The Marine Socio-Economics Project (MSEP) Building the Socio-Economic Capacity of Marine NGOs in the UK
Background to the project 2008: Tubney Charitable Trust commissioned a sectoral review of UK NGOs working on marine biodiversity (IMM). IMM Findings: Socio-economic data available but not being used effectively to aid conservation Disbursed, unusable or ignored data
Findings (II): Hostile debate around balancing social, economic and environmental objectives in fisheries NGOs have strong backgrounds in biology / ecology and ecosystem functioning not economics
Findings (III) Fishers and politicians think about jobs, revenue and approach fisheries from that discourse Policy proposals impact profitability of some fishing fleets and fishing communities more widely Impacts are not the same for all areas, need to understand the impacts of policy proposals (UK and EU level)
Findings (IV): UK NGOs need to strengthen economic capacity to be better able to deliver their goals NGOs need socio-economic knowledge, skills and understanding Increased socio-economics capacity to shape the debate Need to work together more effectively
Previous stumbling blocks Oversimplified a complex system: NGOs vs fishermen Oversimplified solutions: ITQs MPAs Community based management Needs to focus on sustainable development
The Marine Socio-Economics Project (MSEP) Project started in Dec 2011, funded by the Tubney Charitable Trust Partners: WWF, MCS, RSPB, Wildlife Trusts, nef.
MSEP Objectives: Build capacity in social and economic knowledge, skills and systems across the marine NGO sector as a whole. Foster greater levels of sharing and collaboration between NGOs and to foster more effective engagement with industry. Partnership-building
Two key outcomes: NGOs with increased economic capacity NGOs working together Striking the balance: Balance short (current policy opportunities e.g. CFP / MSFD / MPAs) and long-term (increased capacity and cooperation) objectives of the project. The need to focus on specific marine environmental issues vs. the general characteristics of economics
What is the NGOs view of Success? Increase NGO socio-economic capacity and using socio-economic information in more effective ways Better cooperation between the NGOs involved and others within the field (eg. academia) More efficient advocacy (as a result of 1 and 2) and effectiveness as a result of cooperative working Better industry engagement / win-win opportunities with fishing industry. NGO Staff empowered Holistic approach & language of economics
MSEP work areas
Project work areas update The Network A Marine Socio-Economics Network The Materials Economics Briefings Facts and Figures A day in the life Information and communication The Workshops Impact Assessment workshops x 2 How to become more effective Theory of Change Measuring and valuing what matters Understanding the EMFF workshops x 2
A Marine Socio-Economics Network (MSEN): information sharing, dialogue and collaboration between partner NGOs. Launched in June 2012 www.mseproject.net website Workshops up until now, additional online meetings going forwards
The Materials Economics Briefings: Information NGO staff need to know about Economics. 11 briefings and marine case studies Online presentations and discussion through blackboard 1. Overview and narrative 2. How is economics used in decision making? 3. How do we value nature using economics? 4. Social CBA and SROI 5. Discounting 6. Alternatives: MCA 7. Beyond GDP: Valuing what matters and measuring natural capital 8. Markets, market failure and regulation 9. Financial concepts and Green finance tools 10. Property rights and ownership models 11. Behavioural economics dispelling the myths
The Materials Facts and Figures: presenting NGOs with useful facts, figures and statistics. Sectoral information sheets (facts, figures and statistics) Synthesis document comparing all marine sectors Food (capture fisheries and aquaculture) and energy (renewable and extractive). Info-graphic format / slideshare
The Materials Information and communication: Monthly newsletters (circulated monthly since May 2012 Project website www.mseproject.net NGO manual on socio-economics (Legacy after 2014)
In the pipeline - A day in the life Information sheets on key pressures and drivers behind marine industries and regulators supporting seminars or videos where appropriate. Some exist already SEAFISH (UK)
The Workshops Impact Assessment (IA) workshops: Two workshops June 2012: MSFD Impact Assessment September 2012: the benefits of MPAs (and MCZ IA) Agreement to share information when NGOs respond to IAs and describe how their approach has changed IA information is all available on website To think about over the course of the day: is inputting into IA s effective? What other ways of presenting information to decision-makers do we have?
June 19 th and 20 th, 2013 Theory Of Change: areas of work agreed in Tubney proposal
Workshops: today and 2014 onwards TODAY: Economic valuation: theory and practise (Dec 4 th and 5 th 2013) Training courses for NGO staff, focussing on CBA, SROI, MCA, Ecosystem Services and other approaches to valuation. Understanding the EMFF (European Maritime and Fisheries Fund) and other funding opportunities; Identifying funding and possible opportunities for cooperation: Early 2014. Guidance notes Workshop(s)
Any questions? Chris.williams@neweconomics.org Tel: 0207 820 6404 www.neweconomics.org