COBRA Webinar – April 2025

Monitoring & Evaluating Deep Sea Capacity Development Initiatives

Katy Croff Bell (Founder & President, Ocean Discovery League)
Susan Poulton (Vice President of Strategy and Communications, Ocean Discovery League)
Nadiah Rosli (Capacity Development Program Manager, Ocean Discovery League)

Assessing the outcomes of capacity development initiatives in any field is challenging, and the deep-sea research community is no exception. The absence of standardized metrics and established frameworks makes it difficult to measure progress and ensure sustainable, long-term impacts. To address this gap, hybrid, multidimensional evaluation methods are emerging as essential tools to capture the true effectiveness of these initiatives.

This webinar explores the importance of designing robust Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) frameworks tailored to deep-sea capacity development. Building on recent research and co-design efforts, participants will learn about Ocean Discovery League’s Deep-Sea Capacity Maturity Model—a practical tool for program coordinators to assess strengths, identify gaps, and align their capacity development projects with their stakeholder needs.

Attendees will also gain insights into the challenges and solutions for creating transferable and repeatable M&E systems that promote local ownership, minimize harm, and deliver measurable, sustainable outcomes. Whether you’re a scientist, policymaker, or program coordinator, this webinar will provide valuable tools and strategies to ensure your capacity development efforts are impactful and aligned with the needs of the deep-sea community.