Indonesian National Working Competency Standards (SKKNI) for marine protected areas (MPAs) are needed to standardize the competency of MPA staff. Currently there are three SKKNI available for managing MPAs: Marine Tourism Management in MPAs,  Outreach in MPAs, and Monitoring and Evaluation of Coastal Resources. However, by the end of 2019 these SKKNIs were lacking the tools needed for any competency assessments.

Therefore, as an official center for competency assessment (Tempat Uji Kompetensi – TUK), the Coral Triangle Center and affiliates from the Marine Professional Certification Institute (Lembaga Sertifikasi Kelautan – LSPK) conducted a workshop from 7-10 January at BPPP Tegal, central Java, to develop certification schemes and assessment materials (Materi Uji Kompetensi – MUK). This workshop was supported by the USAID Sustainable Ecosystem Advanced Project and Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies.

Participants and assessors joined the workshop from CTC, Yayasan Terumbu Karang Indonesia/TERANGI, and Papua University. The workshop was opened by Dr. Fedi A. Sondita, the director of LSPK, and participants were welcomed by the heads of BPPP Tegal, who explained the process for prioritizing certification schemes, as well as the MUK. By the end of the workshop, eleven prioritize certification schemes for SKKNI marine tourism, outreach and monitoring had been finalized, including plans for junior dive guides, outreach officers and senior data collectors for the monitoring and evaluation of coral and coral reef fish.

LSPK will submit these documents to the National Bureau for Professional Standardization, who are expected to legalize the documents by the end of February 2020, with the plan of initial competency assessments conducted by LSPK and TUK in March.