IOCAFRICA, the IOC-UNESCO Sub-Commission for Africa and the Adjacent Island States, strengthens regional cooperation in ocean science, observations, data and capacity development. Its work on GOOS-Africa, ocean data and information services, capacity building and the UN Ocean Decade offers strong synergies with OPERA. Collaboration can support the development of sustainable and interoperable African ocean observing and forecasting capacities, while strengthening the uptake of ocean knowledge and services for societal and policy needs.