The Partnership on Science to Policy Forum is organized in collaboration the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA) and the Indian Ocean Commission (COI) as a follow up on Decision CP8/12, adopted at the Eighth Conference of Parties that was held on 22 to 24 June 2015, in Seychelles. The Contracting Parties requested the Secretariat, in collaboration with partners, to develop terms of reference, mode of operation and composition of the Science to Policy platform and transmit them to the Contracting Parties for subsequent approval by the Nairobi Convention Bureau.