I. The first progress report was received on 2 May 2006 , with following details:

Activities carried out:

1.Systematically launching coastal surveillance against destructive fishing
2.Forging network of fishing communities in project area
3. Launching meetings for Provincial Small-Scale Fisherman Committee
4. Launching meetings between concerned public and private sector

Immediate Results and indicators

1.Continuous joint-effort between communities and government officers for coastal surveillance , 10 days per month at an average
2. Reduction of destructive fishing gears, with 11 cases taken to Provincial Criminal Court and verdicts in favour of small scale fishery
3. Evinced better mutual understanding between public and people sectors thus reducing the potential of political conflict and current community unrest
4.Emergence of a fishing community network communicating information and data relating to coastal resources management among community members

II. During 18-20 October2006 , leaders of the project participated in the mid-course evaluation. The observation is as follows:

Baan(village) Busai, one of the target village of an OP2, year-4 project, was a venue of the workshop where 45 attendants from 13 projects of OP3 year 2, NSC members, NC and PA gathered together to meet. Literally, these 13 projects were dubbed among SGP Thailand as GEF SGP Class 7/1 with project number starting from THA-05-01 to THA-05-13.

Workshop AT-A-Glance

As the venue was situated in target area of a back project THA-02-18 and adjacent to that of THA-04-22 which had been launching activities to reverse land degradation in watershed area of Lower Mekhong ecosystems, participants had learnt and shared experience with leaders of the two projects during field visits and briefing session. That was the first day.

First session of the following morning saw the NC occupying the floor confirming strategy of GEF SGP: Environment Protection , Community Empowerment, and Poverty Reduction. Then the floor was handed over to participants to conduct the session on sharing and discussion. Each project was given 30 minutes to relate background, activities undertaken and immediate results, problems/issues as well as questions and answers. The session was able to effectively cover 10 projects. That was the second day.

The morning of third day was given to the three remaining projects to cover their stories, to the NSC for observation and suggestion , to the NC to remind the grantees of what to do next according to the MOAs and finally to the grantees to collectively plan activities to strengthen this fledgling SGP environmental network and friendship. At the end, the chairperson , vice-chairperson and coordinator of Thailand GEF SGP class 7/1 emerged to take up coordinating role for all 13 projects. That was the final day of the workshop.

Each grantee was capable of articulating details of undertaken activities and their immediate results to the audiences. Project results were rated as promising. Some even gained recognition and financial supports by other stakeholders. Community members of two projects were able to increase their technical capacity in biogas technology. At an average, three projects were ahead of their proposed timeline , three a little bit behind, and seven just on time.

Nine projects presented through Power Points and audio-visual equipment, even though they are of Community ?Based Organization and not a national, tighter organization. There were four projects who accomplished their jobs by sets of photos and detailed documents.

III. The second progress report was received on December 4, 2006, with following details:

Activities carried out:
1.Systematically launching coastal surveillance against destructive fishing
2. Laying down artificial reef of local knowledge (Sunk) in eight target villages
3. Together with other major stakeholders, launching community conservation activities on national significant days : proclaiming conservation zone and releasing aqua species
4. Launching fishery occupation rehabilitation by trying environmentally-friendly aqua-culture
5. Launching capacity building activities on community knowledge and approach
6.Forging network of fishing communities in project area
7. Launching meetings for Provincial Small-Scale Fisherman Committee
8. Launching meetings between concerned public and private sector

Results and indicators:
1.The coastal area being under guard at 10-15 days per month
2. Evinced reduction in use of destructive fishing gears as a result of legal actions taken by the joint-effort
3. Emergence of habitats in the proclaimed 135-sq.km. conservation zone along the coast for 5,730,000 young species
4. Evinced increased environment capacity and awareness of community members and more harmonious relation between community members and government officers
5. Two models of destructive fishing and mobile forum on ?Community-based Coastal Resources Management? for dissemination in various schools and village
6. Exchange of thoughts and ideas on locating artificial (concrete) reefs and the draft version of Promotion and Management of Marine and Coastal Resources Act , Sufficient Economy, etc

IV. An iterim report was received on Jul 23,2007, relating unfortunate event connecting to the current public unrest in the southern provinces.

First ssues:
Lives and properties of community leaders under threats
Status and progress:
1. The threats still remain
2. Full measures and mechanism are in place to cope with the threats
3. Modification of activities focusing on intensively catalyzing policy concerning marine fishery by using database and body of knowledge and continuous coordinating with communities
Second issue:
Fishing gears of project volunteers damaged
Status and progress:
1. Compensation from responsible authority at 25 % of the damaged value
2. Financial assistance from Baht: 3,000-5,000 from the government ?s National Reconciliation Fund
Third issue:
Two patrol boats damaged
Status and progress:
1. The Southern Border Province Peace Promotion Advisor Council approved budget of Bath: 7,164,000 to build a new patrol boat
2. Public resources mobilization is under way for the repair of the other boat.
Fourth issue:
The grantee office burnt down
Status and progress:
1.Responsible authority partly compensated
2. Public resource mobilization is under way for the rest of construction
Fifth issue:
Advocacy on expansion of fishery ground in the province and on lift of drag net fishing practice
Status and progress:
In process of brainstorming

V. Note: on a participatory evaluation upon completion:

GEF Small Grants Programme: Evaluation upon Completion Workshop At-a-Glance

Country: Thailand
Project Number: THA-05-01 to THA-05-13
Date of Workshop: November 7- 9, 2007
Location: Boy Scout Camp, Khao Khitchakut District, Chanthaburi

1. BACKGROUND OF THE WORKSHOP

Specified in the Country Programme Strategy and long encouraged by Thailand GEF SGP, the workshop aimed to strengthen the participatory evaluation process, build capacity of target communities, and contribute to the formation of a strong network of GEF SGP grantees. The 3-day workshop provided an opportunity for these 13 projects?all nearing completion after 24 months?to present overall results, problems/issues and their solutions, to share lessons learned and to forge partnerships for sustainability.

2. WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS

The Chanthaburi Boy Scout Camp in Khao Khitchakut District, the venue for the workshop, hosted 45 participants from 11 projects of OP3 Year One, a GEF SGP team (composed of a NSC member, the National Coordinator, and Programme Assistants), and a few other major stakeholders. The 11 projects were dubbed ?GEF SGP Class 7/1,? and assigned a project number between THA-05-01 and THA-05-13. In addition, four members from THA-06-02?a project of OP3 Year Two or ?GEF SGP Class 8/1??were present to share experiences. The participants showed great geographical diversity; they had traveled from Nan, Tak, Loei, Mahasarakharm, Kanchanaburi, Ayudhaya, Phayao, Nakhornsithammarat, Songkhla and Pattani Provinces.

3. Workshop At-a-Glance

Beginning in the afternoon of November 7th, several project members began preparing dissemination materials. Photos depicting project activities were posted in the meeting hall; brochures, completion reports, instruction manuals and project products were also available.

To allow all parties to arrive and set up, the exhibition did not commence until the morning of the second day. November 8th began with the official opening ceremony, in which the chief of district officers of Khao Khitchakut District presided and gave an encouraging keynote speech. Following the chief, the GEF SGP National Coordinator delivered his welcoming remarks by reviewing the history of GEF SGP and how he felt about this get-together. After the official opening, the chief spent almost half-an-hour visiting and conversing with project members at their respective dissemination stations in the hall. Also in attendance were other district officers, including staff from local schools and the Provincial Corrective Department, which was a major stakeholder of the host grantee (THA-05-13). The chief, when requested to give his reaction regarding what he had seen and heard, offered relevant and enthusiastic feedback.

The sharing of project summaries and results then began. Throughout the day, ten projects were presented, eight of which used PowerPoint and audio-visual equipment, (an impressive feat considering the limited resources and IT skills of most community-based organizations). Three projects relied upon sets of photos and detailed documents. The remaining session of the day was spent on a site visit to the host grantee?s project.

On the third day, the National Coordinator and his team took the floor to explain the future plan of GEF Phase 4, during which the grantees would work to upscale their current activities, and build and solidify their network. Advice on using interactive online mapping to strengthen the network was also given.

It will be interesting to follow how this group would proceed with their future plans. It is notable that during the workshop, the term global warming was often heard, even from two projects whose activities did not directly address this issue.

VI. The completion report was received on 28 November 2007, with following details:

Date of Participatory Evaluation: 1 November 2007
Number of Beneficiaries/ Participating personnel:
Women:
Men: 83,001 ( men, women, children)
Children:
Number of persons trained/ attending seminars, joining study tours:
Women: 53
Men: 70
Children: 48
Expense:
Total: Baht: 1,860,895.00
Amount received from SGP: Baht: 1,581,427.20
Amount received from other : Baht: 4,560,000.00
Amount contributed by grantee/community: Baht: 2,329,787.80

Activities carried out:
1. Systematically launching coastal surveillance against destructive fishing
2. Laying down artificial reefs, planting mangrove, demarcating & proclaiming conservation zones, establishing ecological learning centre
3. Establishing fund for sustainable conservation activities through promotion of aqua culture
4. Publicizing project activities to wider collaborative effort Conducting training, seminars and study tours for target population on management and rehabilitation of natural resources, organization, community participatory rights and pertinent legal issues

Results:
1. Evinced increase in quantity and diversity of marine species , some local fishing gears being seen to be re-introduced, some species being more abundant ( more details separately)
2. Continuous joint-effort between communities and government officers for coastal surveillance , 5-10 days per month at an average
3. Once-a-year , eight sets of local artificial reefs emerged as continuous activities
4. An area of 348 sq. km being observed as a conservation zone
5. Emergence of one set ,one issue per year of dissemination printing materials for wider audience
6. Five new fishing villages being added into the network ,
7. Witnessed continuously building capacity and awareness of community members
8. Three joint meetings among small scale fishers, responsible government agencies and private sector driving to integrated plan for rehabilitation

Short-term benefits: The project activities had resulted in direct benefits to project members as follows:

1. Coastal natural resources appeared richer , livelihood of target population improved
2. In addition to increased income ,community members appeared to be happy and proud of their own livelihood. They were able to relate their story of development to and share their experience with other communities

Long-term benefits: There are three aspects of the benefits as follows:

1. Rehabilitation of coastal resources in one location had trigger conservation atmosphere in other nearby.
2. At policy level, law enforcement was more efficient while more concerned enactments were on the way
3. Conflict on natural resources use being reduced

Project communication: Happening both horizontally and vertically, i.e. on the relevant issues of coastal resource management by direct interaction with audiences through open forum, seminar , training, study tours, etc , and through media of various means.

Efforts to get over the current civil unrest: As the project location is situated in the south where civil unrest had been capturing attention of the Thai people throughout the country, fisher folks in Pattani were able to get over the situation through their own effort of ?being themselves? - later recognized- who wanted to live peaceful lives.