The IORA-Nelson Mandela Be the Legacy Programme
2018 marked the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela and provided an opportunity for the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to solidify the historical link it has with the global icon by contributing to another of his visions: to change the world for the better. To this end, “The IORA-Nelson Mandela Be the Legacy Internship Programme” was launched during the 18th Council of Ministers’ (COM) meeting held on 2 November 2018 in Durban, South Africa.
This was further reiterated in the “Special Declaration on the Commemoration of the Centenary of the Birth of Nelson Mandela” and the eThekwini Communique, adopted by the Ministers and Heads of Delegation of IORA Member States at the COM meeting.The long-term objective of seconding officials from IORA Member States to intern at the IORA Secretariat in Mauritius will be to create a strong and growing base of young people in the Indian Ocean Region that understand and support the need to safeguard an Indian Ocean that is safe, secure and develops sustainably. The programme will also serve to strengthen the capacity of the IORA Secretariat as called for in the IORA Action Plan.
The IORA Secretariat and the IORA Secretary General, Ambassador Salman Al Farisi are pleased to announce that the first iteration of the programme will take place with the secondment of 4 young diplomats from IORA Member States (Bangladesh, Madagascar, South Africa, and Sri Lanka) to the IORA Secretariat in Ebene, Mauritius from 1 September to 30 November 2022. The first iteration of the NMIP will coincide with IORA’s 25th anniversary celebrations.