MFF is a unique partner-led initiative to promote investment in coastal ecosystem conservation for sustainable development. MFF recognises coastal ecosystems as rich assets vital for human society that must be restored, protected and invested in. The programme adopts a new approach that re-orients the current focus of coastal investment.

This means 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. MFF seeks to support economic development by bringing practical conservation actions more effectively into the development planning process, ensuring that coastal ecosystem goods and services are fully valued and protected as an integral part of the coastal development infrastructure. MFF addresses this need by promoting regional collaboration and joint action that will fill the gaps in capacity, knowledge and empowerment among coastal managers to maximize positive socioeconomic and ecological impacts.

Objectives
The initiative has two objectives: to strengthen the environmental sustainability of coastal development; and to promote the investment in coastal ecosystem management. To achieve these objectives MFF, undertakes actions under three cross-cutting themes: knowledge, empowerment, and governance. The actions also address four key areas; regional cooperation, national government support, private sector engagement, and community action.

Actions
A broad range of activities are required to support these two objectives. Many of these build on already initiated activities. There are 15 programmes of work which delineate the key aspects of coastal management which will build knowledge, strengthen empowerment and enhance governance. These will be implemented through a series of individual linked projects that are spread geographically across the region.

The partnership
MFF was initiated by IUCN and UNDP but has grown to include other UN agencies such as FAO and UNEP, as well as international development organizations such as CARE and Wetlands International. The partnership joins efforts to not only conserve and restore ecosystems but to sustain human livelihoods and reduce vulnerability in coastal communities.

Implementation
The programmes are implemented through/or in partnership with national governments, UN agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), community organisations, relief and development organizations, as well as the private sector. The integration, knowledge sharing, and synergy between components, at all levels are being achieved through the Regional Steering Committee (RSC) and National Coordinating Bodies (NCBs). This structure ensures accountability, transparency and good governance, as well as learning within and between diverse, countries, sectors, and agencies.

Regional
At a regional level, the implementation of the work programmes is monitored by the MFF Regional Steering Committee (RSC) co-chaired by IUCN and UNDP with national government representatives and institutional partners as its members. Regional Steering Committee meetings are held regularly. 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 for directing, regulating, and coordinating development and project activities is steered through National Coordinating Bodies (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.

Project
At project level, activities are implemented through a decentralized structure comprised of NGOs and community-based organizations and the private sector. These organizations play a vital role in helping to address the gaps in capacity, coordination and participation which currently exist in the public sector.

Small Grant Facilities and Larger Projects
There are two categories of project funding, a Small Grant Facility (SGF) and large projects. The SGFs are available for each focal country to support projects up to a ceiling of US $ 25,000, with US $ 50,000 – 300,000 available for the larger projects. With the exception of the initially allocated SGF’s to each country, all grant applications are performance-based through a careful selection procedure to ensure investment in projects generating long-term sustainability.

Climate proofing MFF
Climate change adaptation is a cross-cutting theme through all the initiatives programmes of work. With the technical lead of UNEP and UNDP, all MFF projects will be “climate proofed”. Methods for climate proofing MFF activities are being developed based on existing climate change adaptation tools. Practical training in the use of coastal management tools, including climate proofing, is also provided through regional and national workshops.

Building Technical Capacity
The MFF Secretariat will continue to support capacity development in other ways, such as study tours and secondments of national staff to the secretariat, and by providing international consultants to complement local expertise.

Finance
The programme has been funded from 2007 to 2009 with about US $ 12 million contributed by the governments of Australia, Germany, Norway, Sweden, UNDP, and the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). It is foreseen that by having illustrated the high financial and social returns from investing in coastal ecosystems, the scope of the initiative will continue to grow, especially through public and private sector partnerships to increase investment in coastal ecosystems, conservation and sustainable development. MFF will continue to be on the lookout for co-financing opportunities that will make use of projects already initiated, or planned, to maximise outcomes.