About MFF

Known as MFF, Mangroves for the Future is a partnership-based initiative promoting investment in coastal ecosystems for sustainable development. MFF provides a collaborative platform to help countries, sectors and agencies in the MFF region tackle the growing challenges to coastal sustainability.

MFF has adopted mangroves as its flagship ecosystem in recognition of the important role that mangrove forests played in reducing the impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and the severe effect on coastal livelihoods caused by the loss and degradation of mangroves. However MFF embraces all coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs, estuaries, lagoons, wetlands, beaches and seagrass beds.

This inclusive approach reflects the ecosystem-based, or “reef to ridge”, management approach that MFF brings to the rehabilitation and stewardship of coastal resources. Coastal ecosystems, and the well-being of their inhabitants, are influenced not only by activities carried out in the coastal zone, but also by those happening further inland.

Using the reef to ridge approach, MFF helps coastal managers and communities to adopt and benefit from more integrated management of coastal resources and the ecosystem processes that support them.
Now in its second phase (2010-13), MFF continues to work towards achieving the vision of a healthier, more prosperous and secure future for all coastal communities.

The mission of MFF is to promote healthy coastal ecosystems through a partnership-based, people-focused, policy-relevant and investment-orientated approach, which builds and applies knowledge, empowers communities and other stakeholders, enhances governance, secures livelihoods, and increases resilience to natural hazards and climate change.

From Strategy to Action

Regional governance
The implementation of MFF’s action plan and overall progress towards its goal are monitored by the Regional Steering Committee (RSC). This multi-stakeholder body is co-chaired by IUCN and UNDP, with representatives from MFF’s member country governments: India, Indonesia, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam; and MFF’s institutional partners: CARE International, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and Wetlands International. The RSC meets once a year.

Secretariat
The MFF Secretariat, based in Bangkok, Thailand, works closely with the RSC, the National Coordinating Body (NCB) in each country, and the country offices of IUCN and UNDP to ensure the smooth running of the initiative. The main functions of the Secretariat include providing administrative and orientedmanagerial support and technical backstopping to the NCBs and projects. In addition, the Secretariat is facilitating a knowledge platform for generating, managing and sharing information where learning, best practices and innovations are documented and disseminated effectively.

National governance
The mandate for coordinating and overseeing MFF’s national activities lies with the NCB in each member country, which acts in coordination with existing national mechanisms for managing coastal areas. Goal and objectives To achieve its goal of conservation, restoration and sustainable management of coastal ecosystems as key natural infrastructure which support human well-being and security, MFF implements actions guided by three main objectives:
1. Improve, share and apply knowledge to support the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of coastal ecosystems.
2. Strengthen Integrated Coastal Management institutions and empower civil society (including local communities) to engage in decision-making and management that conserves, restores and sustainably uses coastal ecosystems.
3. Enhance coastal governance at all levels (regional, national, provincial, district and community) to encourage integrated management programmes and investments that are ecologically and socio-economically sound, and promote human well-being and security.
These objectives are designed to strengthen sustainable use of coastal resources and to build resilience to the growing threats from climate change and natural disasters.


Implementation Framework
MFF's objectives are supported by 15 Programmes of Work (PoWs), grouped under the three “pillars” of Apply knowledge, Empower civil society and Enhance governance. By making more knowledge available, and by empowering people and institutions to use that knowledge, MFF enables coastal stakeholders to play a more effective role in governance of coastal areas.

Capacity building, climate change, gender equality, knowledge management and communications, and private sector partnerships are crosscutting themes integrated throughout this framework to help achieve positive results for each PoW.

Each NCB has developed a National Strategy and Action Plan (NSAP) for MFF implementation that reflects national priorities for sustainable coastal development, based on identification of the most relevant PoWs for that country. This has facilitated country ownership of the PoWs, and has helped to generate collaboration and learning among the NCB members and other national stakeholders.

The PoWs are implemented through, or in partnership with, the governments of member countries, institutional partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations and the private sector. The RSC oversees this work to ensure accountability and transparency to MFF’s donors and other contributors.