IOPC Funds participates in GI WACAF Regional Conference

IOPC Funds’ Director, Gaute Sivertsen, participated in the 10th Global Initiative for West, Central and Southern Africa (GI WACAF) bi-annual regional conference from 25 to 28 November in Lomé, Togo.

The Director addressed one of the main objectives of the event related to the challenges of oil spill preparedness and response in the region by providing a comprehensive overview of the role and structure of the IOPC Funds as well as the international liability and compensation regime for oil pollution damage. He focused on the key Conventions covering liability and compensation applicable to WACAF States and the status of their ratification in the three regions.

The conference brought together representatives from the 22 African partner countries of the GI WACAF project, providing an opportunity to review the progress achieved since the last conference and to set strategic priorities for the next GI WACAF conference in 2026.

GI WACAF is a joint project between the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and IPIECA, the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues, to enhance the capacity of partner States to prepare for and respond to marine oil spills. The IOPC Funds fully support this initiative and looks forward to contributing to further training activities and exercises in the region to raise awareness of the importance of the international Conventions on compensation for marine oil pollution damage.