The DITTO Africa Implementation Workshop (15-16 October, Cotonou, Benin) will bring together African and international experts to co-design the roadmap for developing a coordinated, interoperable, and African-led Digital Twins of the Ocean (DITTO) ecosystem.
Organised within the framework of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, the workshop will focus on translating the global DITTO vision into concrete actions that address Africa's priorities. Through collaborative discussions and co-design sessions, participants will explore how digital ocean technologies, real-time observations, numerical modelling, artificial intelligence, and FAIR data principles can support climate resilience, sustainable ocean governance, marine biodiversity conservation, fisheries and aquaculture management, disaster risk reduction, and the growth of the Blue Economy.
The workshop will gather representatives from governments, regional organisations, research institutions, international initiatives, the private sector, development partners, and Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs). Together, they will define the strategic foundations for a federated African digital ocean ecosystem that promotes interoperability, innovation, data sovereignty, and long-term regional ownership.
The outcomes of the workshop will contribute to the development of the African DITTO Implementation Framework (2027–2030) and will be presented at the DITTO Summit 2026.
SpecificObjectives
Define priority African pilot projects addressing regional challenges such as coastal resilience, fisheries and aquaculture, marine biodiversity, ocean forecasting, and climate adaptation.
Develop a shared technical vision for interoperable Digital Twins of the Ocean based on FAIR data principles and existing African digital infrastructure.
Strengthen regional cooperation by promoting collaboration between governments, scientific institutions, regional organisations, international initiatives, and the private sector.
Establish governance principles that support data sharing, ethical use of marine data, institutional leadership, and African data sovereignty.
Identify capacity development priorities to strengthen expertise in digital ocean technologies, marine data management, artificial intelligence, and numerical modelling, with a strong focus on Early Career Ocean Professionals (ECOPs).
Promote sustainable partnerships by identifying opportunities for collaboration with regional and international programmes and mobilising resources for long-term implementation.
Lay the foundations for the African DITTO Implementation Framework (2027–2030) through a shared roadmap and agreed strategic priorities for future development.
DraftProgramme
15-16 October 2026
All times shown are UTC+1
Workshop Objective:
To co-design a practical, African-led implementation roadmap, priority pilot projects, and governance structures for the Digital Twins of the Ocean (DITTO) initiative.
