Capacity Resource Management Research Articles

Network governance and reflexivity in fisheries management: a case study of Northern Ireland

ABSTRACT Network governance arrangements, wherein resource users are empowered, are vital for ocean sustainability. These arrangements are critical to implementing innovative practices, particularly those developed to address the negative impacts of top-down management. The adoption of networked governance can foster resource management capacity and equitable decision-making. Research has focused on social ties within networks but has provided a somewhat limited account of how networks evolve to instil novel practices. To implement new practices, networks must engage in reflexive governance. Reflexivity is underpinned by actors’ receptivity to change and network learning. Actors’ receptivity to change relates to whether they acknowledge past failures and how novel management ideas become accepted. Network learning is the degree of change instigated by actors’ reflexive processes. Drawing on the receptivity and network learning theories, and informed by semi-structured interviews, an assessment was conducted on how a fisheries management network in Northern Ireland has reflexively evolved to implement new practices. Findings illustrate that the network has reflexively redesigned how they collaborate, share knowledge, and contribute to policymaking. Demonstrating single– and double-loop learning, these developments have been derived from reflections on the failure of past processes and the instigation of more co-creative processes that benefit all network actors.

From conflict to collaboration through inclusive landscape governance: Evidence from a contested landscape in Ghana

The Western Wildlife Corridor (WWC) in Ghana’s Northern Savannah ecological zone is a contested landscape where efforts to reverse widespread environmental degradation often conflict with local livelihood concerns and broader development objectives. Despite policy measures to devolve natural resource decision-making authority, poor environmental management, persistent socioeconomic challenges, and increasingly limited livelihood opportunities for people living within the corridor prevail. This study investigates environmental degradation in the WWC and natural resource governance using information on stakeholder perceptions from stakeholder workshops, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. We also explore how natural resource management might be strengthened to better deliver social, economic, and environmental goals. We found that despite a history of contestation, stakeholders were able to agree upon specific issues of common concern and generate a collaborative vision for the WWC landscape. Transitioning toward such a vision requires significant investment in strengthening current governance structures and building natural resource management capacity within the corridor and beyond. Furthermore, persistent challenges of conflicting stakeholder objectives and issues related to coordination, corruption, and non-inclusion in decision-making about natural resources must be addressed to advance progress. Stakeholders were able to formulate specific recommendations and a participatory theory of change to inform the development of a sustainable landscape management plan and future evidence-based policy that could steer the WWC toward a more resilient and multifunctional system that equitably supports livelihoods, biodiversity, and wider economic development. The methods for inclusive engagement in environmental decision-making are extrapolatable to other contexts facing similar social-environmental challenges.

Building resilience: analysis of health care leaders’ perspectives on the Covid-19 response in Region Stockholm

BackgroundThe Covid-19 pandemic has tested health care organizations worldwide. Responses have demonstrated great variation and Sweden has been an outlier in terms of both strategy and how it was enacted, making it an interesting case for further study. The aim of this study was to explore how health care leaders experienced the challenges and responses that emerged during the initial wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, and to analyze these experiences through an organizational resilience lens.MethodsA qualitative interview study with 12 senior staff members who worked directly with or supervised pandemic efforts. Transcripts were analyzed using traditional content analysis and the codes directed to the Integrated Resilience Attributes Framework to understand what contributed to or hindered organizational resilience, i.e. how organizations achieve their goals by utilizing existing resources during crises.Results/FindingsOrganizational resilience was found at the micro (situated) and meso (structural) system levels as individuals and organizations dealt with acute shortages and were forced to rapidly adapt through individual sacrifices, resource management, process management, and communications and relational capacity. Poor systemic resilience related to misaligned responses and a lack of learning from previous experiences, negatively impacted the anticipatory phase and placed greater pressure on individuals and organizations to respond. Conventional crisis leadership could hamper innovation, further cement chronic challenges, and generate a moral tension between centralized directives and clinical microsystem experiences.ConclusionsThe pandemic tested the resilience of the health care system, placing undue pressure on micro and meso systems responses. With improved learning capabilities, some of this pressure may be mitigated as it could raise the anticipatory resilience potential, i.e. with better health systems learning, we may need fewer heroes. How crisis leadership could better align decision-making with frontline needs and temper short-term acute needs with a longer-term infinite mindset is worth further study.

Теоретическое осмысление HRM в концепте инновационно-ориентированного менеджмента образовательной организации

The article discusses theoretical-conceptual approaches to the development of personnel management measures in innovation-oriented educational organizations. The purpose of the study is to identify the most relevant theoretical-conceptual approaches to improving the efficiency of management of higher educational institutions at this stage of social development, taking into account the needs of employers and development strategies of the Russian Federation. The study's methodology relied on analytical, comparative, and deductive theoretical approaches, drawing from recent research by both domestic and international scholars focused on examining management practices within different educational institutions. It is analyzed that universities use not only innovative methods, but also strict directive approaches, which provide for the application of sanctions to senior management in case of low performance indicators, up to their replacement with new personnel. It is shown that in an increasingly competitive environment, the concept of building human resource management capacity in an educational organization is to find and retain talented employees in the workplace, as well as to select optimal approaches and methods of human resource management.

Barriers and opportunities regarding community-based forest management in Afghanistan: considerations for fragile states

SummaryThe Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA), in power during 2002–2021, initiated the process of instituting community-based forest governance and building local capacity for natural resource management. These efforts coincided with the presence of international security forces and the mobilization of civil society organizations, and they were in response to community aspirations to protect and restore often degraded local forests. Legislation was passed to enable forest protection and management, including a provision to encourage participatory management by local community user groups organized as Forest Management Associations (FMAs). By the end of the GIRoA era, c. 20 registered FMAs were operating with c. 400 others in various stages of development across Afghanistan. Our analysis of relevant policy documents revealed that the policy framework developed during the GIRoA era scores favourably on the ideal criteria for community-based resource management. Despite the change in political administration with the inception of the current Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regime, the influence of the GIRoA era serves as a starting point and may have enduring influences on rural communities in Afghanistan and the natural resources that support them. Anecdotal evidence suggests that community-based forest management may persist under the current national leadership despite international isolation and funding constraints. The model developed in Afghanistan may be relevant to other fragile states, especially in contexts where rural forest-dependent communities have strong local institutions, such as shuras, and where forests are not prone to heavy extraction pressure.

Management concepts for the sustainable development of mineral resources

Background. The development and implementation of the life cycle concepts of extracted raw materials seems promising for the sustainable development of mineral resources by a mining company. The practical implementation of such concepts requires a system of theoretical, methodological, analytical, and organizational procedures developed in close collaboration by state officials, researchers, and subsoil users with a particular focus on the responsibility of producers.Aim. To carry out an analysis of the existing theoretical concepts for managing the mineral resource base of mining companies and to assess their implementation prospects. The following objectives were formulated: 1) to analyze the current situation in the field of reproduction of mineral resources; 2) to review the management approaches currently used to reproduce mineral resources; 3) to evaluate the prospects of modern concepts for the management of mineral resources in the mining industry.Materials and methods of research. The authors analyzed the publications of foreign and domestic authors in the field of sustainable development. The complex of studies included an analysis of the theoretical concepts of management of reproduction of the mineral resource base developed to date, grouping of key indicators for assessing the sustainability of a mining enterprise, comparing approaches to management of reproduction of the mineral resource base and others.Results. Specific features of the mechanistic approach to the management of mineral resources, as well as its limitations and drawbacks, were analyzed. Particular attention was paid to a concept of the life cycle of a mining plant. The possibilities and prospects of using a methodology of mineral resource capacity management are described.Conclusions. The transition to modern concepts in the management of mining enterprises can be achieved under the condition of changing the existing orientation to super-profitable gross mining to that balancing social, environmental, and economic considerations.

Evolving swabbing practices for COVID-19 in a New Zealand emergency department during the early stages of an emerging pandemic.

To review if tests for suspected COVID-19 were performed according to the Ministry of Health (MoH) case definitions, identify patterns associated with testing outside of the case definition, and discuss the potential impacts on hospital services. This was a retrospective audit of patients presenting to the Wellington Hospital ED between 24 March 2020 and 27 April 2020 who were swabbed for COVID-19 in ED. Swabs were audited against the March 15th and April 8th MoH COVID-19 case definitions. Five hundred and thirty-six COVID-19 swabs for 518 patients were taken during the study period. There was poor alignment of testing with the March 15th case definition, with only 11.6% of the 164 swabs taken during this period meeting the case definition. Of the 145 swabs that did not meet the case definition, the majority (n = 119, 82.1%) met symptom criteria only. Alignment of testing with the wider April 8th case definition was much higher with 88.2% meeting criteria. Factors associated with being swabbed despite not meeting the case definitions included fever >38°, a diagnosis of cancer, subsequent hospital admission, and for the March case definition only 'contact with a traveller'. There were associations found between testing outside of criteria and specific variables potentially perceived as high-risk. Poor alignment of testing with case definitions can impact hospital services through the (mis)use of limited laboratory testing capacity and implications for resource management. Improved communication and feedback between clinicians and policymakers may improve case definition implementation in a clinical setting.

Modeling between Water Resources Security and Regional Economic Growth in the Yellow River Basin Based on Entropy Weight Method—A Case Study for Future Smart City

Abstract In order to explore the relationship between water resource security and regional economic growth, the Yellow River Basin was taken as the study area, and a relationship model between water resource security and regional economic growth in the Yellow River Basin based on the entropy weight method was constructed. After investigating the geographical location, changes in water resources, and economic status of the study area, combined with the principle of coupling coordination in water resources and economic systems, the Yellow River Basin water resources security index system was constructed based on the five aspects, including water resources characteristics, water supply facilities, and water resources management capacity and regional economic growth index system was constructed based on survival and development poverty two aspects. The entropy weight method was used to measure the variation degree of the indexes, and the information entropy was used to calculate the weight of each index. The TOPSIS method can be applied in optimizing the coupling algorithm and building a coupling coordination relationship model. Based on the coupling coordination index, the relationship between water resources security and regional economic growth in the Yellow River Basin was analyzed. The results show that the model analysis results can reflect the actual situation of water resources security and regional economic growth in the Yellow River Basin and show that there is a high degree of coupling between water resources security and regional economic growth in most provinces (cities). The cities showing extreme coupling relationships are mainly distributed in the economic zones, including Henan, Ningxia, Shanxi, and Gansu, and the cities showing moderate coupling relationships are mainly distributed in Xining and Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures. At the same time, policy suggestions are put forward based on the relationship between water resources security and regional economic growth in the Yellow River Basin.

CEOs’ Optimism in Cost Behavior Asymmetry: A Content Analysis

This study aims to examine the effect of CEOs’ optimism on the asymmetry of cost behavior, namely cost stickiness (CS). A sticky condition occurs when the increase costs due to the increase in sales is greater than the decrease in costs during the decrease in sales. This study measures CEOs’ optimism by conducting content analysis using the DICTION application. The results of this study indicate that the level of optimism increases CS. These results contribute to behavioral sciences in management accounting, especially in relation to the role of the upper echelon in corporate strategic decisionmaking. The results of this study have implications for the appraisal of management performance, when looking at the fact that there is sticky-cost behavior. This sticky behavior is thought to be intended to restore the situation to an advantageous position. The previous literature states that this asymmetry occurs due to deliberate decision-making by decision-makers. Unlike previous research, this study uses the upper echelon approach, with the individual CEOs as proxy. The upper echelon theory states that the characteristics of the leadership will affect a company's strategy, so they have an impact on company performance, including decision-making regarding resource-capacity management.

METHODOLOGY OF DETERMINING PRIORITY DIRECTIONS FOR STIMULATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF TERRITORIAL COMMUNITIES ON THE BASIS OF FISCAL DECENTRALIZATION

The article is devoted to solving the urgent problem of the spatial development of territorial communities on the basis of self-sufficiency and self-financing. The purpose of the article is to develop a methodology for substantiating the directions of development of territorial communities based on the ability of territories to self-development, taking into account resource availability, management capacity, financial capacity, and types of territorial community in the context of fiscal decentralization. The objectives of the study are to substantiate the priority directions of territorial communities' development; substantiation of the criteria for choosing the directions of territorial communities' development depending on their types; determination of directions depending on the components of self-development of territorial communities: self-government, self-sufficiency and self-financing on the basis of fiscal decentralization.A methodological approach to determining the priority directions of stimulating the development of territorial communities has been developed. It provides for the consistent development of methodological approaches to the analysis of resource endowment of the territory, identification of problems of development of territorial communities; modeling of the development of territorial communities based on the method of fuzzy sets; substantiation of the directions of the spatial development of territorial communities by the method of hierarchy analysis.It has been established that the spatial development of territorial communities foresees: the availability of natural, labor, production, environmental and other resources, the effective use of which leads to the formation of new and strengthening of existing advantages of the community; the formation of community development zones is impossible without the presence of effective organizational and management mechanisms in the community; the availability of a resource base for development and effective management mechanisms does not ensure the development of the territory without financial support. It is important to form own financial resources through development projects or through the cooperation of territorial communities. It is proved that self-sufficiency, self-government, and self-financing are the main components and at the same time conditions for the spatial development of territorial communities. The resource base of the territorial community is a sufficient condition for development, but the inefficiency of its management leads to a decrease in the self-sufficiency of the territory and reduces the financial capacity of the community.

Regional resource management system

The process of societal development is accompanied by profound social changes, which in turn cause new problems of social organisation. Among other things, organisational and management issues become very relevant. The above changes have a direct impact on the process of regional governance. The purpose of the study was to analyze regional development and determine the resource management system that is necessary for organizing effective management of the territory. The objectives of the study were to considerate issues of resource capacity management, identify and define the region’s basic resources. In the course of the study, methods of a general scientific and special nature were used: analysis, synthesis, abstraction, induction and deduction. Based on the results of the study, a resource capacity management structure is presented, and a development vector for the region is proposed and justified. Particular attention is paid to the importance and necessity of resource capacity development for the progressive development of the territory.

Identifying and analyzing spatial and temporal patterns of lightning-ignited wildfires in Western Canada from 1981 to 2018

To assess wildfire risk linked to lightning-caused wildfires, the present study tests the spatial- and temporal-scale distribution variability of lightning fires in Western Canada between 1981 and 2018. We examined clustering, trends, distances between clusters, and the fire season. For this study, the nearest neighbours, K-function, Moran's I, Mann–Kendall, and the Getis-ord Gi* statistics were used. These statistics were visualized by a Space Time Cube model with a hexagon grid. Lightning-ignited wildfires cluster spatially up to 270 km with an observed overall nonsignificant decreasing trend for the number of fires. Overall, northeastern Alberta, central Saskatchewan, and southeastern British Columbia show clustering of lightning fires. In June, there is significant clustering in northwestern and eastern Alberta, while in July fires cluster in northeastern Alberta and in southeastern British Columbia. In August, fire clusters occurred only in southeastern and south-central British Columbia. These results highlight regions that are experiencing persistent lightning fire clustering activity. This provides a focal point to assess wildfire risk to communities and values at risk, while informing local and regional management agencies in preparedness, resource capacity management, and detection. Additionally, it provides a baseline for future research into biophysical modelling of wildfire initiations.

Adaptive resource capacity management agricultural landscapes of Siberia for efficient cultivation grain crops

In the grain production of Siberia, not everything is provided safely. With a yield potential of 30 - 35 million tons, the actual grain production is 13 - 14 million tons. Cultivation of grain crops is energy intensive, extensive and ecologically unbalanced. The management of the productivity of agrocenoses is carried out by agricultural technologies. This management problem has not been solved even in modern precision farming systems. The purpose of the research is to increase the efficiency of grain crops cultivation by managing the resource potential based on agricultural technologies that take into account spatio-temporal changes in properties and the state of agricultural landscapes in Siberia. Research methods. Structural analysis and synthesis, mathematical modeling of mechanical and technological solutions and the integral indicator of agriculture. Main research results. Intensification is the main way to increase the efficiency of grain production, an analytical expression is proposed for the integral criterion of agriculture - the really possible value of their yield. For the management of agricultural technologies, a 4-level hierarchical concept with mechanical and technological temporary control actions is proposed: the upper level is strategic management. Developed adaptive-mobile field crop rotations, providing 2.72–3.09 MJ growth of the energy coefficient. For the arid regions of Siberia, the Research Institute of Applied Sciences of Khakasia proposed a surface irrigation technology. Provides an increase in labor productivity by 3-5 times, reduces the cost of 1 ton of hay by 3-4 times with an average yield of 5 t / ha; the second level is the management of a separate growing season; a furrow-band sowing was proposed, providing a 20 - 35% increase in yield; the third level is technological control in real time. An automatic flexible technological complex for the main tillage is proposed, which improves the quality of tillage and increases labor productivity by 15 - 20%; the fourth is the level of technological impact on the basis of scientific principles, taking into account the physical, mechanical and technological properties of the treatment object. Conclusions: 1) In the conditions of Siberia with its spatio-temporal changes in the properties and conditions of the soil cover, precise (digital) management of the resource potential of agricultural landscapes is required. 2) To increase the efficiency of grain crops cultivation, four mechanical and technological levels of control have been proposed.

Defense sector human resources management as the forefront in Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) pandemic response

Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic is an actual threat currently experienced throughout the world, including Indonesia. COVID-19 pandemic response must be seriously carried out due to its threats against the national defense system. At the forefront of COVID-19 pandemic response is human resources that play important role as national defense system components which capability need to be managed and developed in a continuous manner. Against the background, this research aims to analyze defense sector human resource capacity management and development in COVID-19 pandemic response in Indonesia. This research employed descriptive qualitative method using primary and secondary data. The results showed that the capability-based approach emphasizes "what we need to do" in dealing with the increasingly complex threats, and defense sector human resources capacity development and management are carried out through selection and knowledge development processes to influence attitudes and encourage behavior changes. The results further showed that as a defense sector component, The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) personnel possesses the required readiness and capabilities to carry out their tasks with 3,426 medical and non-medical qualification personnel who have been directly involved at the forefront role of COVID-19 pandemic response.

Assessment of Relationship Between Hospital Resource Management Capacity and Characteristics of Hospitals and Managers

Objective: The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between hospital resource management capacity and hospital and manager characteristics.
 
 Methods : The study was conducted on 41 hospitals affiliated to the Ministry of Health of Turkey in Istanbul and Ankara and 232 hospital managers working in these hospitals. Primary and secondary data sources were used as data collection methods. In the first part of the survey, which is used as the primary data source, the questions related to the duties of the managers, gender, total management time, the period of management in the hospital, formal management training, organizational and professional commitment and identification levels and hospital capacity management levels were included, which is used as the primary data source. As the secondary data source, hospital statistics were applied and data related to the characteristics of the hospitals. 
 
 Results: Exploratory factor analysis was performed to determine whether the questions used to evaluate the resource management capacity of the hospitals were structurally valid. As a result of exploratory analysis, a three-factor structure consisting of equipment, workforce and facility dimensions was reached, and the confirmatory factor analysis conducted to test the accuracy of this structure was found to be acceptable for the goodness of fit values. As a result of the structural equation model used in the study, the type of hospitals and the number of medical specialties, and the gender of the managers have significant effects on the resource management capacity of hospitals (p 0.05).
 
 Conclusion: According to the findings, resource management capacities of specialty hospitals are at a better level than general hospitals. This result shows that the type of service and the scope of service in specialty hospitals are clearly defined. Even if the number of medical specialties becomes more complex in the findings, the resource management capacity of the hospitals is managed more successfully. In the last findings, it was concluded that female managers are more successful in evaluating resource management capacity.

Assessment of groundwater resources management capacity in Tra Vinh Provine by sustainable indicators

Tra Vinh province is one of the coastal provinces in the Mekong Delta, which is greatly influenced by the tidal regime of the sea and main rivers such as the Tien and Hau rivers. In addition, surface water resources are increasingly contaminated with salt and polluted due to natural conditions and human economic activities. In addition, groundwater resources have played a major role in providing fresh water for daily life and the people's economic activities. However, with complex hydrogeological characteristics (distribution of pale surface between aquifers) that has made the design of exploitation well systems not synchronized, the awareness of the use of water resources of the country has not been achieved. The population is not high, leading to an unreasonable arrangement of exploitation wells between aquifers and between areas, causing the water level in the province to decrease, salinization in exploitation wells. increasingly widespread. All these factors can be seen that this resource is being managed and used unsustainably, so the research team wants to synthesize data on exploitation, monitoring, use, and policies. policies, planning, management organization, and the level of knowledge of people in the area to comprehensively assess the sustainability of groundwater resources. Research results show that there is a difference in the number of assessment scores in Tra Vinh province that reflect the level of socio-economic development of each area. Based on the selected set of criteria, the research team has assessed that the level of management of groundwater resources in Tra Vinh province is "highly sustainable" through 5 evaluation criteria of the sustainability index: (1) “Pressure on groundwater resources” average score of 41.9/60; (2) "Knowledge management" assessment scores in the whole province, the score in this criterion is quite high, the average score is 41.4/50; (3) “Policies & Laws” index average score is 28.4/30; (4) “Stakeholder involvement” Average score is 26/40; (5) “Organization & Capacity” average score is 30/40. The results of this study will help managers have an overview of the picture of groundwater in the province, thereby taking zoning measures, more reasonable exploitation planning, and people. It will also raise awareness of the use of water resources in scarce areas.

Local-level emergence of network governance within the U.S. Forest Service: A case study of mountain pine beetle outbreak from Colorado, USA

In the U.S. and around the world, governmental and non-governmental actors are piloting network governance approaches to fill gaps in governance resources (management capacity, local legitimacy) that cannot be met by a single entity alone. Such resources are needed to respond adaptively to changing conditions, such as those posed by severe disturbance. The purpose of this study is to provide insight into the drivers, pathways, and outcomes of network governance emergence within a federal bureaucracy, that of the U.S. Forest Service. We aim to shed light on the local variability of emergent network types (partnerships, collaboratives, combination types). We conducted case study research on responses to a severe mountain pine beetle (MPB, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) infestation (~1996–2012) on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in northern Colorado, USA. We applied a multi-level analysis, comprised of bottom-up, top-down, and “from around” (pre-existing network) factors, to three examples of MPB outbreak-driven network emergence. The examples vary in their combination of geographic location (Western Slope vs. Front Range) and scale (local vs. regional). Our analysis revealed: (1) network type and governance outcomes varied due to interlinked, multi-level factors (predominant gaps in governance resources, bottom-up factors, and pre-existing networks); (2) USFS managers and counterparts exercised agency in navigating top-down bureaucratic constraints on network governance emergence; (3) state, local, industry, and NGO entities, along with federal counterparts, co-initiated network governance of federal lands; (4) emergent networks generally did not persist in the large bureaucracy after the aftermath subsided. This study's findings are applicable to governance networks associated with land management bureaucracies in the U.S. and around the world.

The intricate challenges of delocalised wastewater treatment facilities with regards to water resource management capacity framework in South Africa

The project investigated the state of wastewater treatment administrative management in some of the more remote locations of South Africa, in term of the ability to realise wastewater as a potential and a viable water resource in a semi-arid land. The primary objectives centred on the element responsible for the delivery challenges within the wastewater treatment spaces, towards integrated water resource management efforts. Findings suggested that some of the more pertinent challenges emanated from shortfalls in the implementation of legislative policies, and the lack of sufficient drivers within the water resource environment. Results from most of the locations of interest showed various limitations, including the lack of adequate water treatment infrastructure, insufficient operation and maintenance schedules, limited technical skills and training, and poor management capacities. The analytical approach applied in this study was that of a wastewater management capacity framework. A workable capacity framework is proposed and discussed. The capacity framework takes into account the intricate and unique environment within a South African context, both socioeconomically and in the natural setting.

The Impact of Federalization on Health Sector in Nepal: New Opportunities and Challenges.

The promulgation of constitution of Nepal in 2015 has shifted the unitary government of Nepal towards federalism with significant devolution of power to seven newly created provinces, each with their own unicameral legislature. The major challenges during the transition phase in health sector are spillover effects, unclear roles and responsibilities of local authorities, human resource management and strengthening capacity at local level as per local need. Despite these challenges, federalism brings fertile ground for the local government to work more closely with their people; with more effective financing and planning based on evidences and their need. Keywords: Federalism; health sector; Nepal; challenges; opportunities.

Regional Collaboration Among Countries in the Indian Ocean for Better Coastal and Ocean Governance

The Mangroves for the Future initiative (MFF) has operated since 2006 as a strategic regional and partnership-led programmeworking in response to the continued degradation of coastal ecosystems, which threatens the livelihoods and security of coastal communities and makes them more vulnerable to impacts from climate change. MFF follows the principle that healthy coastal ecosystems (principally mangroves, coral reefs and sea grass beds) can contribute significantly to human well-being and the resilience of man and nature to climate change. In its initial phase to 2010, MFF supported India, Indonesia, Maldives, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Thailand to deliver a targeted response to the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. Since then, country membership has expanded to include Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Pakistan and Viet Nam and the initiative has grown towards a wider response to the current and emerging challenges for coastal management in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea regions. MFF is also engaged with Malaysia on an outreach basis; and with the Philippines as a dialogue country. Co-chaired by International Union for Conservation of nature (IUCN) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), and Wetland International (WI) as institutional partners, MFF provides a unique platform for representatives from governments, civil society and private sectors to meet, discuss and take actions together at both regional and national scales. At the regional level, MFF is governed by a Regional Steering Committee that provides strategic leadership for policy change and advocacy and also serves as a forum for country to country information exchange and discussions on emerging issues of regional importance. Within each MFF member country, a National Coordination body has oversight on the programme implementation as guided by its National Strategy and Action Plan and delivery of the small, medium and regional grant facilities1. Through its inclusive partnership approach, MFF has significantly strengthened the collaboration between the key stakeholders from governments, civil society, and private sectors addressing national and regional coastal zone management issues. In particular, the MFF initiative has supported national and local governments in developing and implementing participatory and sustainable resource management strategies, and, through awareness and capacity building activities, empowered coastal communities to participate in the decision making processes relating to the management of the natural resources on which they depend for their livelihoods. The present paper elaborates successful examples of regional collaboration initiated through MFF that have contributed to better coastal governance in India Ocean region. The examples include the transboundary cooperation between Pakistan and Iran in Gawatar Bay, between India and Sri Lanka for in the Gulf of Mannar, and between Guangxi and Quang Ninh Provinces in China and Viet Nam. The paper also highlights the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially the Goal 14 and concepts like Blue Economy for sustainable ocean and coastal management in the light of the rapid development in maritime trade, race for exploration of the ocean bed for mineral resources, unsustainable exploitation of fish resources, and increasing pollution load to ocean waters from rapidly developing coastal urban growth in the Indian Ocean region.