Institutional Strengthening under the Oceanic Fisheries Management Project for Nauru

The intended outcome of Institutional Reform activities of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management Project is expected to help public sector fisheries administrations change through reformation, realignment and to become strengthened by enhancing the capacities of national non-governmental organisations to participate in oceanic fisheries management.

Project funds to date have been directed on the basis of identified in-country priorities, as per the original endorsed project document, updated in-country priorities identified after recent in-country visits by the Project Coordinator, integration with any activities identified by donor agencies (eg., AusAID, NZAID), and any other means by which the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) members identify such institutional reform priorities with the FFA.

The Government of Nauru requested an Institutional Strenthening Scoping Study as a matter as a matter of priority and this study was undertaken in 2007. In accordance with the request from Nauru the IS Scoping work covered the whole of the NFMRA

Nauru Fisheries and Marine Resources Authority (NFMRA) Institutional Strengthening Scoping Study Report

Mr. Robert Ferraris who has extensive experience in the area of institutional strengthening was the FFA project leader consultant led this exercise, with Darren Cameron (FFA Fisheries Management Adviser) who managed the work. An AusAID representative Mr. Gordon Anderson was an important IS scoping team member during the initial in-country visit to Nauru and with the preparation of draft scoping study document in cooperation with the NFMRA.

The Nauru Institutional Strengthening (IS) Scoping Study Draft Report comprising the draft Activity Feasibility Study and Design Document was presented to the Nauru Fisheries and Marine Resources Authority (NFMRA) in April 2007. At this time FFA consultant, Mr Garry Preston of Gillette, Preston and Associates visited NFMRA to conduct an on-ground assessment of the draft Activity Feasibility Study and Design Document.  On the request of the Nauru Fisheries Minister, Mr. Roland Kun, Garry presented the outline of the Activity Feasibility Study and Design Document to the President and Cabinet (comprising 5 Ministers). The proposal and its recommendations for institutional strengthening in Nauru was received in a positive light by the Nauruan government and Minister Kun advised FFA officers that he was keen to seek donor support for the implementation of the proposed project.

AusAID have now agreed to fund implementation of a large Institutional Strengthening Project on the basis of the OFM funded (IS) Scoping Study with the recruitment of a Fisheries Management Institutional Strengthening Specialist to be based in Nauru, being initiated in May 2008.

The Government of Kiribati in late 2007 requested an Institutional Strengthening Scoping Study for the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and Development.  In-country visits to conduct this work occurred in November 2007 and April 2008.  This work will be a topic in a future edition of this newsletter.

For further information please contact:
Darren Cameron
Fisheries Management Advisor/FFA/ phone: (677) 21124 
Email:  darren.cameron@ffa.int