Summary of MFF Review Workshop
The Thailand National Coordinating Body (NCB) of Mangroves for the Future (MFf) has recognized the importance incorporating the learning from MFF’s interventions during Phase 1 into the development of its strategy for Phase 2. In May 2010, the NCB created a “MFF Phase 2 Strategy Working Group” consisting of 10 members as name following: 1
Dr Sonjai Havanond
Sirindhorn International Environment Park (SIEP)
2
3
Marine and Coastal Resources Management Specialist
Departments of Marine and Coastal
(Dr Cherdchinda Chottiyaputta)
Resources (DMCR)
Mangroves specialist (Mr Somsak Piriyayotha)
Departments of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR)
4
Director of Phuket Marine Biological Reserch Center
Departments of Marine and Coastal
(Dr Wijarn Meephol represent Dr Wannakiat
Resources (DMCR)
Tubtimsang) 5
Ms Jeerasak Chukwamdee
Departments of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR)
6
Dr Chamniern Paul
Thailand Environmental Institute (TEI)
7
Mr Chanyuth Tepa
Raksthai Foundation
8
Ms Ravadee Prasertcharoensuk
Sustainable Development Foundation (SDF)
9
Ms Radda Larbnun
IUCN
10
Ms Siriporn Sriaram
Mangroves for the Future
to discuss and identify mechanisms on how the NCB should capture the learning from Phase 1. Between May and June the working group met twice plans the process and at the NCB meeting a two days workshop to review the learning of MFF Phase I in Thailand was approved. The workshop was conducted at the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park (SIEP) in Cha-Am district, Thailand. There were 55 participants from SGF, Large Project Grantees, NCB working group and support staff from IUCN and UNDP. The workshop was facilitated by a team from Kasetsart University (KU).
Lessons Learned MFF Thailand 1.1 Mangroves for the Future and the Thailand National Coordinating Body Mangroves for the Future is a regional initiative that promotes investment in coastal ecosystem for securing the livelihood of coastal communities. There are 15 Programme of Work (PoW) under three strategies ;1) Building knowledge; 2) Strengthening empowerment and; 3) Enhancing governance. The MFF strategy has been adapted to the country context through the development “National Strategy and Action Plan: NSAP” which is used to direct the development under MFF Small Grant Facility (SGF) and Large Grant Facility (LGF). The National Coordinating Body (NCB) to Mangroves for the future was appointed with 26 members from various organizations (NGOs, Academia, and Governments) and chaired by Director General of Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR). Achievement
Establish and operationalize institutional arrangement to deliver MFF in Thailand in two categories: 2) Development and implementation of processes 2.1 National Strategy and Action Plan (NSAP) under the 3 pillars of Thai NSAP, we have achieved these following: Governance
1) Establishment on institutional arrangements 1.1 National level
Functional NCB with regular meetings (3-4 times/ annual)
Five Working Groups (WG) were appointed Project WG* to screen/appraise project proposals (Large and Small Projects)
Ranong Symposium organizing committee*
Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation WG** to provide technical support and input to the MFF Secretariat and the project grantees Programme WG** to discuss and plan the work plan and activities details including communication strategy Strategic WG** to plan and discuss about the NSAP (* was appointed in Phase I, ** were appointed in Phase II)
UNDP Thailand was appointed to manage the SGF due to its expertise with the GEF programme.
IUCN Thailand provided back stop to the NCB in the operation in term of finance and full time staff (Siriporn SRIARAM, MFF Thailand Coordinator) in providing day to day coordination between MFF Secretariat and NCB
The National Strategy and Action Plan was prepared by NCB in 2008 and have been used as a guideline for the implementation of MFF in Thailand. The development of the SGF and LP need to support the country NSAP. In phase I, there were 3 Large projects approved for funding (out of 9 proposal/concept note) and 15 Small Grants were approved for funding (out of 22 concept notes)
1.2 Project levels
Small Grant Facility (SGF) There are 15 small projects in 6 provinces along the coasts of Thailand. The projects have strengthened the capacity of community to able to establish/form a group/network of conservation such as: The Women Saving Group, in Phuket, this group help the conservation group in financial management and encourage the member to save for conservation activity as the benefit from protecting their natural resources are very important. Mangrove and natural resource conservation groups, all SGF is undertaken by a group of people it could be a village committee that make decision on both budget and the workplan. Coffee group network, by using coffee group as the morning chitchat about politic, environmental issue, the coffee group has become bigger than a group but network Youth group, because the education is crucial for sustainable development. The small grant in Phan Nga has been engaged with the youth group in promoting awareness of mangrove conservation through “food from mangrove” cooking menu.
Large Grant Facility (LPF) Multi-stakeholder Provincial committee (Project in Suratthani) District Level committee (SDF Project in Trang) Demonstrating best practice at local level (Tambon Administrative Orginazation) and linking to National level. (SDF Project in Nakornsrithammarat) Project Advisory Committee of Management Effectiveness Evaluation of Marine Parks in Thailand (National Park , Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department)
Building Knowledge Learning and sharing forum National level
Lessons Learned from Mangroves Rehabilitation forum in NakornSrithammarat: Joint Workshop with Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI) and MFF Thailand on June 2009
SGF mid-term review workshop with BMZ grantee in December 2009
Sharing lessons learned from Partnership approach at Marine Science Conference in June 2010
Regional level
Thailand hosted the International scientific and technical symposium on sustainable mangroves ecosystem in November 2008
Participatory monitoring, learning and evaluation (MLE) in January 2009 and May 2010.
Partner with Climate Change Adaptation Learning Seminar (2nd & 3rd)
Two study tours
cross country learning tour for SGF grantees (12 persons) from Sri Lanka in March 2009
In country learning tour between local community (6 persons) from Prednai, Trat province to the south of Thailand jointly arrange my GSEI and MFF in March 2010
Strengthening empowerment Communication
Open access Thailand MFF website available since October 2008 with 4,170 hit (as off October 2010) from 62 country (https://sites.google.com/site/ncbmff)
Open access photo gallery of MFF Activities in Thailand (http://picasaweb.google.com/thailand.mff)
Social network such as facebook and twitter for live activity update and information sharing (http://twitter.com/mffthailand )
Regular email update and bi-monthly e-newsletter from MFF SGF
Capacity building
Several Project Writing Skills workshops were conducted in order to help the proponent understand the project cycle and guidelines of the Small Grant and Large Grant Facilities.
Training for MFF project grantee on how to produce video media as public communication tool.
Mangrove planting technique training in Suratthani
Water monitoring training in Krabi by SGF
Challenges
NCB consist of large group of member and most member are engage with their main work so there are limitation for contribution in the sense of the communication and information sharing. It’s mainly done though one way communication from the NCB secretariat (and coordinator).
Frequency changes of the Chair persons. There were 5 different persons during the first Phase which result in the continuous of the work plan and guideline and the high level engagement.
The changes of NCB secretariat due to the retirement of Dr Sonjai Havanond who has been involve with MFF from the beginning. Dr Cherdchinda Chottiyaputta was appointed to be a NCB secretariat and she has provided extreme support to MFF activities but she will retire in September 2010 and that DMCR have to identify again appropriate person to replace Dr Cherdchinda.
Insufficient budget for implementation was identified as there were many activities that could have been done greater. For example i) in the training we have to limit number of participants ii) communication materials and publication could have been produced and distribute more widely
Good coordination among different sector and engagement of private sector. Some NCB feels that MFF should not engage with Oil sectors but some don’t mind.
Support/encourage MFF grantee to seek sustainability in the ongoing project by engage their work with TAO/PAO
How to strengthening the MFF Network/ Coastal community network to raise the issue occurs in their daily life and help them seek for solution?
For both SGF and LGF the grantees feel that there wasn’t enough time for implementation. For LGF 2 years was too short to implement the project. For SGF, 12-18 months for small budget was too much work and not enough budgets.
Policy conflict issue in coastal development (hotel/resort/marina), city planning, recreation areas and there are serious influence by politician which resulting in land intrusion and land ownership
Land tenure issues in very common and difficult to solve
Issue of the change of habitat and how to manage resources eg. Land gain and land loss in some area
Issue of law enforcement and the treatment of commercial fishery and small scale fishery
The Future role of NCB at National level was discussed and that the NCB saw themselves as the policy influence body and demonstrate best practice from the field.
NCB feel that they have well accomplished their 6 functions of NCB as appointed.
Recommendations for NCB to propose to MFF Secretariat
Collaborative project not competitive project for the next call for proposal
New project should based on good work and that the value of the existing connection is crucial for success and smooth implementation
More flexibility with the budget ceiling and timing for the SGF and LGF
Resource management through local rule/regulation by using Media/Publication/Public awareness (CD, Booklets/ Lessons learned, Song/music)
Strengthen capacity in tourism
Mapping learning location
Strengthen MFF/Coastal Network by providing Study tours Training of the trainers Local researcher Coordination at local level and volunteer to help Networking the networks
regular meetings
exchange forum/seminar
specific activities
mangroves plantation
Pandanus plantation
Effective communication (functional website and free access to information and sharing option)
Carry on the working group models and the report of MLE should be shared more widely (note that due to the sharing system nowadays is not enable the filing and storing information to be effective yet as someone has received the file but never open so that she assume that they have never received information from secretariat)
Strategy and action plan the second phase (2010 - 2013). Vision Good Governance in ecosystem management for sustainable natural resources and secure livelihoods of coastal communities. Mission
To strengthen participation of all stakeholders, and to become a mechanism for Facilitating learning for policy improvement in sustainable ecosystem management. Objectives 1. To conserve and rehabilitate coastal ecosystems. 2. To Integrate Collaboration protects / maintains mangroves for security and the environment. 3. To promote awareness in Climate Change under the self sufficient and sustainable concept. 4. To enhance knowledge exchange and cooperation mechanisms to support good management. Strategy 1. Promote access to knowledge management processes to increase the value of mangrove/coastal conservation
1.1. Development of national policy on mangroves. 1.2. To promote research and participatory development. 1.3. To promote learning exchange forum. 1.4. Create a learning space to promote knowledge on best practise. 1.5. To develop cooperation for sustainable mangrove forest management fund for the management of mangrove communities
2. To strengthen the community participation in mangrove/coastal management. 2.1. Training and empower community organizations to offer local government. 2.2. Create a network of volunteers to manage the mangrove community base. 2.3. To develop a community of practice (CoPs) to expand the prototype to other communities. 2.4. Influence local government strategic plan for the management of local mangrove / coastal resources.
2.5. Encourage the cooperation plan, community plan. 2.6. Empower community facilitators for mangrove conservation and coastal ecosystems. 3. To preserve and restore use of mangrove resources and biodiversity, development of enhanced quality of life
3.1. To protect coastal ecosystems. 3.2. To restore the ecosystems in participatory approach 3.3. To monitor changes in a mangrove ecosystem through community participation.
3.4. To promote undergraduate and youth and community organizations in the conservation and sustainable use of mangroves.
3.5. promote the ability of communities to manage resources to recreate the low carbon society 4. To develop and enhance mechanisms for governance. 4.1. To produce database management mangrove biodiversity and community organizations. 4.2. Empower performance of personnel and management, mangrove management. 4.3. To develope mechanisms integrated operating plan for sustainable mangrove forest management.
4.4. Public media 4.5. To development tools for sustainable management of mangrove forests, such as Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)