Member States

    In accordance with the statutes of IOC, membership is open to any member state of the organizations of the United Nations system.

    This directory provides a listing of contact information for the national Coordinating bodies for liaison with the IOC and the national focal points officially designated in IOC Member States.

    A National Coordinating Body for Liaison with the IOC is governmental by nature. It constitutes the main level of communication between the national government authorities and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO regarding IOC matters. This body will typically liaise with the National Commission for UNESCO in relation to UNESCO policies and procedures concerning IOC matters.

    IOC Circular Letter 2634 dated 29 August 2016 provides additional information on the designation of the National Coordinating Body for Liaison with the Commission. Official designations should be submitted to the Executive Secretary of the Commission through the nomination form contained in the circular letter.

    Updates to this document

    Member States should send updates to this document by official correspondence to the IOC Executive Secretary. Systematic review and inquiry for updates to this document will also be carried out at least once every biennium.

    Membership of IOC

    In accordance with the statutes of IOC, Membership is open to any Member State of any of the organizations of the United Nations system. States covered by the terms of the above shall acquire membership of the Commission by notifying the Director-General of UNESCO. Further details about membership and responsibilities of Member States can be found in the IOC Statutes.

    1. Algeria
    2. Angola
    3. Benin
    4. Cabo Verde
    5. Cameroon
    6. Comoros
    7. Congo
    8. Côte d'Ivoire
    9. Dem. Rep. of the Congo
    10. Djibouti
    11. Egypt
    12. Equatorial Guinea
    13. Eritrea
    14. Ethiopia
    15. Gabon
    16. Gambia
    17. Ghana
    18. Guinea
    19. Guinea Bissau
    20. Kenya
    21. Liberia
    22. Libya
    23. Madagascar
    24. Mauritania
    25. Mauritius
    26. Morocco
    27. Mozambique
    28. Namibia
    29. Nigeria
    30. Senegal
    31. Seychelles
    32. Sierra Leone
    33. Somalia
    34. South Africa
    35. Sudan
    36. Togo
    37. Tunisia
    38. United Republic of Tanzania

    Transformative Stories

    Find out how IOC Africa is making an impact in local communities around Africa.

    About us

    Our Expertise

    Get involved

    Databases