November 2013: The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) has decided to install an Executive Director and launch its Permanent Secretariat in Indonesia in mid-2014. The Initiative is also anticipating implementation of its Monitoring and Evaluation System, and has released a set of guidebooks for designing local marine protected areas.

The decision to launch the Permanent Secretariat, which will be tasked with coordinating the implementation of the Initiative’s Regional Plan of Action, was made by over 70 CTI-CFF government representatives at the 9th CTI-CFF Senior Officials Meeting (SOM9), held in Manila from 26-27 November 2013. Officials also considered expanding CTI-CFF membership, including an expression of interest from Brunei Darussalam. Current CTI-CFF country members are Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste.

The Initiative’s Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group (MEWG) also presented its Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Operations Manual to member countries at SOM9, which endorsed it and established a timetable for M&E implementation. MEWG noted, however, that key work areas must be completed before the M&E can be implemented, including the endorsement of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management, organization of working groups for Seascapes and Threatened Species, testing of indicators, and completion of baseline measurements.

The Initiative has also made available training materials for ‘Designing Effective Locally Managed Areas in Tropical Marine Environments.’ The guidebook is meant to help facilitators plan and design community-based activities, and consists of three parts: an 18-page laminated flipchart, a facilitator’s guide and booklets for community members. [CTI Press Release on Secretariat] [CTI Press Release on M&E system] [CTI Press Release on guidebooks] [Publication: Designing Effective Locally Managed Areas in Tropical Marine Environments]