Report - Jabatan Taman Laut Malaysia - NRE

Cabinet Committee on Highlands and Islands to monitor and regulatedevelopments in highlands and on islands.EvaluationThe project is clearly helping to build the capacity of the key agencies. E.g.at the briefing by the NPD, the evaluation team was advised of budgetincreases, announced the previous week, to DMPM to include for the firsttime support for alternative livelihoods for local island communities(classified as hard core poor) for the next Malaysian plan budget and forincreased staffing of the DMPM taking the staff up to its full compliment.Country ownership is strengthening as a result of the project. Governmentagency officials are aware of the significance of the area and its biodiversityvalues although some agencies acknowledge they have yet to expand theirfocus to include marine e.g. MoTour noting the value of the dialogueplatform of the SSC. Others noted the interconnectedness and impact theland has on the marine environment e.g. Department of Irrigation andDrainage (DID). Terengganu State Government also contributed to themanagement of Redang Marine Park with financial contributions to maintainsome of marine park facilities, buoy deployment, putting up signage andalso purchasing of SCUBA diving equipment for the usage of other stateagencies for training purposes.It is anticipated that country ownership will increase during the life of theproject. The clear statement from the Director General of support for theproject and its objectives, and his intention to embed the project into theDMPM, will contribute directly to country ownership. The inter agencymechanisms (NSC and SSC) will also build country ownership. During thelife of the project it will remain important to systematically raise the profile ofthe project amongst the key agencies to ensure ownership of the project andcontributing to its sustainability.3.4. Stakeholder participationContextStakeholder participation has been achieved throughout the project to dateby using a variety of methods:Project governance and structure• NSC and SSC membership• PMU staff close links with DMPM• Community Consultation Committees and establishment of RakanPark at the three project sitesProject activities• Capacity building of stakeholders e.g. state agencies, PMU,15