IMOCARES Co-Hosts “Women in Maritime Navigating Decarbonization” Workshop

The IMO CARES Project, funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia delivered the ‘Women in Maritime Decarbonization’ workshop in partnership with MTCC Africa. The workshop, which took place on the March 7th, 2024, focusing on the promotion of the involvement of women in maritime decarbonization, especially in the development of policies and measures.

The workshop was a key activity of the IMO CARES Project for 2024 which is exploring actionable technologies to reduce emissions in both Africa and the Caribbean. The project aims to advance global efforts in reducing shipping emissions by promoting technology focused partnerships, demonstration of technologies and knowledge sharing between the global north and south. IMO CARES is implemented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and funded by Saudi Arabia. 

The ‘Women in Maritime Decarbonization’ workshop examined challenges encountered by women in the maritime industry with a regional focus on Africa. There was an emphasis on the indispensable role women play in the future of decarbonizing the maritime sector and how to encourage and take advantage of women participation in maritime decarbonisation activities.

Mr. Kamal Al Junaid, General Manager of Maritime Transport Polices and International Organization Affairs of the Transport General Authority of Saudi Arabia provided the keynote opening. Mr. Junaidi emphasized the significance of promoting greater participation of women in the maritime sector to augment the workforce as catalysts for change and pivotal contributors to decarbonization efforts. He re-emphasised the need to work together and collaborate when facing the challenges of maritime decarbonization.

He further stated that:

“To achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goals especially UNSDG 5 gender-equality and UNSDG 13 climate action we must make gender-equality a fundamental condition in the transition of decarbonizing the shipping sector.”  

The workshop also featured key regional stakeholders including but not limited to; Dr. Harry Conway Alternate Permanent Representative Liberia Permanent Mission to IMO & Chair, Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), Ms. Miatta-Fatima Kromah, Representative of IMOGENder Network, and Ms. Anene Wodajo, President, Association for Women in the Maritime Sector in Eastern and Southern Africa (WOMESA).

The workshop featured three main of panels each lead by industry experts focusing on three main subjects:

·       Women's Inclusion in the Development of Decarbonization Policies and Measures,

·       Women for Maritime Decarbonization: Leading Change, and

·       Women in Maritime: Navigating Decarbonization in line with SDG

The workshop outcomes were extremely beneficial to the IMOCARES initiative, fostering a deeper understanding from a regional perspective of methods and opportunities for women to be best utilised as key drivers for change in maritime decarbonization.