (preliminary) 2025-2028 Work Programme. Due to time constraints a number of matters on the agenda could not be addressed. For this reason the SG will convene virtually on the 6th of August to address the most urgent pending matters from SGM1.

Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

You can also find the opening remarks from the Director of the OCM Secretariat and PROCARIBE+ Coordinator, Patrick Debels here.

*See the photo carousel here

Some highlights from the RoP document:

In addition to a principal OCM Operational Focal Point (OFP), SG members may decide to nominate one or several additional alternate (e.g. thematic) OCM Focal Points or (other) duly authorized representatives. (Rule 1)
The SG strives to hold one ordinary/regular Steering Group meeting (“oSGM”) at least every other calendar year. (Rule 5)
Inter-sessional SG business can take the format of extraordinary, inter-sessional meetings (“iSGM”), to be held either in person, virtual or hybrid, or can be conducted using other forms of electronic communication and/or engagement (“iSGB”). (Rule 6)
Decisions are made by consensus; the SG distinguishes consensus from unanimity and provides, in addition to “full support”, the options of “no objection” (tacit, explicit or silent) and “standing aside”. (Rule 11)

All records of the SG’s business are to be securely kept by the Secretariat. Where applicable, SG records will be made available on this OCM webpage. (Rule 12)
States and Territories and IGOs listed in Annex 1 to the OCM MOU that have not (yet) signed the MOU are to be invited to participate in any SG discussion/business without decision-making capacity. (Rule 14)
Additional entities and/or individuals may be invited to participate as observers or resource persons. (Rule 14)
Representation roles for the OCM and its organs can be exercised by the OCM SG and Executive Group (EG) Chair, and the Director of the Secretariat. (Rule 17)

The Chairmanship and Vice Chairmanship of the OCM Steering Group is currently exercised by respectively Grenada and Panama.
Through Decision oSGM1.D8.1, the SG calls for all SG Members to submit their OCM SG Focal Point(s)/Representative(s) nominations to the Secretariat (info@procaribeplus.org) and to help the Secretariat in keeping this information up-to-date.
The list of nominations currently registered with the Secretariat can be accessed here.
The online OCM SG Decision Tracker can be accessed here.
An overview of the representation roles exercised by the SG and EG Chair and the Secretariat can be accessed here.

Text last updated: 5 November 2025.

OCM EXECUTIVE GROUP

Overview of the Steering Group (incl. EG Procedural Guidelines)

The Executive Group (EG) of the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) comprises representatives of the Intergovernmental Organisations (IGOs) that have signed the OCM MoU.
At its First Regular Meeting (EGM1, 24 February 2025), the OCM EG adopted the “Executive Group Procedural Guidance” (PG) document (v1.0), noting that the EG PG may be revised or further complemented if a simple majority of the membership supports such a request.

The Procedural Guidance document can be accessed here.

^{As of August 12, 2025, 9 IGO's have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that creates the OCM, affirming their commitment to more integrated ocean governance.}

*Additional eligible member countries and organizations, highlighted in grey, are invited to consider joining the OCM at their earliest convenience.

EGM1: 1st OCM Executive Group Meeting, 24 February 2025, Convened Virtually by the OECS Commission +

The First Meeting of the Executive Group of the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM EGM1) was held virtually on February 24, 2025, convened by the OECS Commission. The meeting aimed to establish OCM Executive Group governance arrangements, facilitate strategic and tactical decision-making for the OCM's way forward (including support from the UNDP/GEF/UNOPS PROCARIBE+ Project), and develop recommendations for the OCM Steering Group's first meeting.

OCM WORK PROGRAMME

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As part of its contributions to supporting the OCM during its initial years of operation, a number of Outputs that will help the OCM advance on its mandate -and at the same time support the mandates of the OCM's member IGOs- have been incorporated in the PROCARIBE+ Project Results Framework. Consequently, funding to help the OCM (and its collective membership) deliver these Outputs has been included in the PROCARIBE+ Project Budget. These PROCARIBE+-supported Outputs now constitute the core elements of a preliminary 2025-2028 OCM Work Programme, approved by the OCM Steering Group (countries) and Executive Group (IGOs) in 2025.

The OCM Work Programme takes initial reference from a 2-pronged conceptual approach promoted by the GEF - consisting of the development of a “Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis” (TDA) which is then to inform the development of a regional “Strategic Action Programme” (SAP). A first, regional-level* iteration of this approach had been facilitated through 2 GEF-funded, predecessor projects of PROCARIBE+, namely the CLME (2009-2014) and CLME+ (2015-2021) Projects.

The OCM Work Programme now explicitly acknowledges that, in order for the Wider Caribbean region to adopt this methodology for the long-term, and for it to be "owned" by the OCM membership, a modified, adapted approach - necessary to ensure that the methodology becomes adjusted and “regionalized” in the most meaningful and sustainable way- will have to take into account the reality and particularities of the Wider Caribbean, and build on the region’s formal, native ocean governance mechanisms and processes that are already well established, or currency under development.

The core elements of the OCM Work Programme are:

a periodic, standardized, collaborative, integrated “State of the Marine Environment and associated socio-Economics” (SOMEE) reporting mechanism, (to be) formally adopted by the OCM (i.e., what is to become the region’s own interpretation/adaptation of the GEF-promoted “TDA” approach, compatible with/supportive of and/or complementary to the already existing assessment processes)
a first version/the first edition of such report
a new regional "Resilient Blue Economies" Strategic Action Programme (SAP) on the marine environment - or an equivalent strategic tool or guiding document (or set of documents), (to be) politically endorsed at the regional level (note: this requires similar considerations as those mentioned for the SOMEE mechanism)

a periodic, standardized, collaborative, integrated “State of the Marine Environment and associated socio-Economics” (SOMEE) reporting mechanism, (to be) formally adopted by the OCM (i.e., what is to become the region’s own interpretation/adaptation of the GEF-promoted “TDA” approach, compatible with/supportive of and/or complementary to the already existing assessment processes)
a first version/the first edition of such report
a new regional "Resilient Blue Economies" Strategic Action Programme (SAP) on the marine environment - or an equivalent strategic tool or guiding document (or set of documents), (to be) politically endorsed at the regional level (note: this requires similar considerations as those mentioned for the SOMEE mechanism)

OCM WORKING GROUPS

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The mission of the OCM Working Groups (WGs) is to assist and support the OCM in the execution of the OCM Functions listed under MoU Articles VI-VIII.

The OCM working groups support the execution of its core and (as applicable) complementary functions, including by supporting the advancement of OCM Work Programme implementation.

Online Collaborative Workspace- Monday.com

OCM Working Group members can access the online monday.com collaborative workspaces of the WGs using the following links:

MDI WG Activities- Monday Board

SOMEE WG Activities- Monday Board

SAP WG Activities- Monday Board

Gender WG Activities- Monday Board

First Joint Workshop of the OCM Working Groups, 29 October, Cartagena +

The Joint Workshop was organized by the OCM Secretariat. The objectives of the OCM Working Groups Workshop included:

Provide preliminary inputs for the development of draft roadmaps for the implementation of key activities and outputs under the OCM Work Programme 2025–2028.
Exchanging preliminary ideas and approaches to support the implementation of the OCM Functions and Work Programme.
Agreeing on the use of virtual collaboration platform.
Defining engagement strategies with the OCM Steering Group, Executive Group, and external partners.
Discussing key principles for the Working Groups’ Terms of Reference (ToRs).

OCM Working Groups Workshop Documents:

Launch of the Working Groups of the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM), 11 September 2025, Convened Virtually +

On September 11, the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM) successfully launched its Working Groups with a welcome and introductory teleconference. The overarching objective of kick-starting the implementation of the OCM Work Programme was accomplished, with participants prepared for a swift initiation of OCM Working Group activities and urgent doubts clarified.

A total of 21 participants attended the meeting, representing the 4 OCM working groups: (1) Marine Data & Information (MDI), (2) State of the Marine Environment & associated socio-Economics (SOMEE), (3) Strategic Action Programme (SAP) and (4) Gender and Youth.

During the teleconference, all participating members gained insights into the mandate, structure, and Work Programme of the OCM, and acquired an understanding of the current status of OCM operationalization and the vital role of the OCM Working Groups.

Presentation: Launch of the Working Groups of the Wider Caribbean Ocean Coordination Mechanism (OCM)

Key OCM Documents and Products

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OCM MoU ICM formal termination requests OCM MoU Signatures (overview) OCM MoU Signatures (details)

Representation Functions exercised by OCM Chairmanship and Secretariat

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Representation Functions exercised by OCM Chairmanship and Secretariat +

OCM RELEVANT MEETINGS AND EVENTS

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OCM Relevant Meetings and Events +

STATUS UPDATE: Wet OCM MOU Signature Pages at the OCM Secretariat

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Status update: Wet OCM MOU Signature Pages at the OCM Secretariat +

The Who Is Who of the OCM

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OCM MoU Signatories OCM Steering and Executive Group Focal Points OCM Working Groups Members

OCM Meetings

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OCM Working Groups Virtual Meeting, January 27, 2026

The First 2026 Virtual Meeting of the Working Groups was held on January 27. The main objective of this meeting was to:

Pursue a swift, collaborative finalization of the guiding materials that will inform the procurement and/or recruitment processes required to support the implementation, over the 2026-2028 period, of the OCM Work Programme.

Agenda & Meeting Materials List of participants (Draft) ToRs PROCARIBE+ / OCM Work Programme Consultancies OCM Work Programme Consultancies (tentative) timelines (Gantt Charts)