PEMSEA experience shows that: Policy reforms and improved coastal and ocean governance are already taking place in the EAST Increased efforts in internalization of integrated management at the local level; Endorsement of the SDS-SEA by all coastal nations, and move to form an EAS Partnership Council. Lesson: While the catalytic role of GEF has been instrumental in making all these happen, the political, economic, cultural and social complexities of the region require a longer term investment. The role of UN agency is instrumental in bringing the countries to work together.

1. UNDP Portfolio Discussion:
PEMSEA Experience
by
S. Adrian Ross
Senior Programme Officer, PEMSEA
GEF Third Biennial IW Conference
20-25 June 2005

2. What are the likely institutional settings, reforms,
and ultimately, improved status of the various
shared waterbodies our collective efforts aim to
restore and protect?
PEMSEA experience shows that:
1. policy reforms and improved coastal and ocean
governance are already taking place in the EAS
national governments establishing ocean coastal
and ocean policies and legislation, adopting
integrated management approaches and
improving institutional mechanisms
new subregional institutional arrangements, such
as oil spill response in Gulf of Thailand involving
3 countries
1. increased efforts in internalization of integrated
management at the local level;
2. endorsement of the SDS-SEA by all coastal
nations, and move to form an EAS Partnership
Council.
Lesson: While the catalytic role of GEF has been
instrumental in making all these happen, the
political, economic, cultural and social
complexities of the region require a longer term
investment. The role of UN agency is
instrumental in bringing the countries to work
together.

3. What do you see as the principle short and
longer-term barriers that remain?
1. Lack of a home-base for coastal and ocean
governance is the main barrier for national
governments to take a total approach to
ocean management including transboundary
issues
2. An agreement for regional cooperation is
one thing - the capacity and willingness to
implement is another
3. Short-term efforts - narrow capacities in
disparity among countries of a region
especially in developing national and
regional leadership in ocean management
4. Longer term efforts - develop and support a
working regional framework so that countries
can play an increasing role until a country-owned
institutional arrangement is
operational.

4. What will be the key determinants of long-term
programme sustainability?
Bottom line - all countries must actually benefit
Key elements:
1) strong argument for socio-economic benefits
deriving from coasts and oceans
2) resolution of transboundary issues
3) financial opportunities in ocean and coastal
management
4) national policy integrating ocean and coastal
governance into economic development plans
Build a political environmental alliance within
and among countries for environmental
advocacy - garnish stronger political
commitments (not just lip service);
Inter-ministerial participation and regional
legal mechanisms are just the framework -
without the above, they will not work.

5. What can UNDP and GEF do additionally – or
differently – to help promote achievement of this
vision?
1. Need to fully recognize the practical
problems on the ground – no
standard approach solves all
problems.
2. Adaptive management should be
encouraged.
3. Project leadership should be
enhanced.
4. Country ownership should be
strengthened, may be too much
reliance on consultants.
5. Identify roles for and involve the
private sector more in the process.

6. Other pertinent questions?
1. How to maintain country interest
and enthusiasm? Current process
too long…from developing SAP (3-5
years) to implementation of SAP
(another 3-5 years)
2. Is there too much involvement in
studies and not enough
management intervention?
Countries/politicians need to see
changes, while project activities
take much longer.

7. Other pertinent questions?
1. How to maintain country interest
and enthusiasm? Current process
too long…from developing SAP (3-5
years) to implementation of SAP
(another 3-5 years)
2. Is there too much involvement in
studies and not enough
management intervention?
Countries/politicians need to see
changes, while project activities
take much longer.