Details of CTI-CFF Events Announced for World Coral Reef Conference

Organizers of the upcoming World Coral Reef Conference (WCRC) in Manado, Indonesia have released details on several CTI-CFF events scheduled around the Conference.

Four CTI-CFF events are lined up for May 13, a day before the WCRC officially opens:

• 08:30-10:30 – Meeting of the Coordination Mechanisms Working Group (CMWG) to review and finalize the 2014 Operations Plan and Budget of the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat and its requisite resourcing strategy; review and finalize the 2015 Operations Plan and Budget; review an indicative Operations Plan and Budget for 2016 and 2017; and agree on next steps in the interim period before the Executive Director assumes office.
• 11:00-12:30 – Coral Triangle MPA System (CTMPAS) and Flagship MPA Sites Launch Activity, including an overview of the history, development, and content of the CTMPAS Framework and Action Plan, its implementation and progress tracking; formal launch of the CTMPAS Framework and Action Plan; presentation of MPAs nominated by each country; sharing of lessons and progress; panel discussion highlighting challenges and future actions; and formulation of a commitment statement for the 5th CTI-CFF Ministerial Meeting (MM5).
• 13:30-15:30 – Launch of the CTI-CFF Women Leaders’ Forum, featuring a video presentation on Coral Triangle women champions, awarding of marine conservation grants to grassroots women leaders, launch of the CTI-CFF Women’s Database, panel discussion with women entrepreneurs, and a sign-up activity for the CTI-CFF Women’s Network.
• 16:00-18:00 – CTI-CFF Sustainable Financing and Stock-take session focused on reviewing and exploring strategies to chart the future of the CTI-CFF, including stock-taking of ADB programs, presentation of the Sustainable Financial Architecture Inception Report and Pilot Projects, and launch of the State of the Coral Triangle Reports, the Regional State of the Coral Triangle Report, the Economics of Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Coral Triangle (EFACT), and the CTI Project Mapping Tool.

On May 14-15, the CTI-CFF Senior Officials will hold a Special SOM to review and deliberate on recommendations from the Technical Working Groups, focusing particularly on the operational concerns of the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat, including the appointment of its Executive Director.

The Special SOM will be immediately followed by the 5th Ministerial Meeting (MM5), scheduled from 14:00-16:45 on May 15. MM5 will endorse decisions from the Special SOM, including the appointment of the Executive Director, establishment and operations of the permanent Secretariat, expansion of CTI-CFF cooperation mechanisms, and acceptance of new Party (member) and Partner applicants into the CTI-CFF.

Other events on May 15 include a Partners’ Dialogue, presentations of CTI-CFF products and programs (including CTMPAS and the CTI-CFF Framework for Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management), handover of the Chairmanship of the Coral Triangle Council of Ministers from Malaysia to PNG, and a press conference.

The CTI-CFF events will culminate on May 16 with the inauguration of the CTI Center, which will serve as the headquarters of the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected to grace this event.

Set for May 14-17, the WCRC aims to bring together diverse perspectives, disciplines, and expertise to promote the development of an international convention on coral reefs.

For more information about the CTI-CFF events and the WCRC, please contact Mr. Arwandrija Rukma, Regional Coordinator of the CTI-CFF Interim Regional Secretariat, at arukma@cticff.org.