The Benguela Current Commission (BCC) was established through an interim agreement in 2007 and a legally binding convention was signed in 2013 by Angola, Namibia, and South Africa. The BCC aims to promote sustainable management of the Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem through science-based governance. It has advanced regional cooperation on issues like joint fish stock assessments, pollution control, and marine protected areas. The BCC secretariat is based in Namibia and has supported capacity building, partnerships, and policy development. Key factors in its success include strong political support, national ownership of processes, and a spirit of cooperation among the parties.

1. Benguela Current Commission
From Science to Sustainable
Governance
Nico E. Willemse
BCLME SAP Implementation Project

2. Convention was signed on 18 March 2013 in the
City of Benguela, Angola

3. The Benguela Current Commission
• Founded by Angola, Namibia and South Africa – cooperation commenced
in early 1990s – Fisheries, Transport, Minerals and Environment;
• One of first GEF IW Projects that developed a TDA/SAP based on the LME
approach – SAP endorsed by 2001;
• Countries signed Interim Agreement by 2007 to establish the BCC;
• Commission secretariat opened in Aug 2008 with appointment of Exec
Sec and SAP Implementation commenced – Science-to-Governance
approach
• TDA/ SAP and Science Programme revision/ update 2012-2013 –based on
the objective and principles of the convention;
• Legally binding Convention signed on 18 March 2013; with Interim
Agreement in place till text is ratified;

4. Science Output/
Outcome
Proposed implementation
Governance Output/
Outcome
1. SAP advocate for
permanent mechanism for
LME management
- Convention drafting
- National and regional consultations
- Signing and ratification
BCC Convention and a full
institutionalised LME
Commission
2. Regional Oil Spill Risk
Assessment and Coastal
Sensitivity Mapping
- Review nationally and regionally to revise and
update draft policy document
- Endorsement and implementation
Regional Atlas of CSMs and
Cooperation Framework to
protect transboundary areas
3. Guidelines for water
quality in coastal areas
- Review nationally and regionally to revise and
update draft policy document
- Endorsement and implementation
Regional Sea Water Quality
Guidelines
4. Joint Transboundary
Surveys and Stock
Assessment; Ecological Risk
Assessments
- Initiate discussion on joint assessment, agreement
of State of the Stocks and to facilitate stock sharing
arrangements
- [Lessons to learn from Peru and Chile]
- Check if national policies/ laws enable joint
management
Regional State of the Stocks
and initiating the process of
Joint Mgt Planning
Namibia – review Fisheries
Act to incorporate EAF and
joint mgt.
5. Biodiversity mapping and
identification of areas for
improved conservation and
protection of marine
resources
- Validate the proposed areas and endorse
recommendations
- Engage national processes to declare MPAs, closed
seasons, etc.
Declare the protected areas
or implement closed
seasons, etc.

5.  Headquarters
located in
marine
research
centre,
Swakopmund
 Eight offices,
server room,
a board room
and reception
area
 Generous
support from
Namibia
Institutional Milestones: Secretariat , roles and
functions (1)

6. •Finance and Administration
Committee (FAC);
•Regional Training Advisory
Group (RTAG)
•Minerals and Extractive
Resources Working Group
• Finance and Admin
instruments – HR, Finance,
Procurement, Travel and DSA and
Investment policies
Institutional Milestones: Secretariat, roles and
functions (2)

7. • Corporate image
development and branding –
raising awareness and
increasing visibility;
• Mainstreaming the brand
through information products;
• Stakeholder outreach and
involvement through
partnerships [first BCC Youth
Summit held from 6-8 Jun
2013 – resulted in Regional
Youth Network and
Declaration to Ministers]
•
Institutional Milestones: Secretariat, roles and
functions (3)

8. Social networking provides
access to info and
facilitates involvement

11. •The Benguela Current
Convention
•Regional Information
and Data Sharing Policy
and Protocol
Policy and Management Milestones (1)

12. • Economic valuation of
ecosystem goods and
services
• Management
planning for Orange
River Mouth
• Scoping report for
Strategic
Environmental
Assessment of BCLME
• Ocean Policy devt for
Angola and S.A.
• Revision of Marine
Res Act Nam
Policy and Management Milestones (2)

13. •BCC Training and Capacity
Building (TCB) Strategy and
Policy
•Ongoing improvement of
technical and scientific skills and
capacity – e.g. fish stock
assessment and Responsible
Fisheries training;
•Awareness and capacity
building about ocean
governance, transboundary
management and ecosystem
approach to fisheries (EAF)
management
•Certificates of Attendance were handed
to participants at the 2011 Annual
Science Forum in Swakopmund
Capacity Strengthening Milestones

14. • Strategic Plan
• Business Plan
• Resource Mobilisation
and Partnership Strategy
• Revising and updating of
the TDA and Strategic
Action Programme
• Development of the new
Science Programme
• These focus on the
sustainability of BCC
•Annual Science Forum of the BCC,
Swakopmund, Oct 2011
Instruments under preparation

15. •Global Environment Facility (GEF) – Support
foundation of the BCC and technical support for
sustainability planning (Key outputs Secretariat
and Convention)
Norwegian Foreign Ministry – BCC Science
Programme implementation
•ICEIDA – BCC Training and Capacity Building
Strategy implementation
•FAO EAF-Nansen Project– Implementation of
EAF Projects;
•GEF-Funded climate change vulnerability
project for BCLME
•EU – improving stock identification and
assessment
Development Partner Milestones

16. •FAO
•Danish Technical
University (DTU)
•Ocean Data and
Information Network
for Africa
(ODINAFRICA)
•Global Partnership on
Climate, Fisheries and
Aquaculture (PaCFA).
•NansClim and GENUS
Projects
•UNDP and UNOPS –
implementing and
executing support and
capacity building2011 Annual Science Forum, Swakopmund, Oct 2011
Strategic Partnership and Networking
Milestones (1)

17. •Abidjan Convention –
ecosystem protection
•International Maritime
Organisation (IMO) -
Regional Oil Spill Risk
Assessment (OSRA) and
Contingency Planning
•GOOS and ODIN Africa for
operation oceanography
•UNESCO-IOC – Promote
ecosystem management
•NOAA – Implementation
of LME approach
•African LME Caucus – BCC
as chair of the Caucus
Strategic Partnership and Networking
Milestones (2)

18. •BCC Interim Agreement
as strong foundation;
•Interest, willingness and
commitment by
Negotiating Task Groups;
•Strong leadership by the
Consultant, Team Leaders
and Chief Negotiators
•Left-to-right: Mr. Terje Lobach
(Consultant) and members of the country
Negotiating Task Groups, S.A., Angola
and Namibia, at the first Regional
Negotiation meeting, Oct 2010,
Swakopmund
Success factors: Convention development
process (1)

19. • Drawing from best
practices and
modern
instruments
• Available
competence from
all countries drove
the process
• South African delegation
at the 1st Ministerial
Conference, Milnerton,
Cape Town, Sep 2010
Success factors: Convention development
process (2)

20. • Spirit of
cooperation which
facilitated flexibility
in negotiating tough
issues
• Angolan delegation at the 2nd
Ministerial Conference,
Stellenbosch, S.A., Mar 2011
Success factors: Convention development
process (3)

21. • Ownership of
the process
by the Parties
• Strong
political will
and
leadership
• Support from
development
partners
•Ministers at the 2nd
Ministerial
Conference of the
BCC, Stellenbosch,
S.A., Mar 2011
Success factors: Convention development
process (4)

22. What have we learned:
- History determines pace, willingness and
solidarity;
- Ownership and buy-in at national level improves
chances of success and sustainability;
- Market the Commission as a partner to meet
national/ regional sustainable development goals
and targets (MDGs, poverty reduction,
employment, etc.);
- High level political support is essential otherwise
it will remain to be seen as “donor-driven initiative
‘housed’ in govt”;
- Enlist champions and offer a legacy;
- BCC in itself is a system of peer review and
accountability – no one wants to be left behind or
seen to not do the right thing!
- Science cooperation is a good platform for trust
and confidence building;
- Continuity may offer efficiencies and
effectiveness but may also counterproductive;
- Corporate image, branding and mainstreaming is
crucial – like Coca Cola, Apple, SONY?
- Ministerial involvement enables ACTION –
bottom-up as scientists and managers define 2-yr
agenda and ministers endorse as Communiqué