St. Kitts and Nevis National Selected for UN Ocean Fellowship

Tricia Greaux, a marine resource officer from the dual-island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, has made history as the first individual from her country to participate in the prestigious United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea – Nippon Foundation Strategic Needs Fellowship. This four-month training program, hosted at the UN’s Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), provides a highly customized curriculum tailored to the specific needs and priorities of the fellow’s home country. The fellowship aims to empower participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to address critical ocean-related challenges and contribute to the development of a sustainable blue economy.

Ms. Greaux’s fellowship focused on several crucial areas identified by St. Kitts and Nevis as high-priority needs. These include the achievement of specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). Her work also centered on enhancing ocean literacy and advancing the conservation of sea turtles, a species of particular importance to the island nation. The tailored curriculum allowed Ms. Greaux to delve into these areas with a focus on practical application and direct relevance to the challenges and opportunities facing St. Kitts and Nevis.

During her fellowship, Ms. Greaux produced several significant outputs demonstrating her commitment to ocean governance and sustainable development. She developed a report highlighting the vital role of women as agents of change in promoting ocean literacy and supporting sea turtle conservation efforts within St. Kitts and Nevis. This report showcased local initiatives and the contributions of women in these critical areas, emphasizing their importance for the nation’s sustainable future. Additionally, Ms. Greaux compiled a comprehensive Ocean Governance Matrix for her country. This matrix provides a valuable overview of St. Kitts and Nevis’s current ocean governance framework, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. It serves as a crucial tool for informed policy-making and strategic planning related to ocean resource management.

Ms. Greaux expressed her pride in representing her nation on this international platform and contributing to the global dialogue on ocean governance. She emphasized the importance of sharing best practices and promoting the sustainable island state agenda, particularly within the context of a small island developing state like St. Kitts and Nevis. Her participation in the fellowship underscores the nation’s commitment to harnessing the potential of its maritime resources while ensuring their sustainable management for future generations. Her work serves as a testament to the importance of capacity-building initiatives in empowering individuals and nations to tackle the complex challenges facing our oceans.

The St. Kitts and Nevis Permanent Mission to the United Nations celebrated Ms. Greaux’s achievement, highlighting the fellowship’s alignment with the nation’s broader development goals. Ambassador and Permanent Representative Dr. Mutryce Williams commended Ms. Greaux’s distinguished participation, emphasizing the importance of empowering women and youth in the transition towards a sustainable island state. This commitment to youth and gender inclusivity reflects a broader national strategy focused on leveraging the full potential of its human capital for sustainable development.

The participation of Ms. Greaux in the DOALOS-Nippon Foundation Fellowship represents a significant step forward for St. Kitts and Nevis in its pursuit of a sustainable blue economy. Her work contributes to the global knowledge base on ocean governance and highlights the importance of tailored capacity-building programs for small island developing states. The fellowship embodies the principles of international cooperation and knowledge sharing, empowering individuals and nations to address the complex challenges facing our oceans and build a more sustainable future for all. This initiative serves as a model for other nations seeking to strengthen their capacity in ocean governance and promote the sustainable use of marine resources. The focus on individual capacity building through tailored programs ensures that the specific needs and contexts of different nations are addressed, leading to more effective and impactful outcomes.