SEAFDEC PMU and WWF US Conduct Joint Mission to BFAR Manila to Accelerate Project Start-Up

The Regional PMU team, Mr. Muhamad Nour, Project Manager of the Blue Horizon Seaweed Project and Mr. Joseph P. Faisan, undertook a joint mission to Manila from 18 to 20 November 2025 together with Rachel Kaplan from WWF US to meet with the Department of Agriculture–Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA–BFAR) of the Philippines. The mission focused on establishing the National Project Management Unit and finalizing BFAR’s Annual Workplan and Budget (AWPB) Year 1, following the signing of the Grant Agreement in July 2025. The meeting resulted in near-final drafts of the Terms of Reference for key N-PMU positions, including Project Manager, Safeguards and Gender Specialist, and Policy Development Specialist. SEAFDEC PMU provided technical support in setting the foundational arrangements for project implementation and guided BFAR in preparing the AWPB Year 1 based on existing project documents. Key outcomes included the finalization of the recruitment plan, the ToRs for key personnel, the AWPB Year 1, and the establishment of shared folders containing essential project documents for all executing agencies.