Based on the goals and objectives defined above the major components of the programme are as follows:

1. Marine Policy Formulation and Ocean Law: This will provide technical assistance in the area of policy formulation, appropriate strategies for sustainable ocean management and development and the formulation of management mechanisms, and legislation for carrying out these strategies;

2. Marine Scientific Research and Environmental Assessments: This will support the Pan-Africa plan for the protection of the marine environment from land-based sources, as well as contribute to the abatement of sea-based pollution by programmes of the UN organizations; and

3. Indigenous Institutional Support: This will provide technical support to research institutions and universities involved with ocean management and with indigenous personnel in this area.

Such a programme could contribute significantly to the development of regional centres for oceans in Africa in accordance with Articles 276 and 277 of UNCLOS III, which deal with the establishment and functions of regional centres. The purpose of this programme is to foster cooperation and coordination between African indigenous programmes and those of the international community that are concerned with ocean management and development and to develop a programme implementation strategy that is based on existing indigenous capacity and infrastructures in the programme area.

As a direct consequence of the assigned objectives, the main orientations of the programme are as follows:

• Increase the capacity of African institutions that could contribute to African development and cooperation among African countries;

• Address major African development problems through cooperative efforts with multilateral institutions and other donors as a means of maximizing programming effectiveness, and support bilateral initiatives of African States in ocean Management and development; and

• Disseminate all required information through an Africa wide Network linking both national and regional programmes in ocean management and development.