CEI-Iscte participated in the pilot phase of the Blue Economy project, an international initiative coordinated by UNESCO IESALC, in partnership with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) and Camões, I.P., which brought together institutions from Portugal, Angola, Chile and Jamaica to promote collaborative approaches to the blue economy.
The closing event for the pilot phase took place on 24 June at Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon and brought together more than 50 representatives from 20 organisations, including governments, higher education institutions, civil society organisations and youth networks. The meeting provided an opportunity to take stock of the work carried out, reflect on the key lessons learnt and discuss the prospects for the initiative’s continuation.
On behalf of CEI-Iscte, the project involved the participation of researchers Cátia Miriam Costa and Ana Teresa Santos, who contributed to the development of the activities and the outcomes produced throughout the initiative.
Among the main outcomes of the pilot phase were the publication of a multilingual book on the blue economy, bringing together perspectives from Angola, Chile, Jamaica and Portugal; the development of the online course ‘Voices from the Coast’, aimed primarily at coastal communities, with a particular focus on the participation of women and young people; and the creation of a set of practical tools designed to support learning processes, knowledge-sharing and community action.
Throughout the project, the partners emphasised the importance of bringing together research, higher education, policy-makers and local communities, recognising that the sustainable development of coastal areas depends on collaborative, inclusive processes tailored to different contexts. Although the pilot phase has come to an end, the partners believe that the work carried out lays a solid foundation for future international cooperation initiatives, enabling the networks created to be sustained and the impact of the tools and knowledge developed to be expanded.