PURPOSE OF THE SPECIAL ISSUE
This special issue of Oceanography focuses on “capacity building” and “capacity sharing” in the ocean sciences, engineering, and related applications in academic, private, civil society, and public sectors. More specifically, capacity building describes activities designed to strengthen the knowledge, abilities, relationships, and values that enable organizations, groups, and individuals to reach their goals for sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources. It includes strengthening the institutions, processes, systems, and rules that influence collective and individual behavior and performance in all related endeavors. Capacity building also enhances people’s ability to make informed choices and fosters their willingness to play new developmental roles and adapt to new challenges. Capacity is about more than potential; it harnesses potential through robust programs to make progress in addressing societal needs and is fundamental to fostering environmental stewardship, improving the management of ocean and coastal areas and resources, and reducing global inequalities.
We also use the term “capacity sharing” as in Miloslavich et al. (2022) to acknowledge that the act of building capacity “is a shared effort among the people who are bringing the expertise and equipment and the people who are being trained to become active partners in the global ocean sustainability effort. Capacity sharing also acknowledges that local knowledge and traditions can inform how the capacity-building team approaches their efforts toward sustainability goals.”
The special issue has several goals: (1) describe the benefits around the world of sustained capacity building and capacity sharing in ocean science, technology, and applications; (2) identify barriers and gaps; (3) share best practices on how to build and sustain efforts; (4) highlight the importance to jobs and the economy; and (5) identify synergies among existing and new capacity-building and capacity-sharing programs. We encourage manuscripts that contribute to the goals of UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and efforts that look beyond 2030. Our aim is to provide readers with a resource that will inspire actions on many fronts to achieve these objectives.
