PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Regional Secretariat to Conduct

the First CTI-CFF University Partnership Meeting

# Highlight a crucial theme of “Building Tangible Program Actions for Capacity Building and Research Collaboration”

# Prominent Universities from six (6) CTI-CFF Member States (particularly focusing on fisheries and marine resources) confirmed their participation: four (4) from Indonesia (IPB, ITS, Unhas, Unsrat); University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT); University Of Papua New Guinea (UPNG); Solomon Islands National University (SINU); Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e (UNTL); James Cook University (JCU), Australia; and six (6) representatives from the respective Member States’ National Coordinating Committees (NCCs).

Manado, 23 February 2017 – Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) Regional Secretariat hold the first CTI-CFF University Partnership Meeting at the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat Headquarter, Manado, starting from 28 February to 1 March 2017.

The main objectives of the 2-day meeting shall deliberate on issues such as the promotion of marine conservation, sustainable fisheries management, and safeguard food security through activities such as capacity building, research, and outreach through joint cooperation between the respective CT6 universities and Governments (Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste).

“We recognize the need for active participation from universities to assist CT6 Member States’ implementation of programs on marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, and food security at the national, local, and grassroots levels.”

“These universities have the latest scientific researches on issues such as the challenges and developments in our core areas, while the Governments have implemented programs in relations to these areas on the field – we wish to marry these two institutions so we can make better informed-decisions to the benefit of the people,” explained Widi A. Pratikto, Ph.D, the Executive Director Regional Secretariat CTI-CFF.

The main objectives of this convention are to ensure that recommendations are made in terms of: the institution of a robust partnership arrangements between the universities and CT6 relevant Government institutions; and to plan and secure funding for capacity building and research collaboration programs based on sound and best science available, especially on fisheries and marine sectors. 

Specifically, the convention is expected agree on a set of final outputs to focus on: capacity building on human resources; the establishment of a Study Center (in particular areas such as climate change adaptation, biodiversity, and resources interconnectivity); scientific findings within the Coral Triangle region; certification programs for fisheries and marine products; and to strengthen relationship and capacity of the National Coordinating Committees (NCCs), Technical Working Groups (TWGs), and the Regional Secretariat.  

Several reputable universities from CT6 Member States and within the neighboring region have confirmed their participation in Manado; from Indonesia - Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB), Bogor; Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Surabaya; Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas), Makassar; and Universitas Sam Ratulangi (Unsrat), Manado; Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Malaysia; University Of Papua New Guinea (UPNG); Solomon Islands National University (SINU); Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e (UNTL), Timor-Leste; and  James Cook University (JCU), Australia. 

Additionally, representatives from CT6 NCCs have also confirmed their participation in the convention. Others include representatives from the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Indonesia), Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs (Indonesia), Indonesian Institutes of Sciences (LIPI), Education and Cultural Attache Embassy of Indonesia to Malaysia, Education and Cultural Attache Embassy of Indonesia to Philippines, Education and Cultural Attache Embassy of Indonesia to Timor-Leste,  Center of Remote Sensing and Ocean Sciencies (CReSOS) Udayana University – Bali, World Conservation Society (WCS), and The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Philippines.

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About CTI – CFF

The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) is a multilateral partnership of six member states working together to preserve marine resources and coastal, and focuses on some key issues such as food security, climate change, and marine biodiversity. CTI-CFF was established formally in the Leaders’ Summit in 2009 with approval of the leaders in six countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor Leste (CT6) to adopt CTI Regional Plan of Action (CTI RPOA) which is a strategic action plan that divided into several working groups that deal with (i) Management of seascapes (ii) an ecosystem-based fisheries management (iii) marine protected areas (iv) climate change adaption, and (v) management of the endangered species.

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