Name: OPERA Annual Workshop 2026
Start: 2026-10-12T09:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-10-16T18:00:00+01:00

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 12, 2026

11:00 AM11:15 AM

Round table with IOC Africa, AUC, DCC regional team, Abidjan/Nairobi convention, policymakers

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 14, 2026

10:30 AM11:00 AM

Networking

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 14, 2026

11:00 AM11:15 AM

Flash presentations on programmes

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 14, 2026

11:15 AM11:45 AM

Roundtable with WIOMSA, IUCN regional office, WACA, WASOP (tbc), Arc X community

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 15, 2026

8:30 AM9:00 AM

Welcome Coffee

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 15, 2026

9:00 AM9:30 AM

Opening session

Welcome remarks from the host country, African Union, IOC-UNESCO, and DITTO Global leadership. Review of the workshop's vision.

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 15, 2026

9:30 AM10:15 AM

#1 - What is DITTO?

Global vision, foundational principles of the Ocean Decade, and lessons learned from early global implementation.

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 15, 2026

10:15 AM11:00 AM

#2 - Building a Digital Twin

Technical overview: observations, data streams, numerical models, AI/ML, visualization tools, and basic governance needs.

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 15, 2026

11:00 AM11:15 AM

Coffee Break & Networking

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 15, 2026

11:15 AM12:15 PM

#3 - Africa's Current Landscape

Present the results from OPERA scoping study on data infrastructures and DTO initiatives in Africa and OPERA's plans for the African DTO

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 15, 2026

12:15 PM12:30 PM

Breakout Introduction

Briefing on methodology, group assignments, and expected outcomes for the afternoon sessions.

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 15, 2026

12:30 PM1:30 PM

Lunch Break

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 15, 2026

1:30 PM3:30 PM

Breakout Sessions: Part 1

Focus: Assessment & Prioritization - Group 1: Identify priority challenges and use cases. - Group 2: Inventory data and identify gaps. - Group 3: Map regional institutions and roles. - Group...

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 15, 2026

3:30 PM4:00 PM

Coffee Break

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 15, 2026

4:00 PM5:00 PM

Plenary Report-Back

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 15, 2026

7:00 PM9:00 PM

Social dinner

Networking event

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 16, 2026

8:30 AM9:00 AM

Welcome Coffee

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 16, 2026

9:00 AM9:15 AM

Day 1 Recap and Day 2 Goals

Synthesis of Day 1 consensus and transition into the implementation planning phase.

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 16, 2026

9:15 AM10:00 AM

#4 - Technical Architecture

Deep dive into interoperability standards, FAIR data principles, and building sovereign, inclusive infrastructure.

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 16, 2026

10:00 AM10:45 AM

#5 - Governance Models

Exploring international examples of digital ocean governance, data sovereignty, and institutional partnerships.

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 16, 2026

10:45 AM11:15 AM

Coffee Break

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 16, 2026

11:15 AM12:00 PM

#6 - Funding & Sustainability

Strategies for resource mobilization, private-sector partnerships, and sustained investment.

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 16, 2026

12:00 PM1:00 PM

Lunch Break

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 16, 2026

1:00 PM3:00 PM

Breakout Sessions: Part 2

Focus: Design & Roadmapping - Group 1: Develop 3–5 pilot project concepts. - Group 2: Draft foundational guidelines for the technical architecture roadmap. - Group 3: Propose an interim...

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 16, 2026

3:00 PM3:30 PM

Coffee Break

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 16, 2026

3:30 PM4:30 PM

#7 - Integration

Presentation of Day 2 outputs. Live synthesis of breakout outputs to outline the foundational draft of the African DITTO Implementation Framework.

Novotel Cotonou Orisha, Benin

Oct 16, 2026

4:30 PM5:00 PM

Closing Session

Agreement on post-workshop task assignments, outlining the initial partnership plan, and closing remarks.

Detailed program

Welcome by University of Abomey-Calavi - UAC

Keynote Ministry of Environment

Keynote Prefet Maritime

UNESCO International Chair in Mathematical Physics and Applications - ICPMA

Benin Institute of Fisheries and Oceanographic Research - IRHOB

Benin Environment & Education Society - BEES

Networking Break

Mercator Ocean International & OceanPrediction DCC

Ocean Prediction Enhancement in Regions of Africa - OPERA

Panel Discussion

Networking

Presentation of GOOS Africa

Networking Event

Presentation of OPERA ocean forecasting system developments

African EU dialogue on ocean forecasting with OceanPrediction African DCC team

Q & A

Networking

Presentation of OPERA Application consortia and selected applications

Roundtable discussion on ocean information services and applications

Networking Break

Overview of Capacity strengthening in OPERA

Overview workshop

Presentations on GGOSSS outcomes

Networking Tea Break

ECOPs panel discussion

Panel discussion around capacity development

Presentation on OPERA activities

Panel discussion - private sector/civil society, maritime sectors

Round table with IOC Africa, AUC, DCC regional team, Abidjan/Nairobi convention, policymakers

Networking

Flash presentations on programmes

Roundtable with WIOMSA, IUCN regional office, WACA, WASOP (tbc), Arc X community

Welcome Coffee

Opening session

#1 - What is DITTO?

#2 - Building a Digital Twin

Coffee Break & Networking

#3 - Africa's Current Landscape

Breakout Introduction

Lunch Break

Breakout Sessions: Part 1

Coffee Break

Plenary Report-Back

Social dinner

Welcome Coffee

Day 1 Recap and Day 2 Goals

#4 - Technical Architecture

#5 - Governance Models

Coffee Break

#6 - Funding & Sustainability

Lunch Break

Breakout Sessions: Part 2

Coffee Break

#7 - Integration

Closing Session

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