By
Alex Smith |
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has established a new Department for Partnerships and Projects to help member states tackle global international shipping issues.
The new department will focus on strengthening the IMO’s partnerships with external stakeholders and donor agencies, as well as coordinating long-term donor-funded projects. By matching the differing requirements of developed and less-developed countries with the provision of appropriate resources from donors, the IMO hopes to tackle issues ranging from decarbonisation to maritime safety.
"For the benefits of sustainable development to be evenly spread, all countries must be able to play a full and active part in maritime activities,” said Kitack Lim, secretary-general of the IMO. “Building partnerships is key to this. This new department will help that to happen. It's very much in line with my vision of a 'Voyage Together', where no one is left behind when it comes to the effective implementation of IMO's global standards."
The department will also aim to increase the IMO’s existing portfolio of donor-supported projects to strengthen its Integrated Technical Cooperation programme. This will bring together the existing Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation team within the organisation’s Technical Cooperation Division and the Major Projects team from the Marine Environment Division under one department.
The Department for Partnerships and Projects will become operational from 1 March 2020 under the leadership of Jose Matheickal.