CAPACITY BUILDING
Protecting the ocean is only possible with the involvement of civil society.
Today, around 50 Azorean organisations collaborate with Blue Azores, developing initiatives that contribute to the good environmental status of marine and coastal ecosystems, including awareness-raising and environmental education activities within their communities, as well as coastal clean-ups.
Select an island to discover the organizations collaborating with Blue Azores:
By supporting and building the capacity of these organisations, Blue Azores contributes to a more active, informed and empowered civil society, better prepared to take part in developing solutions for the Azores Sea.
This commitment takes shape through:
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Supporting collaborative initiatives, such as the Azores Environmental Participatory Platform, which brings together organisations from different islands to turn shared challenges into solutions developed collectively.
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Promoting the participation of Azorean organisations in national and international events, strengthening their capacity for action, learning and representation.
The aim is to ensure that civil society has access to the best available information and plays a central role in the ocean agenda, with a real impact on public policy and good practices at the local level.
Your organisation can also become part of this network. If you represent a non-governmental organisation, local development association, science centre or another organisation working — or interested in working — on ocean conservation in the Azores, get in touch with us at info@blueazores.org.
CONVENTION OF ORGANISATIONS
FOR A CLEAN OCEAN (COOL)
Blue Azores promotes the integration of Azorean organisations into a broader network for collaboration, learning and the exchange of experiences: the Convention of Organisations for a Clean Ocean (COOL). COOL is an annual gathering organised by the Oceano Azul Foundation since 2019, bringing together civil society organisations from across Portugal that work to protect the ocean. It aims to strengthen cooperation and encourage the exchange of experiences, fostering dialogue and debate and providing access to leading international experts, new knowledge and tools.
Blue Azores has already supported more than 20 NGOs from the Azores to take part in different editions of COOL:
COOL 2019 – 1st edition
Azorean organisations had the opportunity to meet other NGOs working to protect the ocean in Portugal, showcase their work and build new connections. The event also featured international projects that provided inspiration and opportunities to share experiences.
COOL 2020 – Open Day
In an edition held online due to the pandemic, organisations shared their main achievements of the year and how they were able to continue their work to protect the ocean.
COOL 2021 – RISE UP: Together for the Ocean
The event fostered collaboration between organisations around the priorities of the RISE UP initiative, creating a space to discuss shared challenges and work on each of its proposed measures in groups based on participants’ respective areas of work.
COOL 2024 – On the Road to UNOC3
This edition focused on priorities for marine conservation in Portugal and on preparing civil society for the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3).
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COOL 2025 – Diving into UNOC3
More than 130 representatives from organisations around the world came together to align strategies and priorities for UNOC3, culminating in a joint position with 20 key messages that was presented at the Conference in Nice.
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COOL 2026 – Active Macaronesia
Organisations from the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Cabo Verde and mainland Portugal came together to strengthen collaboration and joint action for ocean conservation across Macaronesia.
THE VOICE OF AZOREAN
CIVIL SOCIETY AT UNOC
Building on their ongoing work and commitment to ocean conservation, five Azorean organisations took part in the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in 2025, with the support of Blue Azores and the Oceano Azul Foundation, bringing the experience and perspectives of Azorean civil society to one of the world’s most important international forums dedicated to the ocean.
Together with dozens of other organisations from around the world — including representatives of local communities, small-scale fishers, Indigenous Peoples and young people — they delivered a joint statement focusing on 10 priority topics and setting out urgent measures to protect the ocean and promote fairer and more inclusive governance.
The statement was the result of a participatory process involving more than 100 organisations from 30 countries, recognising the value of local knowledge and the lived experience of coastal communities. Several Azorean organisations contributed to the statement, demonstrating the Region’s commitment to ocean governance grounded in science and closely connected to local communities.
The statement was delivered to the Heads of State attending the Conference and represents a clear call to action: it is time to act with ambition and equity for the health of the ocean and the people who depend on it.
This initiative was organised by the Oceano Azul Foundation, with the support of Fauna & Flora and Rise Up for the Ocean, as part of COOL.
COOL AZORES
In 2021 and 2024, two editions of COOL Azores were held, creating a meeting space exclusively for organisations from the Autonomous Region of the Azores. The initiative aims to:
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promote dialogue between local organisations;
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identify the main environmental challenges facing the Azores;
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contribute to defining priorities and solutions for ocean conservation.
Following the second COOL Azores session in 2021, the report “Contributions from Azorean Organisations for a Clean and Healthy Ocean” was produced and presented to the Regional Secretary for the Environment and Climate Change, Alonso Miguel, by representatives of Azorean organisations.
Developed through a participatory process involving Azorean civil society organisations, the document identifies the main challenges facing the Azores Sea and sets out recommendations and proposed actions to promote its conservation and sustainable use.
COOL ACADEMY
The COOL Academy is COOL’s training programme, launched in 2022 to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations working to protect the ocean in Portugal. Created in response to the priority needs identified by these organisations, the COOL Academy offers training programmes and short sessions covering strategic topics relevant to their work.
➔ IN-PERSON TRAINING
With the support of the Blue Azores programme, several organisations from the Azores have taken part in in-person training on topics such as communications, fundraising, project management, funding applications and leadership.
➔ ONLINE SESSIONS
Alongside these training programmes, the COOL Academy offers short online sessions dedicated to specific and current ocean-related topics, with organisations from the Azores taking part in each of them.
2023: Active Citizenship: Public Participation
2024: Save Sharks. Save the Ocean
2025: Climate Change
