24 Jun CTC Convenes Capacity Needs Assessment in West Kalimantan

The Coral Triangle Center (CTC) recently conducted a Capacity Needs Assessment in West Kalimantan province as one of the 13 target MPAs of the USAID Kolektif Project. Working closely with MPA stakeholders, the assessment identifies the current condition of personnel and institutional capacity of MPA management authorities, their capacity development needs, and immediate actions required to improve MPA management, functions, and benefits in the province. Collected data and information will inform the upcoming 5-year targeted, tailor-made training and capacity-building programs to strengthen human resources and institutional arrangements for MPA management in Indonesia.

From May 20-22, 2024, CTC, YKAN, and USAID Kolektif teams visited West Kalimantan to conduct a Capacity Needs Assessment (CNA) with the aim to identify the current condition of MPA personnel and their capacity development needs to effectively manage the existing MPAs in the province. This is the first of a series of assessments CTC is undertaking in support of the YKAN-KEHATI co-lead training and capacity-building activities as part of the USAID Kolektif project.

Thirty-four participants of the MPA Team of DKP from five districts/cities, universities, NGOs, fisheries extension officers (FEO), Balai Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Pesisir Dan Laut (BPSPL) Pontianak, and communities joined the assessment. West Kalimantan is one of the 13 selected MPAs and of the four sampling sites under the USAID-Kolektif Project and this is the first of a series of CNAs CTC will undertake in the project duration. Other sampling sites are Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung Islands, Kalimantan Barat, Papua Barat, and Papua Barat Daya province. 

The USAID-Kolektif Projects CTC targets adequate protection of marine biodiversity through improved management, functions, and benefits of existing conservation areas with 13 focus MPAs in fisheries management areas or WPP 711 and 715. The series of capacity needs assessments (CNAs) CTC is currently undertaking aim to inform the most suitable capacity-building topics and learning methods for these MPA managers and institutions as target groups the project will implement for the next five years. 

On the first day, preceded by an introduction to the CNA background and KOBO toolbox software, the participants completed the provided questionnaire to assess the training they have undertaken and training needs for the next five years. The latter suggested five training courses i.e. 1) surveillance and resource utilization monitoring; 2) management planning implementation level; 3) socio-economic monitoring; 4) human resource development; and 5) community awareness and communication.

The following day, the team continued with the FGD sessions where the participants identified threats to conservation, training and capacity building pivotal for sustainable livelihoods, and proposed roles or functions of an MPA manager. On the last day, the team conducted key informant interviews (KII) with high-level MPA management authorities suggesting the need for minimum staff required to manage MPAs in West Kalimantan; a national-level Executive Course that is a forum for all DKP Heads to meet up; and in-house training for MPA managers.

The 3-day assessment was successful, and the MPA team from the five districts expressed that they learned much new knowledge related to MPA management. 

Frans Zeno, the Head of DKP West Kalimantan shared “My hope is that people will have love for the sea and conservation areas. The sea is an extraordinary reserve (of marine resources) and holds significant potential for the country’s economy. Indonesia as a maritime country needs to develop economic potential in the maritime sector to improve the welfare of its people. Likewise, the potential of West Kalimantan marine (resources) is very large and needs to be developed and protected through conservation areas for sustainable use by the community.” 

As a follow-up to the assessment, the Head of the Fisheries Department of Ketapang District will identify and gather fisheries extension officers (FEOs) in Ketapang District to support MPA management in the province. Additionally, the DKP Kalbar MPA Management Unit (SUOP) has also successfully established two new partnerships with local universities.

While MPAs are among the most widely used and recognized marine conservation tools worldwide including in Indonesia, they are inadequate to address the environmental crisis and the 30×30 target due to ineffective management caused by, among others, unsustainable funding, management infrastructure, and limited human resources. Strengthening MPA personnel will help the Government of Indonesia achieve both its 30×30 global commitment and national target of establishing 30% of MPAs, which equals 97.5 million hectares by 2045. 

Writers: Olivia Sope, Kasman, Hesti Widodo
Photo: Nadia Qurotha/CTC, Kasman/CTC, USAID Kolektif/Akram

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