Coastal and Marine Resources Management In The Coral Triangle – Southeast Asia (TA 7813-REG) – T2: Project Management Consultant
Country: Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia
PRIMEX was engaged by ADB to provide project management support and technical advisory assistance to the three participating countries in project planning, implementation, and liaison with ADB and the CTI Regional Secretariat based in Jakarta. PRIMEX set up a Regional Project Management Office (RPMO) and the Philippine Project Management Unit (PMU) in its office premises, TIA and WorldFish Center set up PMUs in Jakarta, Indonesia and in Penang, Malaysia, respectively. A large number of activities under the three outputs and their respective sub-outputs were implemented by the participating national and local government agencies and partner organizations including academic and research institutions, NGOs, and local communities. PRIMEX’s work in this RETA contributed substantially to breakthroughs in transformative regional and national policies, empowered coastal communities in the adaptive management of their natural resources, and increased the resilience of coastal and marine habitats through the adoption of ecosystem-based fisheries and aquaculture management. Examples of relevant regional and national activities, which were designed and implemented by the PRIMEX Team under this project, were summarized below.
Under RETA 7813, PRIMEX made significant contributions to the promotion of sustainable financing of resource management and climate change adaptation and the pilot testing of ecosystem-based approaches to coastal and marine resource management (CMRM) across participating countries in the Coral Triangle region.
Under Activity 1.5, which focused on the promotion of sustainable financing of resource management and climate change adaptation, PRIMEX supported livelihood diversification initiatives in coastal communities in Malaysia. In the Philippines, the team designed and pilot-tested a marine ecotourism-based Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme involving coral and giant clam gardens in Taytay Bay, Palawan.
Under Output 2, Ecosystem-based Approach to CMRM Pilot-Tested, PRIMEX facilitated the signing of a regional resolution promoting sustainable live reef food fish trade (LRFFT) during the LRFFT Intergovernmental Forum held in Thailand in February 2013.
As part of Activity 2.3, which focused on the development of ecosystem-based management plans in five project sites, PRIMEX supported the establishment of a marine protected area (MPA) in Indonesia’s Sangihe District, covering more than 167,000 hectares in the Tatoareng Subdistrict. The team also assisted in the preparation of an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Plan for the sustainable management of coral reef fisheries, particularly groupers, in Kwandang Bay. In Malaysia, PRIMEX conducted three batches of EAFM training for stakeholders in Semporna and supported the preparation of an EAFM Plan for Plectropomus leopardus (“suno”), a grouper species. In the Philippines, the team conducted a one-year stock assessment study of sardines in Dumanquillas Bay, provided livelihood support to people’s organizations in the area, and assisted in updating the General Management Plan (GMP) of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape.
Under Activity 2.6, which involved pilot-testing sustainable livelihood activities in targeted coastal villages in Sabah, Malaysia, PRIMEX supported sea cucumber farming initiatives in Mapan Mapan, Pitas District. The team conducted training for farmers on sea cucumber farming and processing techniques, facilitated a workshop on establishing a cooperative for sea cucumber farmers, and promoted community-based ecotourism (CbET) in Kudat as an alternative and sustainable livelihood option for coastal communities.