New USAID Coastal Programs Anticipated to Include Support for CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat

(Washington, D.C.) – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on June 17 announced new coastal programs valued at more than US$170 million, including support to the Secretariat of the CTI-CFF.

The announcement took place at the “Our Ocean” Conference hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry on June 16–17. The coastal programs are intended to benefit coastal communities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Pacific, which include some of the most vulnerable, poor, and marginalized populations.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Secretary Kerry lauded the “effective steps that people are taking already, both large and small, around the world.” He highlighted the CTI-CFF, noting: In the Asia Pacific, half a dozen nations have come together with U.S. support to protect the Coral Triangle, a part of the ocean that has been called the Amazon of the Seas because of its incredible biodiversity. The Coral Triangle Initiative has led to improved management of a marine area almost the size of one of our states, North Dakota, and it has inspired more than 90 policies, regulations, laws, and agreements to protect local coastal and marine resources.

The new USAID programs will support marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, coastal adaptation, and efforts to combat illegal fishing and wildlife trafficking by supporting local communities and governments, strengthening transparent and participatory governance, promoting sound and equitable economics, and conserving critical ecosystem goods and services for long-term use and human well-being. USAID will work in partnership with host country governments, local organizations, international organizations, and other federal agencies. In addition to assistance to the CTI-CFF Secretariat, anticipated activities include:

• Continued support to the Global Partnership for Oceans to enhance the economic, social, and ecological performance of ocean ecosystems.
• Promotion of sustainable management of coastal resources, particularly coral reefs, in the Maldives to enhance community resilience to the adverse effects of climate change.
• Assistance to countries in the Caribbean region to more effectively manage marine protected areas.
• Strengthening community-based fish sanctuaries and improving the livelihoods of poor, climate-vulnerable people in the Meghna River estuary of Bangladesh.
• Reducing the overexploitation of marine resources in Ghana and contributing to the Feed the Future Initiative’s goals of improving food security, promoting economic development, and alleviating poverty.
• Assistance to Pacific Island nations in adapting to impacts of climate change by promoting sustainable fisheries, improving food security, and enhancing local livelihoods.

"About 40 percent of the world’s population lives within 100 kilometers of the coast. Preserving the earth's priceless marine life and safeguarding our world's valuable coastal resources for human use and future generations is vital,” said Eric Postel, USAID's Assistant Administrator on Economic Growth, Education, and Environment.

Over one billion people worldwide depend on fish as a primary source of protein. Conserving and managing coastal and marine resources is essential for meeting global development goals, including food security and nutrition, poverty reduction, and protection of coastal communities from the impacts of climate change.

To view the original press release, click here (external link). To view Secretary Kerry’s full speech, click here (external link).