The Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group Meeting

The CTI-CFF Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group Meeting

The CTI-CFF Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group (MEWG) meeting took place on 27 July 2023, led by Malaysia, with representatives from Indonesia and Timor-Leste attending in person, while Malaysia and the Philippines joined virtually. The meeting was held at the Best Western Hotel in Manado and served as a continuation of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Workshop conducted on 25–26 July 2023, supported by the USAID SuFIA project. This underscores the pivotal role of USAID in supporting MEWG initiatives.

Significant progress was made in several areas. The meeting tasked the Regional Secretariat with developing the National Plan of Action (NPOA) based on RPOA 2.0 for member countries, demonstrating a collective commitment to advancing this critical initiative. The Secretariat was also entrusted with providing essential support in finalizing the NPOA through workshops and writeshops, with completion targeted for 2023.

The meeting commended Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines for their contributions to the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan Framework of RPOA 2.0, while urging Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste to submit their respective data promptly. Recognizing the importance of M&E proficiency, the Secretariat was tasked with organizing a comprehensive training program before the next MEWG meeting to ensure a shared understanding and approach.

The group emphasized strengthening collaboration with the Allen Coral Atlas, urging the swift finalization of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The Secretariat was directed to prioritize training on the Coral Triangle Atlas, working closely with CT6 to streamline data and enhance capacity-building initiatives.

The continuous support of WWF in producing the Stocktake Report on Marine Plastic Pollution and its Sources in the Coral Triangle was acknowledged and appreciated. The Secretariat, in collaboration with WWF, is set to officially launch the report by August 2023.

WWF also assisted in designing infographics for RPOA 2.0. The MEWG expressed gratitude for these efforts and encouraged WWF to collaborate with the Secretariat to provide alternative design suggestions, reinforcing a shared commitment to effective dissemination.

Special recognition was extended to Dato' Jana Santhiran Muniayan, Madam Noor Afifah Abdul Razak, and Dato' Mohamad Razif Bin Haji Abd Mubin for their outstanding leadership as Chair and Co-Chairs from Malaysia, alongside Co-Chair Ms. Yvonne Tio from Papua New Guinea for 2022–2023. The meeting recommended a leadership rotation, proposing Papua New Guinea as Chair and the Philippines as Co-Chair, in accordance with CTI-CFF rules and procedures.

Finally, draft recommendations for SOM-18 were acknowledged, reaffirming MEWG’s commitment to providing valuable input to broader CTI-CFF initiatives. The meeting concluded with the endorsement of the 2024 MEWG Workplan, underscoring a collective dedication to advancing the shared goals of the Coral Triangle Initiative.