ADB's CTI Southeast Asia Program Holds Regional Inception Workshop

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) held a regional inception workshop for the Coastal and Marine Resources Management in the Coral Triangle – Southeast Asia (CTI Southeast Asia) Project in Bandung, Indonesia, on October 18–19, 2012. CTI-CFF Executive Chair Dr. Suseno Sukoyono emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration and partnerships to ensure effective project implementation at the ground level. He encouraged participants to learn from existing initiatives in the region, cooperate closely, and share information.

During the workshop, the project’s team leader, Mr. Guillermo L. Morales, led discussions confirming the regional priorities set during the project’s design stage and identifying both national and regional activities for funding. He also discussed potential collaborations with other institutions and organizations operating in the target sites where the regional projects will be implemented. These regional activities include vulnerability assessments of coastal and marine resources and climate change adaptation in coastal communities; addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing of coral reef fishes—particularly groupers and wrasses; and the establishment of a network of marine protected areas (MPAs).

Members of the National CTI Coordinating Committees from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines attended the two-day workshop, along with project management consultants, development partners, and potential collaborators from USAID’s US CTI Support Program, the WorldFish Center, and GIZ.