Global efforts to prevent oil spills continue despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The first webinar of a new series on oil spill preparedness and response delivered by the GI WACAF Project took place on 14 April.

The webinar focused on developing a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP). Experts from ITOPF and OTRA presented both the development process and the content of a NOSCP, as well as the importance of its effective implementation.

Other webinars will cover related topics, including waste management, the use of dispersants, wildlife response and liability and compensation in case of an oil spill.

The GIWACAF project launched its first webinar series on oil spill preparedness and response in June 2020. This helped provide key assistance to countries in improving their response plan, such as response techniques or implementing legal and institutional instruments to meet international regulations.

The GI WACAF Project is a collaboration between the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and IPIECA to enhance the capacity of 22 partner countries in West, Central and Southern Africa to prepare for and respond to marine oil spills.