Improving west, central and southern African countries’ ability to prepare and respond to oil spills is key to protecting the marine and shoreline environment in the region.

This is where the GI WACAF* project comes in – a cooperation between IMO and IPIECA, the global oil and gas industry association for advancing environmental and social performance.

Want to know how GI WACAF works with relevant national authorities in 22 African countries? Go to the brand-new website www.giwacaf.net to find out everything from latest news and progress map, to country profiles, conventions and publications.

Support for these countries includes helping to designate authorities in charge; ratifying relevant international conventions; and developing a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. GI WACAF also runs training courses and exercises, and supports the structuring of regional agreements.

To-date more than 5,000 people have been trained under the project in over 100 activities across the 22 countries.

* The Global Initiative for West, Central and Southern Africa