African Academy for Deep Sea Diplomacy (ADSEA)

African Academy for Deep Sea Diplomacy

A Hybrid Training Programme for African Diplomats, Government Officials, and Policy Makers

Organized by the International Seabed Authority (ISA)
In collaboration with the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC)

Overview

The International Seabed Authority (ISA), in collaboration with the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC), is pleased to invite applications for the inaugural African Academy for Deep Sea Diplomacy. This innovative hybrid training programme is tailored to build the capacity of early to mid-career professionals (in particular diplomats, government officials, and policy makers) from African member States, on the legal, institutional,  and policy dimensions of the deep seabed regime under Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Implementation Agreement.

Through this initiative, ISA and IRIC aim to promote informed and active participation of African States in ISA-related processes and enhance regional leadership in ocean governance.

Programme Objectives

The training programme aims to:

  • Enhance the knowledge of early to mid-career experts from African States in matters related to seabed resources in the Area based on their capacity development needs;
  • Promote informed and balanced participation of African countries in ISA-related activities and processes;
  • Support early to mid-career professionals (in particular diplomats, government officials and policy makers) with technical training in ocean governance.

Programme Structure

Phase 1 – Online Training (Self-paced, Mandatory Pre-requisite)
Delivered through ISA’s Deep Dive platform (https://deepdive.isa.org.jm/), this phase includes:

  • 36 academic hours of self-paced learning;
  • Expert video lectures;
  • Reading materials, quizzes, and a final assessment;
  • Certificate of completion required for participation in the in-person training.

Online training dates: 6th to 31st October 2025

Phase 2 – In-Person Training (Yaoundé, Cameroon)
Hosted at IRIC, this one-week immersive training will include:

  • Interactive lectures and expert-led sessions;
  • Simulations and case studies;
  • Policy discussions with ISA Legal and Technical Commission experts and African regional stakeholders.

In-person training dates: Tentatively 17th to 21st November 2025 (Subject to confirmation)

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be:

  • Nationals of an African State;
  • Early to mid-career professionals (in particular diplomats, government officials and policy makers) engaged in ocean, legal, environmental, or marine affairs.

Applicants must demonstrate interest or experience in international law or ocean governance.

Selection Process

A total of 16 fully funded participants will be selected by a joint ISA-IRIC Selection Committee, based on nominations submitted by African States. A limited number of self-funded participants may also be accepted. Applicants not selected for the 2025 cohort may be considered for future sessions.

 Other elements that will be taken into account in the selection process:

  • Gender balance and regional diversity will be strongly considered;
  • Consideration will be given to candidates from least developed countries (LDCs), land-locked developing countries (LLDCs), and small island developing States (SIDS).

Financial Support

Through financial support from the ISA Partnership Fund, selected participants will receive:

  • Free access to the Deep Dive e-learning course.
  • Round-trip economy-class airfare.
  • Local accommodation, meals, and transport in Cameroon during the in-person training.

Applications by self-funded participants will be considered.

How to Apply
Interested candidates must submit:

  1. Letter of nomination from your government or institution;
  2. Bio page of passport and;
  3. Resume
  • The link to the upload folder is provided at the end of the application form.

Application Deadline – 19th September 2025

For any further inquiries, contact Margaret Koli at isapf@isa.org.jm

Background and rationale

In July 2023, the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) approved a Memorandum of Understanding between ISA and the International Relations Institute of Cameroon (IRIC), a governmental entity established to deliver diplomatic courses for African diplomats in both English and French.

Through the partnership established under the Memorandum of Understanding, ISA and IRIC will cooperate in the planning and implementation of specific training activities with a focus on Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Agreement. Such activities will encourage and facilitate cooperation with African States in matters relating to the work and mandate of ISA.

This partnership foresees the creation of a dedicated curriculum on the law of the sea for African diplomats to be jointly managed by ISA and IRIC with a view to support the development of enhanced knowledge and expertise of African countries.

At its meeting in January 2024, the Board of the ISA Partnership Fund, a multidonor trust fund established by the ISA Assembly at its 27th session, decided to allocate a grant to the African Academy for Deep Sea Diplomacy, a training course to be carried out under the Memorandum of Understanding between ISA and IRIC aimed at implementing its main objectives.

 

Objectives

The African Academy for Deep Sea Diplomacy is intended to provide training to diplomats from English and French-speaking African countries in the field of the law of the sea, with particular reference to the regime of the Area under Part XI of UNCLOS.

It is anticipated that the training would spread over three weeks in total, including two weeks of in-person training carried out in Cameroon, and would be designed to facilitate the acquisition by African diplomats of expertise in matters relating to the work and mandate of ISA.

 

Modalities

This training activity will be provided using a blended learning approach.

Ahead of in-person training, selected participants will be granted access to an ad hoc module of the Deep Dive e-learning platform, dealing with key concepts and principles of Part XI UNCLOS. Lessons available in the module – recorded by renewed experts in the relevant fields – will be complemented by selected learning materials and followed by a short final test.

The second part of the course will take place in Cameroon, tentatively at the seat of IRIC, and will last two weeks.

Training schedule

Before the in-person training in Cameroon, all participants will be requested to take part in an introductory module hosted on the ISA e-learning platform Deep Dive. Developed within the framework of the ISA Capacity Development Strategy, Deep Dive is the first and the only e-learning training platform exclusively devised to address all elements of the legal regime in Part XI of the UNCLOS and the 1994 Implementation Agreement, including technical and scientific aspects.

This ad hoc module of Deep Dive is designed to enhance the capacity of government officials, diplomats, and practitioners from Member States to understand and implement the legal regime of the Area and the different elements pertaining to the conduct of activities in the Area.

This module, with an estimated duration of 36 academic learning hours, is self-paced but needs to be concluded before the start of in-person training. Trainees will be requested to complete a test at the end of each lecture and to sit a final test to be awarded with a completion certificate.

Trainees will be unable to proceed to the in-person training unless they have successfully completed the Deep Dive module. The programme for the in-person training is currently being finalised.