Page 48 - Livre_MOW2024_EN

46 | ACCELERATING BLUE FINANCE AND ECONOMY

SCIENCE, THE CORNERSTONE
OF PHILANTHROPY
Are we, as a society, equipped to achieve sufficient
levels of cooperation and cross-sectoral effort?
Science can support philanthropy by providing
the means to align stakeholders around common,
consensual solutions based on scientific evidence.
Moncef Ziani, from the Union of Economic and Social
Councils and Similar Institutions of Africa, drew
attention to the urgent need for conservation action in
Africa and called for effective mechanisms to monitor
and evaluate the impact of philanthropic initiatives
and guarantee their long-term performance.
“Only through concerted action can we solve the
interconnected challenges facing our planet”,
commented Assunção Cristas, Portugal’s former
Minister of Agriculture and the Sea. She emphasised
the role of philanthropy and the private sector in
driving transformative change via a multi-dimensional
approach to conservation. INSIGHT
At the end of the session, Minna Epps, Director of the
IUCN Global Marine and Polar Programme, spoke “It is essential we work together to mobilise
of the funding challenges facing the new BBNJ resources and advance marine conservation
Agreement.
goals. Scientific research and approaches
based on precise data play a crucial role in
The event highlighted the need to continue growing
blue philanthropy, fostering collaboration and taking shaping decision-making.”
action. Organisations, philanthropic entities and Minna Epps, Director of the IUCN Global
stakeholders across all sectors were invited to join Marine and Polar Programme
the global effort to protect the ocean for generations
to come.