CTI-CFF and Rare Forge Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Sustainable Marine Resource Management in the Coral Triangle

PRESS RELEASE

CTI-CFF and Rare Forge Strategic Partnership to Strengthen Sustainable Marine Resource Management in the Coral Triangle 

Wednesday, 10 September 2025

Bali, 10 September 2025 – The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) Regional Secretariat and Rare, a global conservation organisation, have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on advancing sustainable marine resource management across the Coral Triangle region, one of the most biologically diverse marine areas on Earth.

This strategic partnership brings together CTI-CFF’s multilateral regional platform – comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste – and Rare’s global expertise in community-led conservation and behavioural change. The MoU sets the framework for joint efforts to address climate change impacts, strengthen food security, and enhance the resilience of marine ecosystems and coastal communities.

“This collaboration marks a significant step forward for the Coral Triangle region in terms of practical solutions at the community level,” said Dr. Frank Keith Griffin, Executive Director of the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat. “By aligning CTI-CFF’s regional coordination with Rare’s innovative, community-based approaches, we aim to scale up solutions that are effective, inclusive, and sustainable.”

The partnership will focus on several key areas of cooperation:

• Community-based marine and coastal resource management;
• Policy advocacy and the legal recognition of local conservation practices;
• Community engagement and behaviour change campaigns;
• Mobilisation of innovative and sustainable financing models;
• Joint training, capacity-building, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

“The Coral Triangle is one of the most biologically diverse regions on Earth, but also one of the most at risk,” said Rocky Sanchez Tirona, Managing Director of Fish Forever at Rare. “The urgency of this moment calls us to work together across countries and sectors to safeguard its oceans and communities for generations. Our partnership with the CTI-CFF opens new opportunities to strengthen regional collaboration and amplify impact.”

Under the agreement, both Parties will contribute technical expertise, financial or in-kind resources, and shared learning, while jointly exploring funding opportunities from bilateral, multilateral, philanthropic, and private sector partners. Collaborative projects will be implemented through specific work plans or agreements outlining roles, timelines, and deliverables.

The MoU is valid for five years and includes joint monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure the effectiveness of the partnership and adapt to emerging needs. This MoU underscores a shared vision for a thriving Coral Triangle where marine biodiversity is protected, communities are resilient, and future generations can rely on the ocean’s resources for their livelihoods and well-being.

Looking ahead, the partnership is also exploring innovative approaches to financing marine conservation. With the signing of this MoU, CTI-CFF and Rare are also laying the groundwork to jointly explore the development of a CTI Regional Impact Bond – an innovative, outcome-based financing mechanism aimed at supporting priority seascapes, sustainable fisheries, threatened species, and climate resilience efforts across the Coral Triangle.

This forward-looking initiative reflects both Parties’ commitment to mobilising scalable, sustainable solutions for lasting impact in one of the world’s most vital marine regions.

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Note to media: Quotes included in this release are attributable to the individuals named and should not be attributed to the media contact listed below. For interview requests or further comment, please coordinate with the CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat.

About the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF)
The Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) is a multilateral partnership of six countries—Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste—working together to protect the Coral Triangle, the global epicenter of marine biodiversity. Often called the “Amazon of the Seas,” the Coral Triangle is home to 76% of the world’s known coral species (over 600 species of reef-building corals) and 37% of the world’s reef fish species, supporting the livelihoods and food security of more than 130 million people.

Through its Regional Plan of Action (RPOA 2.0), CTI-CFF drives regional collaboration to conserve coral reefs, expand marine protected areas, ensure sustainable fisheries, and build resilience to climate change. The CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat, based in Manado, Indonesia, coordinates this collective effort—bringing together governments, partners, and communities to advance a healthy, resilient, and inclusive blue economy across the Coral Triangle.

About Rare
Rare is an international non-profit organization specializing in social change for people and the planet. For nearly 50 years, Rare has partnered with individuals, communities, and local leaders on the frontlines of conservation to promote the adoption of sustainable practices. With a behavior-based approach, Rare empowers individuals and communities to better manage and protect nature, on which all of us depend. Learn more at rare.org.

For more inquiries & information, contact:

Fritzgerald Wenur
Marketing & Information Officer, CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat
E: fritzgerald.wenur@cticff.org // www.coraltriangleinitiative.org

Kimberly Christine Chung
Communication & Information Manager, CTI-CFF Regional Secretariat
E: kimberly.chung@cticff.org // www.coraltriangleinitiative.org

Kristi Marciano
Communications Manager, Rare
E: kmarciano@rare.org // www.rare.org