The First Inception Phase Meeting of the UNEP GEF Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand (SCS SAP) Project - Introduction and next steps to the further development of project activities

The online meeting, held on July 30, 2020, was the first introductory meeting of the Inception Phase for the "Implementing the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand (SCS SAP) Project". The project, executed with the support of UNOPS and SEAFDEC, aims to help participating countries meet the targets of the Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the marine and coastal environment of the South China Sea. The SAP, adopted in 2008, established priority actions for coastal habitats, land-based pollution, and over-exploitation of fish stocks. The main objectives of this meeting were to ensure the full engagement and exchange on the most efficient steps for project implementation, especially considering the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to align the project with new national, regional, and global priorities. Key topics included an introduction and update from UNEP, UNOPS, and SEAFDEC, a presentation on the inception phase deliverables and draft project organogram, and country introductions regarding their expectations, status of SAP implementation, and national priorities that have evolved since 2008. A core next step discussed was the need for countries to re-nominate or reconfirm focal points and experts and to elaborate the National Implementation Reports (NIRs) for the forthcoming Inception/First Steering Committee Meeting. The meeting reinforced that the SAP priorities remain valid and that the project is considered one of the most robust within the global GEF portfolio.