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About the COP network
The Communities of Practice (CoP) Network was founded in May 2024 during a series of workshops in Palawan, Philippines, and Kepulauan Riau Province, Indonesia. These were organised as part of the Maritime 2.0 project Enhancing the Role of Civil Society Organisations in Southeast Asia in Marine Resource Management, Maritime Security and Policy Implementation. The impetus for the CoP Network came from the local grass-roots Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) engaged in the project, and the workshops culminated in a voluntary commitment from the participants to form a CoPs at each of the four workshop locations.
Communities of Practice provide a shared knowledge platform and communication forum, where CSOs can explore mutual challenges, increase their skills and capacity, collaborate with external organisations, and act as a unified voice on their shared marine and maritime issues. The CoP Network has four CoP members of 82 grassroots marine-focused CSOs across Palawan, Philippines, and Kepulauan Riau Province, Indonesia.
Communities of Practice
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Budjongan Sa Ulugan community of practice was pledged on May 6th 2024 and named for the local conch seashell. It is open to members of marine-focused Civil Society Organisations which include fisherfolk, aquaculture producers, conservation groups, tourism, and loans groups.
Their vision for the network is “Unified efforts to protect marine resources towards a progressive future”. They will be supported in their mission to “Preserve the productive state of Ulugan Bay through united community-based collaborative effort” by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development and Palawan State University.
Members
Charity Women’s Foundation
Buenavista Loba Association
Buenavista Seaweed Planters Association
Magayen It Buenavista Multi-purpose Cooperative
Eco Tour
Macarascas PPC Fisherfolks Association Inc.
Nasudan Fisherfolk’s Association
Mangrove Tour
Sabang Sea Ferry Multi-purpose Cooperative
Baruang Magic Island Tourism Association
Payamaluguwan Sabang Waterfalls
Samahan ng Mangingisda Bahile Lambatan
Samahan ng Mangingisda Marufinas
Hook and Line Association
Buenavista Community Savings Association
Pag-asa Youth of the Philippines
Baklad Owners Association
Fish Culture Association
Macarascas Sustainable Livelihood Program Balatan Association
Community Park Warden Association - Jungle Trail
Sabang Fisherfolk’s Association
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El Nido Community Association was created on May 10th 2024, with the vision of prosperous and stable communities that protect natural resources and provide livelihoods to the people. It is open to all members of the participating Civil Society Organisations, which include fisherfolk, farmer, conservation, tourism, and community advocacy groups.
Their first year goal is to create their core steering group, with representatives from each cluster and region, and to plan future joint activities. They will be supported in their goals by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development staff and Western Philippines University.
Members
Barotuan Dorongan Fisherfolk Association
Sitio Calitang Fishermen Cooperative
Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Manlag
New Ibajay Fisherfolks Association
TMMDA-Tarabiangan y ang Marentek na Manegpangisda sa Dipnay Association
Sibaltan Fishfolk People's Organization
BFARMC - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council
SANMKAP-Samahan ng Magsasaka, Mangingisda at Kababaihan Tungo Sa Maunlad na Pamayana
Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Teneguiban
Corong Corong Fisher Folks’ Association
Kiminawit Fisherfolk Association
Buena Suerte Fisherfolks Association
PPKP- Pagkakaisa Pagtutulungan Kalikasan ay Pakaingatan
Dewil Eco Mangrove Association
Lamoro Pasadenia People's Organization
Sibaltan Farmers Association
KAMIYAN-Kalikasan Alagaan Mahalin Ingatan Yaman Mapapakina Bangan
SAMAKA-Samahan ng mga Mangingisda, Kababaihan na nagmamalasakitsa kalikasan ng sitio diapila
Samahang Magsasaka Ng Taga Teneguiban
Corong Corong Farmers’ and Fisher Folks’ Association
Photo: Edi Heriyanto, 2024
Peduli Maritim Natuna (Maritime Care Natuna) was founded on May 16th 2024 by the 33 attendees of the Workshop on Organisational Development for Grassroots Civil Society Organisations in Natuna.
They have a strong vision for their community and the care of their natural maritime and marine resources, which will be strengthened by their CoP network. Their core team will include one representative from each of the 18 CSOs, and they are intending to expand their network in the future to include more organisations in their community. They will be supported in this by the team from Raja Ali Haji Maritime University (UMRAH).
For more information about the members, check the website and links below!
Members
Kelompok Nelayan Sukadamai
Kelompok Nelayan Seri Maritim
Pokdarwis Aurora Sedanau
Pokmaswan Desa Kelanga
PKBM Bumi Bertuah Natuna
Natuna Kreatif
Kelompok Nelayan Merah Putih
Kelompok Nelayan Mutiara Pantai
Kelompok Nelayan Putra Pesisir
Kelompok Nelayan Tuna Selatan
Perbanusa Natun
Kehati dan Lingkungan
Pesona Sedanau Natuna
Pokdarwis Teluk Selahang
Plan B
Pokdarwis Desa Tanjung Kumbik
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Jaringan peduli laut Bintan (Bintan Marine Care Network), or Jala Bintan for short, was founded on May 20th 2024 with 23 initial CSO members and the commitment “We civil society organizations present here agree to build a Sustainable Maritime Community”. Five initial core activists were selected from the CSOs - Lamun Warrior, Bintan Black Coral, Pokdarwis Pengudang, Mega Bahari, and Kelompok Nelayan Temenggung - representing the different sectors of the member organisations.
Jala Bintan membership will be open to both grassroots organisations and to individuals in the maritime sphere. Raja Ali Haji Maritime University team will provide support and mentorship to the network to help them achieve their goals.
For more information about the members, check the website and links below!
Members
Kelompok Nelayan Laut Biru
Pokdarwis Mapur
Kelompok Nelayan Mapur
Pinisi
Pokdarwis Pengudang
Pokdarwis Bintan Eco
Kelompok Nelayan Kerapu Mentigi
Kelompok Nelayan Bawal Putih
Mega Bahari
Kelompok Nelayan Kerapu Kertang
Mangrove Bintan Lestari Conservation
Pokmaswas Mapur
Pusat Kajian Energi dan Lingkungan Hidup
Kelompok Nelayan Temenggung
Kelompok Nelayan Tenggiri
Kelompok Nelayan Dusimas
Pokdarwis Kampung Baru
Workshops
Indonesia
Thirty three participants from 18 CSOs attended the three day workshop in Natuna from 14-16th of May, 2024 and 45 participants from 23 CSOs attended in Bintan Island including tourism, fisher, livelihoods, and conservation focused groups. Identification of the workshop invitees and training needs were based on the needs assessment and included committee and non-committee members. The workshops were co-developed and delivered with great success by members of Circle Indonesia with UMRAH and JCU team supporting and delivering training sessions. The workshops will support increased capacity, stability, and longevity of CSOs in the region. Through the continued work of their CoP networks, Peduli Maritim Natuna and Jala Bintan, the CSOs will be able to support each other in their interaction and collaboration with other actors, particularly government, grow their technical skills and engage in policy and marine spatial planning activities for the benefit of their community’s maritime livelihoods.
Workshops in Natuna and Bintan, Indonesia. Photos: Andrie Ilham, UMRAH
Philippines
Two workshops for grassroots marine and maritime CSOs were held in Palawan, Philippines - Ulugan Bay, Puerto Princesa City on May 4-6, 2024 and in El Nido, on May 8-10, 2024 - funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and implemented by the project partners. Forty-six participants from 22 CSOs attended the three day workshop in Ulugan Bay and 39 participants from 21 CSOs attended in El Nido. Identification of the workshop invitees and training needs were based on the needs assessment, and the workshops were delivered in collaboration with the Palawan State University Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PSU CMPC). The workshops aimed to increase the capacity, stability, and longevity of grassroots CSOs and support their engagement with other actors, particularly government, for the benefit of maritime livelihoods, policies, frameworks, and capabilities in consonance with international law.
Through updating skills in organisational and financial management; association vision, mission and leadership; communication and networking; and the establishment of their CoP networks, Budjongan Sa Ulugan and El Nido Community Association, these CSOs can enhance their capacity to collaborate with government and other stakeholders for improved livelihoods and marine resource management.
Workshops in Ulugan Bay and El Nido, Palawan, Philipines. Photos: Lyca, PSU CMPC, Katie, JCU.
Workshop Partners:
