About MFF

Known as MFF, Mangroves for the Future launched by Bill Clinton in Phuket in December 2006, is a unique partnership-led initiative to promote investment in coastal ecosystems. The initiative is founded on a vision for a more healthy, prosperous and secure future for all Indian Ocean coastal communities, where all ecosystems are protected and managed sustainably.  It has has two main objectives: to strengthen the environmental sustainability of coastal development; and to promote the investment of funds and efforts in coastal ecosystem management.

MFF builds on coastal management interventions before and after the 2004 tsunami, especially the call to continue the momentum and partnerships generated by the immediate post-tsunami response. MFF focuses on countries worst-affected by the tsunami; India, Indonesia, Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, as well as other dialogue countries in the Indian Ocean to promote an integrated ocean wide approach to coastal zone management.

MFF undertakes actions and interventions required to manage coastal ecosystems sustainably, equitably and effectively, as well as to strengthen frameworks that influence peoples investments and actions. Together, these objectives tackle both the direct and the underlying causes of ecosystem degradation, unsustainable livelihoods and persistent vulnerability in coastal areas of Indian Ocean countries.

MFF offers a new approach by recognising coastal ecosystems as rich assets vital for human society that must be restored, protected and invested in. MFF re-orients the current focus of coastal investment by moving from a reactive response to disasters, to progressive activities that address long-term sustainable management needs.  These include building awareness and capacity for improved food and livelihood security, disaster preparedness, and climate change adaptation.

From Strategy to Action

Implementation
At the level of implementation, 15 Programmesof Work (PoWs) have been designed to tackle key aspects of long termsustainable coastal management. The programmes are implemented through/or in partnership with national governments, UN agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), community organizations, relief and development organizations, as well as the private sector. Implementation is overseen by a Regional Steering Committee(RSC) and National Coordinating Bodies (NCBs) in each country. These structures ensure accountability, transparency and good governance, and offers learning opportunities among diverse, countries, sectors, and agencies.

Regional
At a regional level, implementation of the PoWs is monitored by the MFF RSC co-chaired by IUCN and UNDP, with nationalgovernment representatives and institutional partners as its members. RSC meetings are held bi-annually. The MFF Secretariat is working closely with the NCB's, and IUCN and UNDP country offices to ensure smooth running of the initiative and its activities.

National
At the national level, the mandate fordirecting, regulating, and coordinating development and project activities is steered through NCBs in coordination with existing mechanisms for coastal management. The NCB in each country selects and recommends appropriate projects and programmes eligible for grants. These are submitted as project proposals to an independent Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) for appraisals, thus ensuring transparency in the selection of projects for funding.


Implementation Framework
To achieve its goal and objectives, MFF undertakes actions that address four key areas of influence; regional cooperation, national government support, private sector engagement, and community action. Specific actions are identified under 15 PoWs. These are grouped under three cross-cutting themes: building knowledge, strengthening empowerment, and enhancing governance. PoWs will be implemented through a series of projects that are spread geographically across the region based on national and regional priorities.