Colombia, Senegal and South Africa have been selected as 2026 partnering countries of the IMO GreenVoyage2050 programme, a technical cooperation programme supporting the implementation of the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy.
Under the programme, GreenVoyage2050 will support the three countries 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 through IMO's GreenVoyage2050 Programme and Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) will be tailored to each country's specific needs and priorities, including expert technical guidance, stakeholder engagement facilitation and administrative and coordination 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. They serve as practical tools to enhance national readiness, addressing both domestic and international shipping where relevant, and providing a coordinated framework to implement effective emission reduction strategies.
"We are delighted to welcome Colombia, Senegal and South Africa as new partners in the GreenVoyage2050 programme to develop National Action Plans" said Ms. Gyorgyi Gurban, Heads of Projects Implementation at IMO. "We will work together this year to identify practical, country-drive pathways to reduce GHG emissions from shipping, in line with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy."
Looking Ahead
With their selection, Colombia, Senegal and South Africa join a growing group of partner countries advancing National Action Plans under the GreenVoyage2050 Programme. They build on the momentum established in 2025, when five countries were selected, forming an expanding cohort of developing countries taking concrete steps to align national maritime policies with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy. The new cohort also reflects the programme's increasingly cross-regional and multilingual engagement, strengthening peer learning and collaboration across diverse national contexts.
National Action Plans already submitted to IMO are available through the IMO website, providing practical examples of how countries are translating the IMO GHG Strategy into national-level action and enabling peer learning across regions. Further opportunities for countries to receive support will be made available through the next open call for technical assistance, to be issued later in 2026, and eligible Member States are encouraged to apply.
GreenVoyage2050 Programme
GreenVoyage2050 is a technical cooperation programme initiated by IMO to assist developing countries in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping.
Now in its second phase (2024-2030), GreenVoyage2050 supports developing countries in designing and implementing national GHG-reduction strategies and piloting low-carbon technologies, with funding from several donor governments including Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway.
