Regional, Provincial and Local Authorities Roundtable

1. Regional, Provincial and Local Authorities Roundtable Coordination across a Region The ASCLME Project as an example of multi-level networking

2. WHAT IS THE ASCLME PROJECT? 9 COUNTRIES:Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania FUNDING: GEF = US$12.2 Million. Co-funding = US$20 Million (primarily in-kind and from countries) TIMEFRAME: 5 Years, until mid-2012

3. THE GEF LME PROGRAMME IN THE WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN The GEF LME Programme in the western Indian Ocean consists of three GEF-funded partner projects: WIOLaB (UNEP):Addressing land-based activities in the Western Indian Ocean (Land-based pollution, coastal degradation, etc) SWIOFP (World Bank):Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Project addressing primarily offshore and some near-shore commercial fisheries ASCLME Project (UNDP):Addressing all oceanographic aspects (biological, chemical, physical); coastal artisanal and subsistence fisheries, persistent organic pollutants, larval transport, spawning and nursery areas

4. The ASCLME System Boundary and areas of activity 12°

5. Primary Deliverables from the ASCLME Project The deliverables from this 5-year project: A Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis which identifies the overall characteristics of the various LMEs in the western Indian Ocean and defines the actual and potential threats to their sustainable functioning A Strategic Action Programme specifying the policy, governance and management procedures for formal adoption by the participating countries Long-term mechanisms for Governance and Management including (i) continuous monitoring of Indicators that provide early warnings for ocean-atmosphere change and ecosystem variability as well as (ii) indicators of associated changes in the social and economic situation throughout the region

6. Some Examples of Coordination within the Western Indian Ocean (ASCLME) Countries • At the Regional level ( Regional Coordination Forum) • At the country level (Marine Ecosystem Diagnostic Analysis) • At the Community Level (DLIST)

7. Regional Coordination Forum(What’s Going On In The Region?) Who is doing what and where? (Some of the questions we asked each other) Who is planning research cruises? Where will the cruises go? What data are being targeted? What equipment is being deployed? What other forms of data are being collected in the field? Where (which countries and areas)? When and using what methods? Where will this data be stored and who has access? What capacity building activities are taking place and in which institutions/countries? What training courses/mechanisms are planned and for what purpose? Who will be trained?

8. How can we Coordinate Activities What are the opportunities for Cooperation and Coordination? • Timing of activities and funding • Cost-Sharing • Realignment between Projects to balance needs • Agreements for sharing of data and access • Keeping the Countries informed and updated • On-going partnership and mutual monitoring of progress and activities (e.g. Steering Committee and Technical Working Groups)

9. Mechanisms for Coordination What mechanisms should we put in place to be able to share information on activities and aims? • Use of website(s) • Bilateral cooperation • Formal adoption of a Regional Forum How can we ensure/encourage that these mechanisms are used and updated frequently? • Reminders to update website information (responsibility?) • Coordination workshops Who will take responsibility for this coordination role? • Regional bodies such as WIOMSA? • GEF (or other agency) Projects? • Regional Seas Programmes (e.g. Nairobi Convention)?

10. Marine Ecosystem Diagnostic Analyses The Country Level Networking The ASCLME project is approaching the TDA-SAP process initially at the country level A national Marine Ecosystem Diagnostic Analysis is being undertaken for each country first These then feed into an overall regional Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis This TDA is the factual foundation document which provides the basis for the negotiable Strategic Action Programme The long-term aim would be to update the MEDAs and the TDAs on a regular (10 year?) basis

11. Marine Ecosystem Diagnostic Analyses The Country Level Networking The MEDAs require input from all sectors within governments as well as from the private sectors, NGOs and communities. They address such issues as: • Fisheries, pollution, habitat distribution and health, observed changes and variability in the ecosystem • Socioeconomic linkages • Governance structures and their shortfalls • Capacity building needs • Data management and data networking • Community involvement and empowerment The MEDAs also aim to develop long-term in-country ecosystem monitoring and selection of indicators which ‘reflect’ the regional monitoring and indicator needs at the TDA level

12. Marine Ecosystem Diagnostic Analyses The Country Level Networking The MEDAs build ownership of the regional ecosystem management approach at the country level They directly engage national technical experts and specialists into the overall regional TDA development process and therefore into the SAP The also act as an in-country vehicle to inform and raise awareness about the Project aims and the overall value and need for an ecosystem approach (this might not otherwise happen effectively through a purely regional TDA development mechanism)

13. DLIST – Community Level Networking DLIST (the Distance Learning and Information Sharing Tool) Is a mechanism for engaging communities into the decision-making process This is done as part of the MEDA-TDA-SAP process to ensure that • The foundation information documents (MEDA and SAP) at the national and regional level capture community concerns and needs • That the communities are empowered through the SAP process to be part of the ‘management’ structure of the ecosystem approach DLIST provides a community-level information sharing platform through websites, low-tech communications, media articles and one-on-one community level for a DLIST also has a Distance-Learning component offering ecosystem management related courses to disparate and dispersed individuals and groups

14. DLIST – Community Level Networking DLIST provides a community-level information sharing platform (for discussion and debate) through websites, low-tech communications, media articles and one-on-one community level discussion groups and workshops DLIST also has a Distance-Learning component offering ecosystem management related courses to disparate and dispersed individuals and groups DLIST also provides a vehicle for engaging the communities into the MEDA process DLIST works within an LME project initially through demonstration sites and then through replication of best practices

15. THANK YOU! FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND INTEREST IN THIS IMPORTANT WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN INITIATIVE! To read more about the Project and for links to the research studies and results from the cruises please visit www.asclme.org