African States on the coasts of the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, and landlocked States in these regions, as well as States of the Benguela Current Convention

Introduction

After nearly 20 years of work, the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) was adopted on 19 June 2023 and opened for signature on 20 September 2023. As of 19 September 2025, the BBNJ Agreement has 145 signatories, including 14 States from among the 24 States targeted by this Regional
Workshop. On the same date, the threshold of 60 instruments of ratification, approval, acceptance or accession required for the entry into force of the Agreement was reached. Among the 60 States that have ratified the Agreement, alongside the European Union, are three States from the target region. The Agreement will enter into force on 17 January 2026, in accordance with article 68(1).

The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations (the Division), in cooperation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is offering a Regional Workshop on promoting a better understanding of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) for African States on the coasts of the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, and landlocked States in these regions, as well as member States of the Benguela Current Convention.

The Workshop will be held from 1 to 5 December 2025 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa (UNCC-AA), Ethiopia, and will be hosted by ECA. It will be delivered in two segments: the first segment, delivered by the Division, will provide an overview of the BBNJ Agreement, covering all main elements of the Agreement as well as cross-cutting issues. The second segment, delivered by IUCN, will provide an opportunity for in-depth learning about a number of aspects pertaining to area-based management tools, including marine protected areas, as well as the necessary means of implementation.

Documents

Concept Note [English] [French]

Notification [English] [French]