The workshop is jointly organized by the Republic of Uganda and the ISA, in partnership with the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) the Pew Charitable Trusts, and GRID-Arendal (Norway); with the support of the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The workshop will bring together experts from the international legal and scientific community, national and regional government officials, scientists, researchers and academics to discuss issues associated with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); the work of the ISA on marine mineral resources development and the protection and preservation of the marine environment from activities in the international seabed area (the Area).

The workshop will also discuss and propose mechanisms for improving regional cooperation and participation of African countries in the deep seabed regime. In particular, it will address special interests of landlocked African countries.