What constitutes a successful project Review of experience from the region Partnerships in Environmental Management fo

1. What constitutes a successful project? Review of experience from the region Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA)presented byMs. Analiza Teh, Philippines  Sub-regional Workshop for GEF Focal Points in Asia Bangkok, Thailand, 7-9 April 2009

2. (TIME ALLOCATION: 2 min) PEMSEA is a regional programme that spans across the 7 million km2 sea area that makes up the Seas of East Asia. The first phase of PEMSEA was initiated in 1994 under the GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas. Its focus was of this first project was marine pollution prevention and management, with Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, RO Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as participating countries. The Philippines agreed to host the Regional Programme Office in 1994, and has continued to provide this valuable support over the past 14 years. The 2nd phase project, GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme on Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia started in 1999, with the inclusion of Japan, Timor Leste and Lao PDR as participating countries. This phase focused on the broader issue of sustainable development of marine and coastal resources through integrated coastal management, as well as the development of a regional strategy (Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia) for governments and non-State partners to cooperate and coordinate their efforts to protect their shared ocean resource. From a project-based arrangement, PEMSEA entered into a new phase in 2008 and transformed into a Regional Partnership Mechanism with a mandate to implement the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). Currently the PEMSEA partnership consists of 11 State Partners and 16 non-State Partners. (TIME ALLOCATION: 2 min) PEMSEA is a regional programme that spans across the 7 million km2 sea area that makes up the Seas of East Asia. The first phase of PEMSEA was initiated in 1994 under the GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas. Its focus was of this first project was marine pollution prevention and management, with Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, RO Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as participating countries. The Philippines agreed to host the Regional Programme Office in 1994, and has continued to provide this valuable support over the past 14 years. The 2nd phase project, GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme on Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia started in 1999, with the inclusion of Japan, Timor Leste and Lao PDR as participating countries. This phase focused on the broader issue of sustainable development of marine and coastal resources through integrated coastal management, as well as the development of a regional strategy (Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia) for governments and non-State partners to cooperate and coordinate their efforts to protect their shared ocean resource. From a project-based arrangement, PEMSEA entered into a new phase in 2008 and transformed into a Regional Partnership Mechanism with a mandate to implement the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA). Currently the PEMSEA partnership consists of 11 State Partners and 16 non-State Partners.

3. PEMSEA�SOver-all Development Objective

5. (Time Allocation: 1.5 min) In December 2003, PEMSEA participating countries and collaborative partners endorsed the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia or SDS-SEA through the Putrajaya Declaration. The adoption of SDS-SEA was a historical event as this serves as the first regional document that outlines the shared vision, collective strategies/approaches, and common objectives towards the achievement of a sustainable East Asian Seas. The SDS-SEA provides a holistic approach for addressing both sectoral and cross-sectoral issues through 6 major strategies (Sustain, Preserve, Protect, Develop, Implement, Communicate) and 227 action programs which are based on the prescriptions of global and regional instruments such as the WSSD Plan of Implementation, the UN Millennium Declaration and Agenda 21. The Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (or SDS-SEA), initiated by PEMSEA, provides a dynamic and useful regional framework and collaborative platform for regional cooperation and partnership in regional coastal and ocean governance. � As a regional marine strategy, it outlines a shared vision by participating governments and major stakeholders towards sustainable and equitable use of the seas of East Asia. It provides a clear mission statement for achieving the sustainable use of coastal and marine natural resources, protecting the lives and properties of the coastal population, and sustaining the benefits that are generated by the marine ecosystems. (Time Allocation: 1.5 min) In December 2003, PEMSEA participating countries and collaborative partners endorsed the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia or SDS-SEA through the Putrajaya Declaration. The adoption of SDS-SEA was a historical event as this serves as the first regional document that outlines the shared vision, collective strategies/approaches, and common objectives towards the achievement of a sustainable East Asian Seas. The SDS-SEA provides a holistic approach for addressing both sectoral and cross-sectoral issues through 6 major strategies (Sustain, Preserve, Protect, Develop, Implement, Communicate) and 227 action programs which are based on the prescriptions of global and regional instruments such as the WSSD Plan of Implementation, the UN Millennium Declaration and Agenda 21. The Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (or SDS-SEA), initiated by PEMSEA, provides a dynamic and useful regional framework and collaborative platform for regional cooperation and partnership in regional coastal and ocean governance. � As a regional marine strategy, it outlines a shared vision by participating governments and major stakeholders towards sustainable and equitable use of the seas of East Asia. It provides a clear mission statement for achieving the sustainable use of coastal and marine natural resources, protecting the lives and properties of the coastal population, and sustaining the benefits that are generated by the marine ecosystems.

6. As earlier mentioned, the SDS-SEA was adopted as a regional strategy by 12 participating governments and 16 stakeholder partners during the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress in Putrajaya, Malaysia in 2003. It provides a framework of actions for achieving the goals of key international agreements and action plans, including the UN Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Plan of Implementation, Agenda 21 and other international instruments related to coasts, islands and oceans, as well as a platform for regional cooperation. As earlier mentioned, the SDS-SEA was adopted as a regional strategy by 12 participating governments and 16 stakeholder partners during the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress in Putrajaya, Malaysia in 2003. It provides a framework of actions for achieving the goals of key international agreements and action plans, including the UN Millenium Development Goals (MDGs), the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) Plan of Implementation, Agenda 21 and other international instruments related to coasts, islands and oceans, as well as a platform for regional cooperation.

7. Haikou Partnership Agreement for the Implementation of the SDS-SEA Adopted during the 2nd Ministerial Forum in December 2006 by PEMSEA State Partners (Cambodia, China, DPR Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Philippines, RO Korea, Singapore, Vietnam) Established a regional coordinating mechanism for the SDS-SEA implementation Partnership Operating Arrangements for the Implementation of the SDS-SEA Signed by PEMSEA non-State Partners during the Inaugural Meeting of the EAS Partnership Council Meeting in December 2006 pemsea 4.ppt The drafting and adoption, in principle, of a Partnership Agreement and a Partnership Operating Arrangement, gave definition to the intergovernmental, multi-stakeholder regional coordinating mechanism to oversee the SDS-SEA implementation and identifying the roles and responsibilities of the partners within the Operating Arrangement. � In 2006, the adoption of the Haikou Partnership Agreement, together with the Partnership Operating Arrangements, formalizes the regional coordinating and operating mechanisms which also included a financing mechanism for sustainability. � It provided a systematic approach and direction for the long-term implementation of the SDS-SEA by helping the participating governments in achieving their international and national obligations and targets. � This agreement puts the partnership concept into action and provides the way for participating governments and stakeholder partners and collaborators to continue their collaboration on a longer timeframe. The drafting and adoption, in principle, of a Partnership Agreement and a Partnership Operating Arrangement, gave definition to the intergovernmental, multi-stakeholder regional coordinating mechanism to oversee the SDS-SEA implementation and identifying the roles and responsibilities of the partners within the Operating Arrangement. � In 2006, the adoption of the Haikou Partnership Agreement, together with the Partnership Operating Arrangements, formalizes the regional coordinating and operating mechanisms which also included a financing mechanism for sustainability. � It provided a systematic approach and direction for the long-term implementation of the SDS-SEA by helping the participating governments in achieving their international and national obligations and targets. � This agreement puts the partnership concept into action and provides the way for participating governments and stakeholder partners and collaborators to continue their collaboration on a longer timeframe.

8. (TIME ALLOCATION: 1.5 min) 1. The countries of the region recognize that the implementation of the SDS-SEA requires a longer time frame, policy reforms, strategic management interventions, sufficient financial resources and an efficient regional coordinating mechanism. 2. Guided by this recognition, in December 2006, 11 countries of the region signed the Haikou Partnership Agreement which established PEMSEA as the regional coordinating mechanism for the implementation of the SDS-SEA. Through the supporting document entitled Partnership Operating Arrangements, PEMSEA extends its partnership to non-State Partners. The signing of these documents brought about the transformation of PEMSEA from a project-based arrangement into a country-owned self-sustaining regional mechanism. 3. Under the Partnership Arrangement, PEMSEA also encourages the participation and support by all the stakeholders in the SDS-SEA implementation. In summary, PEMSEA�s transformation from a project-based initiative into a self-sustaining regional operating mechanism is largely anchored on the Putrajaya Declaration adopting the SDS-SEA as the regional strategy for sustainable development. Along side, the SDS-SEA helps achieve the goals of key international agreements. � The PEMSEA regional mechanism consists of the following key components: � EAS Partnership Council consists of the Intergovernmental Session and Technical Session. � The Intergovernmental Session provides policy guidance, reviews work programs, approves budgetary allocations and monitors progress, outcomes and impacts of SDS-SEA implementation, while the Technical Session receives technical and scientific reports from partners, identifies and evaluates projects and work programs, provides technical advice and information, and promotes partnership interactions on subjects of common interest. � [Continue Key Components � next page please] � � � PEMSEA Partnership Fund is a mechanism for receiving financial contributions from donors, collaborative projects and programs. The Fund is designed to ensure the sustainability of the regional mechanism to operate on a self-sustaining basis. � East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress serves as the intellectual marketplace for knowledge and experience-sharing, and a forum for dialogues between policy-makers, environmental and natural resource managers, business communities, academic communities, NGOs, local governments, and grassroots organizations. � Ministerial Forum which is a triennial policy dialogue event, participated by the concerned government ministers of the Region. This Forum receives reports from the EAS Partnership Council and the recommendations of the triennial EAS Congress. It provides policy direction pertaining to key concerns for regional cooperation and expresses the fulfillment of their international commitments related to sustainable development. � The key components of the regional mechanism are operationalized through the Partnership Operating Arrangements which, in turn, generate agreements to address issue and area-specific concerns. (TIME ALLOCATION: 1.5 min) 1. The countries of the region recognize that the implementation of the SDS-SEA requires a longer time frame, policy reforms, strategic management interventions, sufficient financial resources and an efficient regional coordinating mechanism. 2. Guided by this recognition, in December 2006, 11 countries of the region signed the Haikou Partnership Agreement which established PEMSEA as the regional coordinating mechanism for the implementation of the SDS-SEA. Through the supporting document entitled Partnership Operating Arrangements, PEMSEA extends its partnership to non-State Partners. The signing of these documents brought about the transformation of PEMSEA from a project-based arrangement into a country-owned self-sustaining regional mechanism. 3. Under the Partnership Arrangement, PEMSEA also encourages the participation and support by all the stakeholders in the SDS-SEA implementation. In summary, PEMSEA�s transformation from a project-based initiative into a self-sustaining regional operating mechanism is largely anchored on the Putrajaya Declaration adopting the SDS-SEA as the regional strategy for sustainable development. Along side, the SDS-SEA helps achieve the goals of key international agreements. � The PEMSEA regional mechanism consists of the following key components: � EAS Partnership Council consists of the Intergovernmental Session and Technical Session. � The Intergovernmental Session provides policy guidance, reviews work programs, approves budgetary allocations and monitors progress, outcomes and impacts of SDS-SEA implementation, while the Technical Session receives technical and scientific reports from partners, identifies and evaluates projects and work programs, provides technical advice and information, and promotes partnership interactions on subjects of common interest. � [Continue Key Components � next page please] � � � PEMSEA Partnership Fund is a mechanism for receiving financial contributions from donors, collaborative projects and programs. The Fund is designed to ensure the sustainability of the regional mechanism to operate on a self-sustaining basis. � East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress serves as the intellectual marketplace for knowledge and experience-sharing, and a forum for dialogues between policy-makers, environmental and natural resource managers, business communities, academic communities, NGOs, local governments, and grassroots organizations. � Ministerial Forum which is a triennial policy dialogue event, participated by the concerned government ministers of the Region. This Forum receives reports from the EAS Partnership Council and the recommendations of the triennial EAS Congress. It provides policy direction pertaining to key concerns for regional cooperation and expresses the fulfillment of their international commitments related to sustainable development. � The key components of the regional mechanism are operationalized through the Partnership Operating Arrangements which, in turn, generate agreements to address issue and area-specific concerns.

9. PEMSEA Partners

10. ICM Development and Implementation PEMSEA began with two pilot ICM sites in the first phase and added six demonstration sites in the second phase. � The ICM Pilot sites are located in: Batangas, Philippines and Xiamen, China � The Demo sites are in: Bali, Indonesia Chonburi, Thailand Danang, Vietnam Nampho, DPR Korea Port Klang, Malaysia Sihanoukville, Cambodia � In addition, 20 self-supported parallel projects based on the PEMSEA site development strategy have been organized. Ten are in China and three are in Bali, Indonesia. Other sites had been developed in Bataan, Cavite and Guimaras in the Philippines, Shihwa in the Republic of Korea, and Sukabumi in Indonesia, Quangnam, and on its way, Thua Thien Hue in Vietnam. PEMSEA began with two pilot ICM sites in the first phase and added six demonstration sites in the second phase. � The ICM Pilot sites are located in: Batangas, Philippines and Xiamen, China � The Demo sites are in: Bali, Indonesia Chonburi, Thailand Danang, Vietnam Nampho, DPR Korea Port Klang, Malaysia Sihanoukville, Cambodia � In addition, 20 self-supported parallel projects based on the PEMSEA site development strategy have been organized. Ten are in China and three are in Bali, Indonesia. Other sites had been developed in Bataan, Cavite and Guimaras in the Philippines, Shihwa in the Republic of Korea, and Sukabumi in Indonesia, Quangnam, and on its way, Thua Thien Hue in Vietnam.

11. PEMSEA has created networks of experts, of local governments, and regional task force experts that, when taken together, firmly link the national demonstration and parallel ICM sites into a regional consortium and partnership. � The network has generated due provision of recognition to the local government that are successfully implementing ICM practices. The network serves as a mechanism for scaling up activities; obtaining enhanced commitment of local leaders, generating support and assistance from donors, co-financing and developing cooperative programs. � The network has provided stimulation to the local government by noting that implementation of ICM practices is one means of responding to national policies and meeting challenges of decentralization in a proactive manner. The network has also, in this way, served as a mechanism for establishing and increasing political will. PEMSEA has created networks of experts, of local governments, and regional task force experts that, when taken together, firmly link the national demonstration and parallel ICM sites into a regional consortium and partnership. � The network has generated due provision of recognition to the local government that are successfully implementing ICM practices. The network serves as a mechanism for scaling up activities; obtaining enhanced commitment of local leaders, generating support and assistance from donors, co-financing and developing cooperative programs. � The network has provided stimulation to the local government by noting that implementation of ICM practices is one means of responding to national policies and meeting challenges of decentralization in a proactive manner. The network has also, in this way, served as a mechanism for establishing and increasing political will.

12. Lessons Learned on Program Implementation- General There are four Key Lessons Learned on the implementation of PEMSEA. These are: � (1) Success and sustainability hinges on the proper combination of key Program ingredients. The key ingredients refer to: � clear shared vision inclusive, multi-level partnerships active stakeholder participation sustained through appropriate incentive mechanisms adequate funding streams marked with resource counterparting science-based management support purposive capacity building and organizational strengthening, and active communication and advocacy � Partnerships must be inclusive. � This means that inclusive partnerships that harness efforts and resources from all relevant stakeholder groups at various levels and in all aspects of the work are critical to effectiveness and sustainability. There must be a deliberate strategy of promoting both vertical and horizontal integration and this entails coordination among the various levels of governance spanning the community, municipal, provincial, national and regional levels, and among and across the various functional units of government, enterprises in the private sector, and sectoral groups in civil society. � [Continue Lessons-General � next page please] � � � PEMSEA�s combination of top-down and bottom-up impetus is effective in securing necessary political commitment. � Political support and commitment from the decision-makers at various levels is critical to the success of ICM. Without the �buy-in� from the concerned political leaders, partnerships are incomplete and hampered from securing full and sustained benefits. � At the same time, the active horizontal partnerships across municipalities, across relevant national government agencies, and especially across the various stakeholder groups have also provided a simultaneous impetus from the ground, spurring the political leaders to exercise their leadership and political will in promoting ICM. � � Partnerships do not happen overnight. � It takes time to build awareness and appreciation for the value of protecting and sustaining marine and coastal resources against the more pressing need for food and income. Nonetheless, partnerships, once formed, tend to take on a certain self-sustaining nature that makes their maintenance much less costly than establishing them. There are four Key Lessons Learned on the implementation of PEMSEA. These are: � (1) Success and sustainability hinges on the proper combination of key Program ingredients. The key ingredients refer to: � clear shared vision inclusive, multi-level partnerships active stakeholder participation sustained through appropriate incentive mechanisms adequate funding streams marked with resource counterparting science-based management support purposive capacity building and organizational strengthening, and active communication and advocacy � Partnerships must be inclusive. � This means that inclusive partnerships that harness efforts and resources from all relevant stakeholder groups at various levels and in all aspects of the work are critical to effectiveness and sustainability. There must be a deliberate strategy of promoting both vertical and horizontal integration and this entails coordination among the various levels of governance spanning the community, municipal, provincial, national and regional levels, and among and across the various functional units of government, enterprises in the private sector, and sectoral groups in civil society. � [Continue Lessons-General � next page please] � � � PEMSEA�s combination of top-down and bottom-up impetus is effective in securing necessary political commitment. � Political support and commitment from the decision-makers at various levels is critical to the success of ICM. Without the �buy-in� from the concerned political leaders, partnerships are incomplete and hampered from securing full and sustained benefits. � At the same time, the active horizontal partnerships across municipalities, across relevant national government agencies, and especially across the various stakeholder groups have also provided a simultaneous impetus from the ground, spurring the political leaders to exercise their leadership and political will in promoting ICM. � � Partnerships do not happen overnight. � It takes time to build awareness and appreciation for the value of protecting and sustaining marine and coastal resources against the more pressing need for food and income. Nonetheless, partnerships, once formed, tend to take on a certain self-sustaining nature that makes their maintenance much less costly than establishing them.

13. Lessons Learned on Program Implementation- Specific These were achieved through: consultation with and support of local governments and agencies; project activities built on local governments needs; strengthening of human and financial resources and facilities; and good negotiation of PEMSEA staff. � Also, we should highlight grassroots or actions from local communities which are important and can often help solve difficult problems with simple actions. � These were achieved through: consultation with and support of local governments and agencies; project activities built on local governments needs; strengthening of human and financial resources and facilities; and good negotiation of PEMSEA staff. � Also, we should highlight grassroots or actions from local communities which are important and can often help solve difficult problems with simple actions. �

14. Lessons Learned on Program Implementation- Specific Issues that threaten economic prosperity and environmental sustainability in the East Asia region can be resolved through regional dialogues and cooperation. Therefore, a stronger and closer relationship among the countries will certainly enhance peaceful solution of conflicts. Issues that threaten economic prosperity and environmental sustainability in the East Asia region can be resolved through regional dialogues and cooperation. Therefore, a stronger and closer relationship among the countries will certainly enhance peaceful solution of conflicts.

15. Partnerships with multinational and national corporations and stakeholders help build corporate social responsibility by encouraging companies to integrate social responsibility into their organizational strategies, programs and practices. This will also help facilitate the replication and scaling up of capacities in sustainable development of coastal and marine resources among local governments and communities in the region. This is important to achieve a lasting positive transformation in behavior but awareness through a strategic information-education-communication campaign that would translate knowledge into on-the-ground actions. � Partnerships with multinational and national corporations and stakeholders help build corporate social responsibility by encouraging companies to integrate social responsibility into their organizational strategies, programs and practices. This will also help facilitate the replication and scaling up of capacities in sustainable development of coastal and marine resources among local governments and communities in the region. This is important to achieve a lasting positive transformation in behavior but awareness through a strategic information-education-communication campaign that would translate knowledge into on-the-ground actions. �

16. Overcoming Challenges to the Implementation of the SDS-SEA Despite PEMSEA�s successes and lessons learnt, PEMSEA is still faced with challenges that threaten to sustain its momentum and the benefits generated from its implementation. � GEF funding is still essential as a catalyst to build upon that would help strengthen the regional partnership mechanism especially in scaling up coastal management that would entail geographical expansion from river basins to coastal seas, and from coast to coast. � and � Long-term sustainability of the partnership depends on the capacity and willingness of the partners to meet targets and objectives. Hence, the legal and institutional arrangements to empower the local governments and the communities to play a greater role especially in coastal planning and management need to be strengthened. Moreso, the key challenge here is to strengthen the capacity and increase the confidence of local governments to commit to investments in scaling-up ICM, with focus on pollution reduction facilities and services, and to scale-up activities from a local initiative into national and regional dimensions. Despite PEMSEA�s successes and lessons learnt, PEMSEA is still faced with challenges that threaten to sustain its momentum and the benefits generated from its implementation. � GEF funding is still essential as a catalyst to build upon that would help strengthen the regional partnership mechanism especially in scaling up coastal management that would entail geographical expansion from river basins to coastal seas, and from coast to coast. � and � Long-term sustainability of the partnership depends on the capacity and willingness of the partners to meet targets and objectives. Hence, the legal and institutional arrangements to empower the local governments and the communities to play a greater role especially in coastal planning and management need to be strengthened. Moreso, the key challenge here is to strengthen the capacity and increase the confidence of local governments to commit to investments in scaling-up ICM, with focus on pollution reduction facilities and services, and to scale-up activities from a local initiative into national and regional dimensions.

22. Maraming Salamat po!(Thank you!)