2025 Training Programme: 14 - 25 July | Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

The International Ocean Institute (IOI), in collaboration with the Caspian Sea Institute of Turkmenistan, proudly marks the 10th edition of its flagship training programme dedicated to fostering ocean governance and sustainable development in the Caspian region. 

Over the course of two weeks, participants from across the region and beyond will engage in an intensive and interactive learning experience focusing on the evolving challenges and opportunities of the Caspian Sea. The programme blends expert-led thematic sessions with roleplay exercises, group work, and practical applications.

🔹 Key Themes and Highlights:

• Ocean Governance Foundations: Exploring sustainability principles, the SDGs, and the critical interplay between ocean health and human activity.

• Regional Realities: A deep dive into the Caspian Sea’s historical, socio-economic, ecological, and geopolitical context.

• Marine Biodiversity and Conservation: Focus on regional species, such as the Caspian seal, and threats like invasive species and poaching.

• Legal and Institutional Frameworks: Overview of UNCLOS, BBNJ negotiations, regional conventions like the Tehran Convention, and national maritime regimes.

• Marine Spatial Planning: A multi-day, hands-on module introducing tools for spatial governance of marine resources.

• Financial Mechanisms and Joint Development: Discussions on resource-sharing, regional cooperation, and sustainable financing.

• Ocean Science and Innovation: Presentations on cutting-edge tools like the Caspian Sea Digital Twin and the role of science in governance.

• Group Research and Policy Development: Participants collaborate in interdisciplinary groups to apply what they’ve learned to real-world governance scenarios.

The training also includes debate sessions, participant presentations, and commemorative activities marking a decade of partnership, learning, and impact. This milestone edition reflects IOI’s ongoing commitment to empowering ocean professionals, strengthening regional cooperation, and supporting a more sustainable future for the Caspian Sea.

The course was formally launched by IOI HQ Managing Director Antonella Vassallo and by CSI Chairman Myrat Atajanov on the 11th of September, along with Iouri Oliounine, Director of the Training Programme, and Parvin Farshchi, course Co-Director. This year, 17 participants from the countries surrounding the Caspian Sea (Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia) attended the course.  The course addressed a number of overarching subjects, such as Ocean Governance Frameworks; Management Tools and Financial Mechanisms for Sustainable Transboundary Water Governance, Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, and were principally theoretical lectures delivered by international experts via online lectures. The diverse experience in issues of Caspian Sea management, research and policy of the participants further enriched the project work undertaken during the course. Read more.....

The eighth training course focusing on Caspian Sea issues was held from the 16 - 27 May 2022. The course is part of IOI's capacity building programmes on Ocean Governance and is offered with co-founding partner the Caspian Sea Institute of Turkmenistan. 

The course addressed a number of overarching subjects, such as Ocean Governance Frameworks; Management Tools and Financial Mechanisms for Sustainable Transboundary Water Governance, and were principally theoretical lectures delivered by international experts via online lectures. Read more....