On September 9-10, 2024, the Coral Triangle Center (CTC) had the opportunity to participate in the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Regional Exchange (REX) held in Bangkok, Thailand. The event was organized by the USAID Sustainable Fish Asia Technical Support (SuFiA TS) Project, which aims to improve the management of marine biodiversity and fisheries resources in the Indo-Pacific region. SuFiA TS focuses on reducing unsustainable, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, while also integrating GESI approaches in all its activities. The project addresses the challenges faced by women, migrants, youth, and other marginalized groups who often experience systemic discrimination in the fisheries sector, limiting their participation in decision-making processes and their access to resources.

CTC joined the workshop in its capacity as the co-chair of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (CTI-CFF) Women Leaders Forum (WLF). The workshop gathered representatives from the six Coral Triangle countries—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste—along with ASEAN member countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. The objectives of the meeting were to discuss the establishment of a regional Gender Equality Hub, provide capacity-building training on grant proposal writing and GESI-sensitive communications, and develop knowledge products that document the successes and challenges of GESI integration in sustainable fisheries management.

Key outputs from the event include a draft work plan for the Gender Equality Hub, training session designs, and communication products highlighting the current status of GESI in fisheries management. The impact of this regional exchange will strengthen GESI integration in fisheries work across the region, equipping practitioners and policymakers with the tools they need to advance gender equality and empower marginalized groups. CTC will continue its role in supporting these initiatives, especially as the CTI-CFF prepares for the upcoming Senior Officials’ Meeting in November 2024.