Whether you are working in ocean science, policy, or community engagement, co-design is a skill that can amplify your impact.

Learning, collaborating, and co-designing for ocean action in Africa

I recently completed the Co-Design Training Course for Ocean Decade Actions in Africa. The experience has left me clearer, more connected, and ready to step up my work in hydrospatial science and ocean governance for Seychelles.

What’s the course all about?

The programme set out to build co-design skills among communities and stakeholders across Africa, helping us move from ambitious ideas into real action for the Ocean Decade. Instead of focusing solely on technical know-how, the training explored transferable skills such as project management, stakeholder engagement, and communication. Each module built these elements in, making every lesson practical and grounded in real challenges. There was a strong focus on critically examining co-design methods and sharing regional examples, which added depth and relevance to our learning.

Course Outline at a Glance

• Module 1: Introduction to Co-Design and the Ocean Decade

• Module 2: Joint Vision and Impact Pathway

• Module 3: Stakeholder Engagement and Equal Partnership

• Module 4: Jointly Conducting Research Projects, Project Management and Communication

• Module 5: Sustainability, Evaluating and Extending Your Co-Designed Project

• Module 6: Participants’ Presentations and Course Evaluation

The modules linked together to guide us from foundational concepts to strategic planning, communication, and thinking about sustainability. Sessions included live group work, expert-led discussions, and constant opportunities to reflect and connect ideas to our own contexts. The real value came from exchanging perspectives with peers, and learning directly from practitioners who are shaping ocean governance in their own regions. These interactions challenged my assumptions, sparked new thinking, and reminded me that some of the best solutions emerge through collaboration and shared lived experience.

Module by Module Reflections

Module 1: Introduction to Co-Design and the Ocean Decade

The course started by unpacking what co-design means for ocean action. The focus was on collaboration, clarity, and understanding the complexity of Decade Actions. Broad engagement is not optional; it is essential.

For my first assignment, I presented a bold vision for my Decade Action. The objectives were clear, stakeholder alignment was strong, and it had partnerships across agencies and networks built in. Feedback highlighted the need for storytelling, suggesting that showing how stakeholders benefit would bring my project to life. I learned to narrow the focus, be more personal, and aim for sharper messaging.

Module 2: Joint Vision and Impact Pathway

This module guided us to shape joint goals and design impact pathways. We learned to connect project actions with Sustainable Development Goals and the Ocean Decade’s mission. Frameworks helped us balance outputs with real impact for society.

The assignment clarified structure by separating high-level aims from operational objectives. Feedback encouraged further refinement, urging me to set clear priorities for priority SDGs and distinguish between immediate results and lasting impacts.

Module 3: Stakeholder Engagement and Equal Partnership

Engagement drives co-design. We learned to map stakeholders, plan for equity and inclusion, and manage power dynamics. Multidisciplinary teams need transparent strategies for collaboration.

This submission mapped out needs, interests, and key roles. I showed how partnership would unfold step by step. The feedback praised the analysis and advised prioritising the most essential actors and anticipating real-world tensions.

Module 4: Project Management and Communication

Managing collaborative projects requires clear timelines, strong communication, and making complex science accessible. This module covered implementation plans and strategies for outreach to policymakers and wider audiences. Many real-world challenges are unique to project management in Africa (as per image below). This includes insufficient infrastructure, limited resources, the need for tailored inclusive methods, policy constraints, and more. These obstacles shaped both our discussions and practical exercises throughout the module. Addressing them means not only planning well and communicating clearly but also being flexible and responsive to context especially when working across different regions and stakeholder groups.

The submitted policy brief was structured for clarity and impact. Feedback commended my participatory approach and suggested including more on monitoring, measuring impact, and pathways to future partnerships and funding.

Module 5: Sustainable Impact

Staying effective once funding ends is no small feat. We examined ways to evaluate projects and plan for legacy, resource mobilisation, and ongoing influence.

My assignment included realistic budget scenarios and mapped out funding opportunities at national, regional, and international levels. Feedback called out the credibility of my approach and encouraged me to reinforce strategies for long-term impact and inclusivity when resources shift.

Module 6: Presentations and Evaluation

We closed with case study presentations, sharing Decade Action projects and learning from our peers. Communication skills and peer exchange were the final takeaway.

My last assignment, which was the presentation for my Decade Project met all the required criteria and achieved a perfect score, wrapping up the course journey with a sense of accomplishment and readiness to lead future actions.

Reflections

Module by module, this was a journey of sharpening strategy, strengthening collaboration, and tackling practical ocean challenges. The assignments, supported by real and constructive feedback, helped me transform ideas into action. This training prepared me to serve and support the hydrospatial community.

The course delivered new frameworks for engaging with stakeholders and partners, making it easier to shape initiatives that are inclusive, evidence-based, and decision-ready. The capacity to co-design projects with clear objectives and sustainable outcomes is now embedded in how I collaborate, both locally in Seychelles and across the wider region. These skills will help SHORE contribute stronger knowledge, facilitate partnerships, and position itself as a trusted voice in ocean governance.

From an academic perspective, this experience deepened my understanding of applied research methods, interdisciplinary teamwork, and project delivery, skills that are essential for future research leadership. The critical thinking fostered during the course, especially around problem definition, evaluation, and long-term impact, aligns closely with the demands of academic work. I am ready to push boundaries, connect theory to practice, and help build a community of ocean leaders ready for the Decade ahead.

Standout Moment

The standout moment for me during this course was the rich interaction with fellow participants. Hearing their stories and realizing that, despite being based in different countries, so many of us are grappling with fundamentally similar challenges was energizing. We each face unique governance structures and local realities, yet the underlying issues stem from the same interplay between social and ecological systems (SES) as per the diagram.

Whether participants were from coastal West Africa, the Southern Indian Ocean, or island nations like Seychelles, the same flows shaped their experiences. Our values, policies, and collective actions influence ecosystem health, which in turn determines the services we rely on, from food and tourism to climate regulation. What these conversations revealed is that, while the specifics of governance and context differ, the framework for solutions can be universal. By embracing systems thinking and collaborative co-design, we can tailor responses that fit local needs without losing sight of the bigger picture. The feedback loops between people, ecosystems, and services remind us that cooperation and knowledge-sharing are essential for lasting, inclusive ocean governance.

If my work connects with yours or resonates with your own Ocean Decade goals and small island challenges, get in touch and let’s keep the conversation growing.

#CoDesign #OceanDecade #Hydrospatial #Seychelles #CapacityBuilding

Cheers,
Francesca

It was filled with listening, learning, and meeting the people who keeps the standards, creates the charts and maintain maritime safety moving in the South African and Indian Ocean region.

As an observer it was an opportunity to understand how IHO works in practice, how SAIHC connects hydrographic offices across Southern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean, and where Seychelles (and SHORE) fit.

What stood out

1) Standards are speeding up

S-100 is no longer an idea it is well and truly operational.

Some offices are well into testing phase and product specs, while others are still sorting out the basics. The message in the room was clear move together, embrace collaborations so that mariners aren’t navigating a patchwork of charts and data.

2) Safety of navigation

Electronic Navigational Chart (ENCs), surveys, and quality matters, but so does the network that shares the load. “No country must be left behind” shouldn’t just be a slogan. It would taken seriously and acted upon for the safety of our maritime spaces.

3) Mind the mapping gaps

There’s steady progress on filling shallow-water holes and prioritising critical areas. The gaps are shrinking, but not as fast as we would have liked. Resource pooling and task sharing came up again and again as a way forward to bridge those gaps.

4) Usability for small teams

Not everyone has a large team and new kit. Tools that work for limited capacity that is clear guidance, simple outputs, predictable updates, must be a priority for small islands. Collaboration is the real infrastructure for these instances.

Why this matters for Seychelles?

We have more ocean than land and small teams doing big work.

Standards and cooperation are how we stay seen and are not only nice to haves.

Our proximity to the the high seas are also another hindrance to our progress. Monitoring is a burden, as is our capability and capacity.

Advantage: pilot waters, regional leadership, and lessons that scale across SIDS.
Pressure: nearby high-seas activity, monitoring burdens, thin capacity.

Our job is to tilt the balance toward advantage.

Where SHORE fits

SHORE needs to show up as a knowledge provider. We need to stay focused on hydrospatial science, seafloor evidence, and decision-ready that competent authorities can plug into their existing processes.

Memorable moments

A visit to L’astrolabe, reminding everyone of how hydrography & charts are used in real ocean settings.

I am grateful for the organisers, the SA/IO hydrographic community and colleagues from industry for the welcome and engagement.

If we met and love to keep the connection and conversation going reply here or message me directly.

#Hydrography #SeafloorMapping #InternationalCollaboration

Cheers

Francesca