Nigeria and eight other nations have been selected as the 2025 partnering countries of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) GreenVoyage2050 programme, IMO’s flagship technical cooperation programme supporting implementation of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.
Five countries will receive support for the development of National Action Plans (NAPs) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping, and four countries will receive support in undertaking feasibility studies for pilot projects to reduce emissions.
GreenVoyage2050 will support Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana, Mexico, and Nigeria in developing their National Action Plans. These plans will serve as strategic roadmaps outlining national-level measures to reduce GHG emissions from shipping. The support provided will include capacity-building workshops, expert technical guidance, assistance with data analysis, stakeholder engagement facilitation, and administrative support.
National Action Plans play a crucial role in aligning countries’ maritime sectors with IMO’s 2023 GHG Strategy (resolution MEPC.377(80)), which aims to achieve net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping by or around 2050. By collaborating with ministries, authorities, and public and private stakeholders, these plans provide a coordinated approach to implementing effective emission reduction strategies.
In parallel, for pilot accelerator support, the selected countries are India, Indonesia, Türkiye, and Viet Nam. These countries will receive tailored technical assistance to assess the feasibility of zero- or near-zero GHG emission solutions on board ships and in ports. This support will include technical and economic feasibility studies, risk assessments, stakeholder engagement strategies, and administrative support. The ultimate aim is to build confidence in these projects and enhance their attractiveness for investment and large-scale implementation.
“We are delighted to welcome these new partner countries to the GreenVoyage2050 programme,” said Ms. Astrid Dispert, GreenVoyage2050 Programme Manager at IMO. “We look forward to collaborating with them over the course of this year to identify and implement impactful solutions that reduce GHG emissions from ships. By supporting feasibility studies, pilot projects, and the development of National Action Plans, we aim to drive transformative change in the shipping sector, in line with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.”
The selection process was undertaken following the issue of open calls for countries to participate, and the newly selected countries will join existing partners supported by GreenVoyage2050. Moving forward, open calls for further technical assistance will be issued on an annual basis, ensuring additional developing countries have the opportunity to participate and access vital resources needed to make their maritime sectors more sustainable. Eligible Member States interested in receiving support under the GreenVoyage2050 programme are encouraged to respond to the open calls. The next open call will be issued via IMO Circular Letter in the third quarter of 2025.
GreenVoyage2050 is a major technical cooperation programme executed by the IMO to assist developing countries in reducing GHG emissions from shipping, aligning with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.
Phase I of GreenVoyage2050 (2020-2023) supported partnering countries in developing policy frameworks and pilot projects to reduce GHG emissions from ships. Phase II (2024-2030) continues to expand this support, leveraging substantial funding from the Governments of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway.
