THE IRELAND AND WMU-GOI BBNJ CLINIC PROGRAMME

Developing capacity in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to ratify and implement the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement

PROGRAMME INFORMATION & BACKGROUND

“Dedicated Efforts to Empower SIDS and LDCs to ratify and implement the BBNJ Agreement for the protection and sustainable use of the ocean”

The World Maritime University - Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU-GOI) is pleased to implement The Ireland and WMU Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute BBNJ Clinic with the generous funding from the Government of Ireland International Development Programme. Under the auspices of the BBNJ Clinic, WMU-GOI is dedicated to supporting Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal Least Developed Countries (LDCs) efforts to ratify and implement the BBNJ Agreement.

The Ireland and WMU-GOI BBNJ Clinic is a four-year programme dedicated to collaborating with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to support their efforts to ratify and implement the BBNJ Agreement.

Current Progress

Step 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

Current Progress

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028

Effective and prompt implementation of the BBNJ Agreement is crucial for ocean sustainability and conservation and to address global inequalities in access to ocean resources. SIDS, characterized as ‘large ocean states’ due to their geographical features and interconnection with and knowledge of ocean ecosystems, as well as coastal LDCs, are among the most important actors in contemporary ocean affairs and could be among the most significant beneficiaries of the Agreement. However, these States can face capacity and resource challenges in implementing the BBNJ Agreement.

Inspired by the law clinic tradition developed and practiced at law schools in the United States and around the world, the programme aims to fulfill both practical capacity development and hands-on educational mandates.

WMU-GOI researchers and external experts, including the lead negotiators of the BBNJ intergovernmental conference, will lead the consultation process facilitated by the Clinic, and facilitate ratification and implementation procedures undertaken by legal advisors, government officials, and relevant stakeholders from SIDS and coastal LDCs.

The Ireland WMU-GOI BBNJ Clinic will be the first of its kind, sitting at a unique intersection between education, practical capacity-development tasks, and vocational clinical legal work.

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programme Deliverables

BIANNUAL INTENSIVE TRAINING COURSES

The Clinic will administer intensive bi-annual courses for legal advisors and government officials from SIDS and coastal LDCs. The courses will be developed and delivered in partnership with relevant UN level bodies such as the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) and academic institutions. Participants will be selected in consultation with the relevant local government agencies and stakeholders. The thematic focus of the courses will adapt to fit the focus of larger processes underway within the BBNJ Agreement regime as it comes into force and gains institutional life – focusing first on ratification, the setting up of the subsidiary bodies, as well as later on specific topics related to implementation.

DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF MODEL CLAUSES

The model clauses will be co-developed and implemented in partnership with relevant government agencies and stakeholders in SIDS and coastal LDCs, focusing on adopting and updating their domestic legislation and state practice, to implement provisions of the BBNJ Agreement. This will be carried out by connecting- and building on comparative work on Agreement ratification and implementation previously undertaken at relevant UN bodies and regional and national bodies.

HIGH LEVEL PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

The development and publication of a legal handbook on BBNJ Agreement implementation, drawing on experiences of participants’ in intensive courses, or a series of high profile publications focused on legal aspects of implementation challenges faced by SIDS and coastal LDCs over the lifetime of the project.

CONFERENCES AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

The WMU-GOI team will:

Conduct consultative meetings with relevant government representatives and other stakeholders to synthesize key issues that SIDS and coastal LDCs are facing in ratifying and implementing the BBNJ Agreement;
Host (side) events, and participate at large high profile international conferences like the UN Oceans Conference;
Organize academic conferences, workshops, and webinars on selected topics, including a large international facilitation conference in year 4;
Present the work of the Clinic at universities and at academic events to highlight the innovative work of the Law Clinic, raise awareness on the importance of capacity building, and the complexity and key importance of the extensive work required to implement large multi-topic multilateral treaties such as the BBNJ Agreement.

DRIVERS

Effective and prompt implementation of the BBNJ Agreement is an imperative for ocean sustainability and conservation, and is a medium of addressing global inequalities for access to ocean resources.
SIDS are among the most significant addressees and potential beneficiaries of the Agreement due to their geographically determined character as ‘large ocean states’, and the same is true of coastal LDCs.
Low socio-economic capacities and scarcity of domestic financial resources pose a challenge for SIDS and LDCs in ratifying and implementing the BBNJ Agreement.

RESULTS

Research that contributes to the preparatory processes preceding the entering into force of the BBNJ Agreement and the establishment of the subsidiary bodies.
Facilitation of the rapid ratification and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement by SIDS and LDCs
Establishing a productive feedback loop between practical, capacity development, and educational mandates
Developing a lasting institutional framework, maximizing long-term impact for growth and adaptation
Contributing to the ‘WMU-GOI Future Ocean Webinar Series’, an initiative undertaken in the context of the Institute’s work on its research programme on the triple planetary crisis and areas beyond national jurisdiction.

objectives & outputs

research strands

strand 1
strand 2

Intensive Courses for Legal Advisors and Government Officials

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The BBNJ Clinic administers bi-annual workshops for legal advisors and government officials from SIDS and coastal LDCs. Participants are selected in consultation with relevant local government agencies and stakeholders. These workshops address interconnections between the BBNJ Agreement and the broader international law of the sea, as well as legislative drafting. The workshop faculty is composed of field-leading academics and experts, international officials, and negotiators involved in the BBNJ negotiations.

The workshops are developed and delivered in partnership with relevant UN level bodies such as:

the Division for Ocean Affairs and
the Law of the Sea (DOALOS)
international and regional organisations
non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
academic institutions

Learn more about the capacity sharing work of the Clinic

MEET THE TEAM

WMU-SASAKAWA GLOBAL OCEAN INSTITUTE

Dr. Ríán Derrig

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

“The BBNJ Agreement promises a once in a generation opportunity to make using the ocean beyond national jurisdiction fairer, and to conserve it for future generations. The Ireland and WMU-GOI BBNJ Clinic brings the law clinic tradition of putting academic education to practical use to bear on the task, now shared by all, of making good on that promise.”

AREA OF RESEARCH

Dr. Derrig’s research focuses on redistribution through international law, and especially through the law of the sea.

DR. KAHLIL HASSANALI

SENIOR RESEARCHER

“Adoption of the BBNJ Agreement, after nearly two decades of concerted efforts, was a historic accomplishment. SIDS were meaningful contributors to the success of the negotiating process. They fought for and earned opportunities meant to give island nations increased voice, capacity and agency to advance sustainable and equitable ocean management. Now it is important that SIDS remain prominently engaged as the process moves into the next phase of operationalization and implementation of the Agreement. The BBNJ Clinic can be an essential contributor to these efforts.”

AREA OF RESEARCH

Kahlil Hassanali has conducted research focusing on the BBNJ Agreement and its inter-relationship with the blue economy of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Among his other research interests are integrated coastal zone management, regional ocean governance and blue economy.