Ecosystems Improved for Sustainable Fisheries (ECO-FISH Program) (AID-492-C-12-00008)
Country: Philippines
PRIMEX provided the services of: (i) a Senior Governance and Institutional Development Specialist, who assisted the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the national policy reform agenda and key policy initiatives in the fisheries sector by facilitating trainings, consultations and negotiations relating to governance and policy development, as well as in the design and implementation of training courses, including a training course on Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) adapted to the Philippines; and (ii) two site coordinators, who supported field activities in the MKBAs of Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte and Ticao-San Bernardino-Lagonoy Gulf. The two site coordinators: (i) developed and implemented site work plans and provided quarterly reports on the implementation of these work plans; (ii) assisted the Fisheries Management Specialist and the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist in data collection for the baseline assessment and special events monitoring activities; (iii) organized and facilitated workshops and training activities in the target/focal areas; (iv) assisted in planning, implementation, and monitoring of site-specific fisheries management interventions; (v) assisted in the establishment or strengthening of coastal law enforcement units and planning, implementing, and monitoring-related activities in coordination with Philippine National Police (PNP), PNP-Maritime, Philippine Coast Guard; (vi) collaborated with the Senior Policy Specialist in identifying priority policy issues affecting the implementation of coastal and fisheries management interventions; (vii) assisted the Socioeconomic Specialist in the identification and evaluation of fishermen’s associations to undergo organizational strengthening and livelihood training in collaboration with Barangay Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Councils (BFARMCs), LGUs, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and local partner NGOs; and (viii) coordinated implementation of planned activities with BFAR, provincial and local government units (LGUs) in the MKBAs, as well as with other key government agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), people’s organizations (POs), and local communities; and (ix) consulted other foreign institutions (e.g., GIZ, WINROCK, etc.) and government agencies (e.g., Philippine Coconut Authority) with related projects in the same sites for potential collaboration and convergence.