Coral Triangle Initiative Advances Treaty Ratification for Permanent Secretariat

Over 30 Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) government and partner representatives met in Sanur, Indonesia, to participate in meetings of the Financial Mechanisms Working Group and the Coordination Mechanisms Working Group from March 21–22, 2013. A key achievement of the meetings was the announcement by the Government of Malaysia of its ratification of the Agreement to establish the permanent CTI Secretariat. The CTI Interim Secretariat is working with the other five CTI countries – Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste – to complete their ratification processes by the end of 2013.

Other important decisions included agreement to proceed with the conduct of a Financial Resources Study to provide a comprehensive cost analysis for the implementation of the Regional Plan of Action, and agreement to further develop the Operations Plan for the Permanent CTI Secretariat. The outcomes of this meeting build on efforts by USAID’s US CTI Support Program and other CTI partners, including the Government of Australia and the Asian Development Bank, to strengthen the CTI Interim Regional Secretariat and the CTI working groups.

USAID will continue to provide institutional and other support through the end of the program in September 2013, and is working to transition key program elements to partners who have committed to the long-term support of the CTI.