The visit to northern Australia are participated by five community representatives from Rote Island in eastern Indonesia and five community representatives from Dili, Com and Batugade districts of Timor-Leste.

The visit is hosted by Charles Darwin University (CDU), the North Australia Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance (NAILSMA). During this exchange programme, the participants visit various locations around Darwin and eastern Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.

Topics covered during the tour include:

• I-Tracker: using simple technology to record land and sea data to assist with planning and management of natural resources.
• Aquaculture (sea ranching) including trepang, clams and other products
• Approaches for establishing Community-based management of marine and coastal resources

During this visit, participants are expected to share ideas and information with other participants. They are expected to participate in group discussions regarding their expectation of the visit, what they have learnt and how it might be relevant or useful to them and their communities. The participants are encouraged to ask questions both of the session facilitators as well as Aboriginal host organisations.

ATSEA - SAP document has been approved by the Project Board, on 21 February 2013, during the 3rd Project Board Meeting in Bali, Indonesia. To ensure its implementations, the endorsement from the goverment of members countries is now still in progress.

ATSEA SAP contains five Environmental Quality Objectives and two Governance Objectives.

Environmental Quality Objectives:

Dr. Tonny Wagey, ATSEA Project Manager led the mission to Rote Ndao in East Nusa Tenggara Province on March 2013. ATSEA team were received by Bupati of Kabupaten Rote Ndao (Drs. Leonard Haning, MM), together with his deputies including the Head of Marine and Fisheries office in Rote Ndao, Mr. Jacob Doe. Dr. Wagey had the opportunity to met and interview the candidates for exchange program. Five person were finally selected. The next day, ATSEA team were visiting the proposed site for the implementation of regional demo project.

The meeting was officially opened by Dr. Budi Sulistyo, from MoMAF Indonesia. On the first occassion, resource persons presented their experiences on working with indigenous people and implementing a pilot project. After that, representatives of the local government (Rote District of Indonesia and MAF Timor-Leste) presented their proposed site. The Rote District government proposed 2 sites (Papela and Peus), while MAF Timor-Leste proposed 3 sites: Com, Atauro and Batugade. Further, the meeting then discussed and agreed on detailed design and activities for the regional project (Objectives, topics, target beneficiaries, timeline), demo project modality and roadmap for its implementation.

The MTE is intended to identify weaknesses and strengths of the project design, and to develop recommendations for any necessary changes in the overall design and orientation of the project by evaluating the adequacy, efficiency and effectiveness of its implementation, as well as assessing Project outputs and outcomes to date. Consequently, the MTE mission is also expected to make detailed recommendations on the work plan for the remaining project period.  It also provide an opportunity to assess early signs of project success or failure and prompt necessary adjustments.
The evaluation is follow approaches adopted by GEF for the assessment of IW projects and UNDP M&E guidelines. The MTE mission also identify lessons learnt and best practices from the Project that could be applied to future and on-going projects.

Previous discussion on MTE recommendations was conducted  at the end of October. From this meeting, the Management Response was drafted. And this workshop is needed to finalised the Management Response to MTE Recommendation.

Mr. Iwan then presented the three-days meeting agenda. On the first day, the meeting was scheduled to discuss the Q3 report. On the second day (morning), all participants will attend National Seminar on Capture Fisheries in Sam Ratulangi University, Manado. In the afternoon, participants will back to discuss the Q3 report again and conduct initial discussion on Annual Work Plan for the year 2013. On the third day PMO and UNDP will review the Q3 report and discuss the indicators and target deliveries of each outcome for the year 2013.

After presenting the meeting agenda, Mr. Iwan then overview the recommendation resulted from Mid Term Evaluation. There are 17 recommendations to project team, 5 recommendations to UNDP and 1 to GEF. PMO must response for each of these recommendations, and draft each response in a table prepared by UNDP. The meeting then discussed these recommendations.

On the first day, participants agreed to draft management response to MTE recommendation using the template prepared by UNDP.

In the next morning, participants attend the National Seminar on Capture Fisheries organized by Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. North Sulawesi was selected as a host because this region is one of important capture fisheries region in eastern Indonesia.  This seminar was attended by approximately 300 participants from scientist, local government staffs, NGOs, private sector, lecturer from Sam Ratulangi University, including ATSEA.  The objectives of this seminar are (1) to strengthen the network of Fish Resources management to support the ongoing science-based fisheries industry; (2) to formulate a concept to strengthen the fish resources management, particularly in the corridor MP3EI Sulawesi.

In the evening session, the participants were back to discuss the project budget for the year 2013. In the discussion, Ms Kwanruen informed all participants that project would end in mid-2014. She also commented that the project should focus on SAP/NAPs completion and demo project implementation for the next two years. The PMO agreed to refine the AWP and will be sent to UNDP-APRC by December 15 towards the KK-ed process.

Areas of expertise to be presented in parallel sessions are: Hydro-Oceanography, Aquaculture and Fisheries, Coral Reefs and Marine Resource Management, Marine Resource Mapping, Policy, Disaster Mitigation, Tourism and Marine Biotechnology, Acoustic Instrumentation, Robotics and Biotechnology Marine, Marine Geology and Marine Engineering Mineral and Mining, Management of Coastal and Small Islands, Climate Change and Carbon Blue, Marine Remote Sensing, Marine Pollution and Ecotoxicology. ATSEA participated in the parallel session entitled “Ecosystems of the Arafura Sea and the Timor Sea”. In this session, there are 12 researchers from different scientific backgrounds who conduct research in the Arafura Sea and the Timor Sea.

Outside the meeting, ATSEA also participate in booth exhibition by displaying posters and publications of research activities conducted in Arafura and the Timor Seas region.

As Regional ATSEA Demonstration Project is still “unclear” in term of scope of activities and its implementation, more deep discussion and project proposal development will also conducted back to back with ATS-SAP development write shop.

Dr. Anna Tengberg and Professor Martin Tsamenyi provided an update of the status of SAP development, including progress made since the Bali meeting. Discussion among participants on the nature and scope of the SAP ensued, with key points of discussion including:

• The inclusion of PNG. The Project Manager explained that PNG is currently only an observer to SAP development, as their participation in the ATSEA project is contingent on GEF funding. Participants agreed that PNG should be consulted on the draft SAP.
• The inclusion of targets and indicators. Dr Tergberg emphasised that the inclusion of quantifiable targets and indicators may be important for future GEF funding. Mr Bover emphasised the importance of any targets and indicators being meaningful, and that a SMART approach should be taken.
• The way the Sap addresses regional and national level actions. It was agreed that the SAP should identify key national activities to achieve shared regional objectives (based on NAPs), but focus on key regional activities that the countries can do collectively to support national efforts.

Participants discussed the principles in the draft SAP. It was agreed that the principles should be redrafted to address similar points to the CTI Regional Plan of Action, in particular to emphasise that efforts under ATSEA will:

• take a “people centred approach” addressing both biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction
• make use of existing forums and initiatives where relevant, and not duplicate efforts being done elsewhere
• be based on solid science, but also adopt a precautionary approach in the absence of scientific information.

Participants discussed the objectives in the draft SAP. It was agreed that:

• The order of the ecosystem quality objectives does not reflect their priority (e.g. fisheries is not necessarily the highest priority objective). Text will be included in the SAP to clarify this issue.
• The objective on biodiversity conservation should be renamed and focused on marine species, to make clear the distinction between it and the objective on habitat.
• The two operational objectives on climate change adaptation will be combined onto a single objective addressing both community and ecosystem adaptation, recognising that the two are inseparably interlinked.

Participants discussed targets and actions under each of SAP component. All agreed inputs will be elaborate in the draft SAP.

Participants also discussed the issue of whether to include costings of actions in the SAP. Participants agreed that costings would be included in NAPs, but not in the SAP.

Participants agreed that future institutional arrangements should involve:

• A Coordination Committee comprising government officials from participating countries, which will be the primary decision-making body and be responsible for guiding and overseeing implementation of the SAP.
• A Stakeholder Partnership Forum comprising experts and practitioners involved in research and capacity development activities relevant to the SAP and NAPs. The Forum would serve as a means of fostering partnerships among relevant experts and organisations with a view to mobilisation and coordination of activities to implement the SAP and NAPs
• A coordinator or small secretariat, which will serve as the regional point of contact for SAP issues, will facilitate the operations of the above to bodies, and work to mobilise and coordinate activities to implement the SAP and NAPs.

Participants discussed the issue of how the commitments of the three countries to the SAP and new institutional arrangements should be formalised. Professor Tsamenyi outlined three options – a Ministerial declaration, a document describing the new institutional arrangements, or both. Participants agreed to the following approach:

• The proposed new arrangements should be described in general terms in the SAP
• Following endorsement of the SAP by the Project Board, further work will be done to develop the new institutional arrangements
• A Ministerial statement will be developed to express the high level commitment of the three countries to the SAP and the new institutional arrangements. This statement may need to be signed by senior officials if it is not possible to get Ministers together to sign the document.

Participants discussed the forward process for finalisation and endorsement of the SAP. It was agreed that:

• Any further written comments from the countries would be provided within one week of the workshop
• The Project Manager will share the draft SAP with PNG, and seek their feedback
• The Project Manager will talk to UNDP and GEF to get guidance on the desirable nature of targets and indicators in the SAP
• The Project Manager will work with Dr Tengberg and Professor Tsamenyi to develop a revised SAP
• Any unresolved issues with the SAP will be discussed informally by the countries and Project Manager either bilaterally, or at an upcoming inception meeting on the regional demonstration project.
• The final SAP will be presented to the Project Board for endorsement when it meets in February 2013. PNG will be invited to participate in this meeting as an observer.
• The Project Board should do this as one of its first points of business, so that time can then be spent on initiating next steps, including the development of the:
• first SAP implementation plan
• new institutional arrangements
• Ministerial declaration
• The countries would endeavour to arrange a meeting of their Ministers on the margins of the 2013 APEC Leaders Summit or another suitable opportunity, to secure Ministerial endorsement of the SAP, institutional arrangements and implementation plan, and to showcase these things to potential donors and partners.

Participants discussed the regional demonstration project, and the following points were made:

• A key purpose of the regional demonstration project should be to demonstrate the value of the three countries working together, and models for doing so.
• In that context, participants discussed a general model for the project involving exchanges between communities in the three countries, complemented by capacity building and technical support. All agreed that this seemed a sound model for the demonstration project, but that it would be useful to investigate other examples where such an approach has been applied.
• It was agreed that the project should focus on the islands of Timor and Rote, and involve Indigenous Australian communities in Northern Australia. There should be three way exchanges between communities in the three countries.
• Participants agreed that it will be important for monitoring and evaluation to be an integral part of the project, so that its effectiveness as a model for learning and change can be properly assessed.

• Participants discussed potential topics for the project to address. A shortlist was developed – community based aquaculture, locally managed marine areas/Indigenous Protected Areas, threatened species conservation, and mangrove management and restoration.
• It was agreed that it will be important for the project to link with, and build on, existing efforts and interests. It was agreed that there should be further work done to identify such efforts and interest in the shortlisted areas.

Participants agreed that the next step in taking forward the demonstration project should be to hold an inception workshop to develop a work plan and initiate work. In preparation for that workshop, it was agreed that:

• The Project Manager (with assistance from others) will identify existing activities in Timor and Rote under the shortlisted themes for the project.
• Participants will share and assess examples where such an approach to learning and change has been applied.
• Consideration on monitoring and evaluation aspects of the project.
• The Project Manager will develop and circulate an agenda for the inception workshop.

The conference program was integrative in nature, linking different scientific disciplines with different levels of decision making and thereby improving the science to policy interface. This offered the opportunity to look at different water body types (aquifers, large marine ecosystems including coastal zones and the open oceans, rivers and lakes) as well as science to policy themes (the role of IW science in support of regional cooperation, analysis, progress monitoring and indicator development, effective knowledge mobilization and the science policy interface in general).

The GEF TDA/SAP process was identified to be an appropriate tool for enabling informed science-based transboundary water body management and linking science to policy. The GEF IW focal area is currently shaping in the way to provide projects with more scientific guidance and advice on emerging issues. Within the discussion the Scientific Evidence Panels (including cooperation with the wider scientific community) were often recommended to be considered where beneficial to the implementation of project interventions.

The full IW project cycle was recommended to be based on sound scientific evidence and use of state of the art knowledge products and ensure that documentation (including data), access, dissemination and archiving of scientific results facilitate future ex-ante impact monitoring and assessment. This will assist reporting to the GEF Council and other GEF stakeholders on environmental and governance/management transformations achieved through the GEF interventions. The GEF IW:LEARN is the platform to capture and process such information.

The recommendations from IWSC 2012 will strengthen the development and implementation of the GEF-6 IW Strategy. GEF agencies should act on Conference recommendations and continue strengthening interaction between GEF IW projects and the scientific community.

The dialogue between scientists, policy makers and project managers initiated in the GEF IWSC 2012 will continue through the GEF IW Conferences as the main fora for GEF IW project stakeholders.

The participants concluded:

1. That the GEF Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA)/Strategic Action Programme (SAP) process is an appropriate tool for ensuring robust science-based transboundary water body assessment and management, offering a sound methodology for linking science to policy. The GEF IW focal area is currently updating the TDA/SAP methodology in order to provide projects with more scientific guidance and advice on emerging issues, socioeconomic issues and horizon scanning, outcomes of this conference will greatly contribute to this process.
2. That the establishment of project Scientific Evidence Panels (including cooperation and communication with the wider scientific community) and project Science Policy Fora should be considered where beneficial to the implementation of project interventions. IW:LEARN should study best practices on the establishment of such panels.
3. That the full IW project cycle should be based on sound scientific evidence (beginning with the best available baseline) and ensure that documentation (including data), access, dissemination and archiving of scientific results facilitate future ex-ante impact monitoring and assessment.  - That this will assist reporting to the GEF Council and other GEF stakeholders on transformations achieved through the GEF interventions. - That the GEF IW:LEARN is the platform to capture and process such information.
4. That GEF agencies, within their comparative advantage, should act on Conference recommendations and continue strengthening interaction between GEF IW projects and the scientific community.
5. That GEF IW projects should use the best available scientific information to develop a set of indicators (including processes, stressors and environmental and socio-economic status) and im
6. That the recommendations from this conference will strengthen the development and implementation of the GEF-6 IW Strategy.
7. That the dialogue between scientists, policy makers and project managers will continue through the GEF IW Conferences as the main fora for GEF IW project stakeholders.

Initial draft of SAP was completed in early May 2012, and was discussed in some coordination meeting as follows:

• On May 23-24, 2012, the draft SAP was discussed by National Inter Ministerial Committee (NIMC) Indonesia in Jakarta ;
• On June 5-6, 2012 the draft then discussed by NIMC Timor-Leste in Dili;
• The Government of Australia sent their inputs and comments at the end of June 2012.

These inputs from Government Focal Points (Australia, Timor-Leste, and Indonesia) and from the Stakeholder Engagement Group (SEG) then compiled as the First Draft of SAP.

The first draft of SAP was presented and discussed in the ”ATSEA Regional Consultation Meeting for SAP Development”, which was attended by  representatives of the Government of Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Australia, Stakeholder Engagement Group (SEG), UNDP Indonesia, and Project Management Office (PMO).

The decisions resulted from this meeting i.e:

1. The meeting participants agreed to make some substantial and editorial revision in the draft SAP;
2. The meeting participants agreed to separate the action plans for national and regional action plans.
3. From 5 options of “Institutional and legal option for a regional governance mechanism”, each of ATSEA government representatives tend to choose option 1 (maintaining the status quo ATSEA and introduces a number of possible arrangements to improve coordination mechanisms) or option 2 (adopt a non-binding instrument/ non-binding – MOU to implement ATSEA program).
4. The meeting participants agreed to revise the roadmap preparation of SAP.
5. The meeting participants suggested the need to organize a Technical Workshop, which will be held in Wollongong, Australia on October 15-17, 2012.
6. The meeting participants agreed that the draft SAP need to be approved by the Project Board Committee before being signed at the ministerial level
7. The meeting participants agreed that the signing of the SAP at the ministerial level will be delayed until February 2013.

Follow-up Plan:

1. International Consultant supported by from ATSEA PMO-1 SAP will refine SAP draft based on input / comments from this meeting.
2. The meeting participants agreed to held a Technical Workshop which is scheduled on October 15, 2012 in Wollongong, Australia. The document for the meeting will be circulated on 21 September 2012.
3. The PMO will allocate a session on Project Board meeting (in February 2013) to discuss the final draft of
4. Ministerial meeting to approve the draft SAP will be held in February 2013 after the Project Board Meeting.

The second meeting was held on September 19, and attended by 5 working groups identified before. Each of 5 working groups consists of Government representatives and NGOs.

Result of this meeting:

1. Participants from working group Fisheries, Biodiversity, Pollution, and Climate Change recommend to refine the goal, operational objectives, targets and priority actions under each NAP component. The suggestions will be elaborated in the revised draft NAP.
2. The government representatives were also share their existing program that can be linked and support the priority actions that identified in NAP .
3. The participants of Governance Working Group have agreed:

• To develop the regulation as the legal basis to execute the proposed actions identified in NAP (or SAP). In the national level, can be achieved through ministerial decree, or at least its senior officer.
• To arrange the institutions in the national and district level.
• The principles of the Governance of NAP
• To increase stakeholders’ involvement
• To seek and manage the fund
• To monitor and evaluate the progress of NAP

The Arafura and Timor Seas are parts or the Coral Triangle region that has the highest marine biodiversity in the world.  It is our obligation to safeguard the environment including its marine biota such as marine mammals, turtles, coral reefs and other endemic species that are unique to this area. Through this ATSEA program, all stakeholders can provide their best knowledge possible to protect our precious marine and fisheries resources by working together as neighbours.
Project management deeply appreciate all participants’ attention to the importance of this meeting. Any idea and concept presented in this meeting will be valuable for the success of achieving sustainable development in Arafura and Timor Seas.

The meeting result some suggestions for priority actions:

• IUU fishing (tap into the Regional Plan of Action (RPOA))
• Red snapper studies
• Policy gap analysis on pollution (notably oil and gas industry)
• Mangrove forest studies (link between two National Demo Projects)
• Arafura and Timor-Seas (ATS) beach clean-up day

In addition, concerning Regional Demo Project site selection, depending on the nature of the idea proposed, the project may be done through studies, by data review of other studies, or by implementation of actions on the ground. Project location will therefore depend on the action selected. Regional Demo Project modality will be decided pending a final decision on the nature of the project.

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On the first occasion, Sitakena present their full proposal to the Selection Committee. The Demo Project proposed by Yayasan Sitakena addresses the problem of loss of mangrove forests due to logging, and concomitant loss of local fish biodiversity, together with an increase in the likelihood of threats to coastal communities due to reduction in the mangrove forest buffer zone. The Demo Project aims to benefit the local community economically by enhancing seaweed farming in the selected area (Aru island, Maluku), and to encourage conservation of mangroves.

Next, Baileo is choosing Bomaki village in Tanimbar island, Maluku as their project site, aims to empower fishermen and small scale fisheries development in Tanimbar by develop awareness of the importance of coastal ecosystem, improving the economic status of coastal communities and enabling adaptation of coastal communities to the effects of climate change.