USAID WILDLIFE ASIA Annual Progress Report October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018
Submission Date: October 16, 2018
Contract Number: AID-468-I-16-00001, TO AID-486-TO-16-00003 Contract Period: August 31, 2016 - August 30, 2021
Submitted by: Director RTI International No. 208, 4th Floor, Unit 406, 208 Wireless Road Building Wireless Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 Tel: 662 015 5941-3
JulyThis 2008 d ocument was produced for review by the United States Agency for International 1 Development/Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA).
USAID WILDLIFE ASIA Annual Progress Report October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018
CONTRACT NO. AID-468-I-16-00001, TO AID-486-TO-16-00003
RTI International 701 13th Street NW Suite 750 Washington, DC 20005
DISCLAIMER: The author's views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. This document is intended to comply with Section 508 Standard of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. If you have any difficulties accessing this document, please contact [email protected].
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1. ACTIVITY/MECHANISM OVERVIEW
Activity/Mechanism Name: USAID Wildlife Asia Activity/Mechanism Start Date August 31, 2016 - August 30, 2021 and End Date: Name of Prime Implementing RTI International Partner: Contract/Agreement Number: AID-468-I-16-00001, TO AID-486-TO-16-00003 FHI 360, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Name of Subcontractors: Freeland Foundation, Integra and Conservation Council of Nations (CCN), TRAFFIC Major Counterpart
Organizations: Geographic Coverage Southeast Asia with a focus on the Lower Mekong (Thailand, (States/Provinces and Lao PDR, Vietnam, Cambodia) and China Countries): Reporting Period: October 1, 2017 – September 30, 2018
The USAID Wildlife Asia Activity is a five-year, regional USAID/RDMA-funded project under the USAID Counter Wildlife Trafficking Activity Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ). The USAID Wildlife Asia Activity (hereafter the “Activity”) is implemented by RTI International. The purpose of this Activity is to improve regional action towards ending wildlife trafficking in Southeast Asia and China. The four main objectives of the USAID Wildlife Activity are to: (1) reduce consumer demand for wildlife parts and wildlife products in target areas; (2) strengthen regional law enforcement capacity and coordination; (3) increase political commitment to addressing Counter Wildlife Trafficking (CWT); and (4) support RDMA’s regional coordination of CWT stakeholders and efforts to strengthen the USG interagency CWT team. The geographic focus of the USAID Wildlife Asia Activity is the Lower Mekong (Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam, and Cambodia) and China.
2. ACTIVITY IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS 2.1 Progress Narrative & Implementation Status
Management and personnel Full novation of the USAID Wildlife Asia Activity contract to RTI was completed in December. Meanwhile, the Activity experienced changes in management including the departure of the former Chief of Party (COP), and newcomers of the project management team in the home office consisting a Project Manager and as co-Project Coordinator in November 2017. An individual remained co-Project Coordinator and left RTI in February 2018. With the former COP leaving the Activity in November; RTI home office management including the Director for the Climate, Water, and Natural Resources Group and the Project Manager visited the Activity’s Bangkok office in November and December to manage the transition. The Project Manager served as the Acting COP while recruitment for the COP position took place. In June 2018, the Activity hired a new COP. The new COP managed various rule-of-law projects and twice served as a COP for USAID-funded projects. He was on board in early July in U.S. and relocated to Thailand to join the Activity team for work planning in mid-July.
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In Quarter 3, the Activity established a new sub-contracting partner with Conservation Council of Nations (CCN) (a coordinating body to ICCF) to expand inter-parliamentary collaboration on regional and global conservation issues through the development of conservation caucuses in Thailand (See Objective 3 for more information). In Quarter 4, TRAFFIC joined the consortium as a sub- contractor to implement Chi Campaign Phase III, a social and behavior change communication (SBCC) effort that tackles illegal rhino horn trade and consumption in Vietnam. Including the COP, the Activity welcomed new team members as summarized below: Position Obj Hired by Location Base Month Started Chief of Party All RTI Bangkok Jul SBCC Specialist 1 FHI360 Bangkok Jan SBCC Specialist 1 FHI360 Bangkok Jun Senior Program Officer 1 IFAW Beijing Mar Media Specialist 1 IFAW Beijing Mar Communications 1 TRAFFIC Hanoi Sep Officer Project Officer 1 TRAFFIC Hanoi Sep Senior Technical 2 Freeland Bangkok Jun Advisor Vietnam Country 2 Freeland Hanoi Jun Officer Training Assistant 2 Freeland Bangkok Mar Program Officer (part- 3 CCN Bangkok Jun time) With the office expanding, the Activity secured more office space adjacent to the current facility and started using it in June 2018. Activity-wide strategic thinking and team building The Activity underwent a Pause and Reflect process to enhance teamwork and desirable CWT results going forward. Led by a consultant of Strategic Coaching International, the first step was discovery interviews conducted with staff and partners in October-November to reflect on key successes, what works and what does not work, and the overall health of the Activity’s performance. The consultant then facilitated a one-day, all-staff and partners meeting on November 8 to review the key takeaways from the discovery interviews and set the priorities for the two-day Team Dynamics Pause and Reflect (P&R) workshop. Overall, participants agreed with the main discovery interview findings, proposed strategies and steps for improvement and brainstormed on the scope of the upcoming workshop. Based on feedback from the November P&R meeting, the first Consortium Executive Team (CET) meeting was held in February 2018 in Washington DC. The RTI Director facilitated a follow-up half day visioning session with the team in Bangkok in March. The Project Manager worked with the field team and RTI HO staff to develop the workplanning schedule, including a follow-on to the Team Dynamics P&R. The Project Mananger worked closely with the consultant to facilitate a discussion on team relationships through StrengthsFinder, a professionals’ tool in assessing personal and team dynamics. This provided a segueway to both the work conducted in November and an introduction of the team to the new COP. The two-day P&R workshop took place immediately before the work planning session in Pattaya, Thailand in July. As the consultant was to undergo surgery at the time of workplanning, RTI International handed over the facilitation to another individual, who is based in Singapore. She picked up where the previous consultant left off, and highlighted commonalities and differences in each other’s strengths, finding ways to overcome constraints and how to best work as a team. Part-time staff also participated on Day 2 of the Team Dynamics P&R to contribute to and understand team dynamics. In the evening of Day 2, executive members of consortium partners attended the 2nd CET meeting.
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The team spent Days 3-5 on Year 3 work planning, which was attended by 47 participants including full- time and part-time USAID Wildlife Asia staff from China, Thailand, Vietnam and U.S. and representatives from USAID and UNODC. Objective and program crosscutting teams presented their vision and plan for Year 3 for all participants to discuss, make changes and agree upon the plan. Most of Day 5 was spent on budgeting. The Activity submitted Year 3 work plan to USAID/RDMA on August 15. Technical assistance and visits by RTI home office At the end of February and into March, a RTI Senior Communications Specialist, worked with USAID Wildlife Asia’s communications specialist on the communications outreach plan, the Branding and Marking workshop and met with all objective teams, subcontractors and individual staff on their communications needs of the project as well as respond to any questions on branding guidelines set forth (see detail under Objective 4 progress report). In March, an RTI Project Coordinator, visited the Bangkok office to provide technical assistance to the Activity’s operations team for two weeks. She also worked with the Freeland team on budget and invoicing procedures. In July, she attended the work planning session and led the budgeting process of the work plan. The Director of International Grants, Procurement and Subcontracts from the RTI home office and a Senior Grant and Procurement Manager, from the Regional Office conducted a validation exercise of procurement and subcontract documentation and compliance with the Bangkok team in March. In April, the RTI Chief Human Resource Officer visited the Activity’s office. In June-July, the Activity underwent an internal financial and operations audit by two RTI Senior Managers of Internal Audit. All senior level staff met with the USAID Wildlife Asia team and then worked with RTI International staff during their visits, particularly the Operations team.
OBJECTIVE I: REDUCTION OF CONSUMER DEMAND THROUGH SOCIAL AND BEHAVIOR CHANGE COMMUNICATION (SBCC) Strategic Approach 1.1 Reduce consumer demand for wildlife and wildlife products through the use of social and behavior change communication (SBCC) Task 1.1 Reduce Consumer Demand in China Task 1.1.10 Monitor Implementation of Baseline and Formative Research In December 2017, Globescan, the research agency assisting this objective, completed data collection for the qualitative portion of the research composed of eight focus group discussions (FGDs) of ivory, pangolin, rhino and tiger consumers and 12 individual in-depth interviews (IDIs) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners. The Project’s China research consultant from Beijing Normal University observed the FGDs in Shanghai and Beijing. In March, Globescan submitted a revised PPT report which incorporated USAID Wildlife Asia’s comments on an earlier draft report. In late March, USAID Wildlife Asia presented the qualitative findings to the USAID COR and Alternate COR in Bangkok and to participants of the SBCC Workshop in Beijing. Data collection for the online baseline survey (total sample size of 1,800 representing the general population – 300 each from three Tier 1 cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and three Tier 2 cities of Harbin, Kunming, Nanning) was completed in February 2018. Globescan submitted a full report on the survey in April which was further revised based on comments by the Project. Some key findings from the quantitative survey are: • Among the total sample surveyed, the proportion who reported purchasing any product from the four species were 10 percent for elephant, 8 percent for rhino, 7 percent for pangolin and 4 percent for tiger. • Those who bought products in the past 12 months are generally 31-50 years old, have middle to high income and middle to high level of education, and have travelled outside the Chinese Mainland. • More females than males reported buying elephant products; more males reported buying pangolin products. Tiger and rhino products were bought by both males and females.
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• Perceived health or medicinal benefits are significant drivers for buying rhino, pangolin and tiger parts and products. Rarity, purity and spirituality and beauty are key drivers for buying elephant products, mainly ivory products. • Travel outside the Mainland for leisure or business are important purchase channels for all species. • A significant proportion of purchases made were unplanned. • Among the general population, 44 percent were aware of the Ivory Trade Ban while among past-12-month buyers, awareness was 42 percent. Awareness was higher in Tier 1 than in Tier 2 cities. • Among the general population, 44 percent have heard of the Revised Wildlife Protection Law (WPL). The awareness was higher in Tier 1 than in Tier 2 cities.
The PPT report of the online baseline survey can be downloaded from the project website https://bit.ly/2IrBm7v. The combined word report of the quantitative and qualitative surveys will be uploaded after it has been finalized.
Task 1.1.11 Conduct Workshops to Disseminate Results of Baseline and Formative Research as part of mobilizing a bigger network of partners for CWT To disseminate the results from the quantitative research on Consumer Demand for Elephant, Pangolin, Rhino and Tiger Parts and Products in China, the Activity’s China team and Beijing Normal University jointly organized a workshop on June 12 in Beijing. The study’s Principal Investigator presented the findings from the quantitative research. About 40 participants attended the workshop including representatives from the U.S. Embassy, British Embassy, local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other CWT private sector stakeholders. After the research presentation and Q&A session, participants worked in four groups to answer two questions: 1. How can you use the research findings in your plans for wildlife consumer demand reduction? 2. How do you plan to coordinate your work for greater impact? Participants answered the above questions from four thematic areas: (1) consumer demand reduction, (2) law enforcement, (3) policy, and (4) wildlife trade monitoring.
List of organizations by thematic area
Results from each group are: Thematic Group Discussion Results Consumer • Target young people through schools, libraries and other channels. Encourage Demand children to communicate conservation messages with their parents and communities. Reduction • Change social norms and leverage support from key opinion leaders (KOL).
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• Target messages to specific groups such as travelers, parents and collectors. • Build strong online push. • Disseminate the findings through stories and launch campaigns to generate sympathy. Law Enforcement • Stricter border enforcement though cooperation with government agencies. • Promote and strengthen regional collaboration in crime prevention, emphasizing punishment risks. • Increase awareness of the risks involved in violating Wildlife Protection Law (WPL) provisions on tiger, elephant, rhino and pangolin parts. • Capacity building to law enforcement agencies, customs officers and inspectors. • WPL promotion events targeting Chinese oversea travelers and migrant workers in wildlife product supply and transit countries. Policy • Influencing legislators and policy makers. • Identify and attract decision-makers who are sympathetic to the views and issues and are willing to work collaboratively. • Create dialogue with government sectors and stakeholders. • Increase government involvement. Wildlife Trade • Establish specialized and valid management and monitoring systems on confiscated Monitoring wildlife parts and products such as current-status and inventory. • Work with Beijing Normal University to publish standards for a corporate social impact index for corporations. • Collaboration between corporate social responsibility initiatives and counter-wildlife trafficking. • Develop business patterns to promote eco-civilization
Dissemination workshop participants
For more details please refer to the China Dissemination Workshop Report. Photos from the event are available at https://bit.ly/2R9Oima.
Task 1.1.12 Test messages to probe perceived risks in consuming focal species based on consumer knowledge about the penalties of illegal wildlife consumption. Develop campaign messages to promote the WPL Pretest of a video and public service announcements (PSAs) to promote WPL completed The China team developed an animated video to promote the WPL by communicating the penalties and risks associated with trade and consumption of ivory, rhino, pangolin and tiger products. Four print PSAs to echo the messages from the video were also developed. To assess the effectiveness of these materials, a pretest was conducted in Guangzhou on March 4 by a contracted research agency, LastMile.
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Based on the results of the pretest, a few adjustments were made to the PSAs. A few key highlights of the pretest are: • The PSAs were strong and effective in communicating the risk of imprisonment, and the audience understood the message immediately. Using a unique and innovative style, the ads aroused interest and led consumers to read the text more thoroughly. However, some participants considered figures with hollowed-out hearts as too cruel. This series of PSAs was later rejected by USAID due to political sensitivities. Please refer to section 1.1.13 for detailed information. • For the animated WPL video, the pretest revealed that the format is attractive, and the cartoon characters make it easy to engage diverse age groups including youth. The key messages including the current Male and female respondents participating in condition of four focal species and legal penalties for PSA pre-test session, March 4 consuming their parts and products are delivered effectively. A few of participants felt the length of the video was too long. Based these comments, four 30-second versions communicating different messages and a shorter one hour and 42-minute version of the full video were produced. The pretest also provided a reference to identify the proper channels for promoting the PSAs. Market study on pangolin meat completed From February 24 to March 25, the Activity completed a qualitative targeted consumer study in Guangdong with the focus on public knowledge of the Wildlife Protection Law and attitude towards consuming wildlife as a delicacy. This research served as a reference for refining our campaign strategy for WPL promotion and reducing consumption of pangolin meat. The study contained three major parts: 1) an on-street questionnaire survey with an intercept sample size of 160; 2) phone interviews with 300 respondents; and 3) FGDs with 16 respondents. The study revealed that 76% of the respondents only have a partial understanding of the WPL. They incorrectly believe that the law punishes traffickers but not consumers. We discovered that curiosity and status are major drivers behind pangolin meat consumption. These findings were presented at the June Pangolin SBCC Strategy Workshop.
Task 1.1.13 Conduct public awareness campaign to promote WPL via multiple channels, including traditional and new media, online and offline. Produce and distribute materials including PSAs and flash video at key marketplaces and among key demographics WPL PSA and Ivory Ban PSA Finalized A set of an animated video and four print PSA versions were produced to promote the WPL and the penalties associated with consuming parts and products of ivory, rhino, tiger and pangolin. Due to political sensitivities, USAID did not approve the original design of the print WPL PSAs communicating that illegal wildlife consumption is punishable by law
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PSAs (as per 1.1.12 above). Therefore, four alternative PSAs featuring similar messages, tone and style of the WPL video were produced and approved by USAID. The video series contain a full 3’18” and a 1’42” short versions as well as four 30” versions. See the video screen shots below:
30” version – WPL general 30” version – Elephant & Rhino
Screen shots from WPL promotional video (3’18” version) 30” version – Ivory Ban 30” version – Pangolin & Tiger Screens shots from WPL promotional videos In addition to the four PSAs cited above, an ivory ban promotion PSA featuring the dropping price of ivory was created. Imitating the falling prices of the stock market, the PSA conveys the message that after the launch of the ivory ban, the price of ivory has significantly depreciated and is no longer an ideal investment.
Dropping ivory price PSA
PSA Dissemination a) WPL video promotion from May to September 2018 USAID Wildlife Asia kicked off the WPL Promotion Campaign in China on May 22 to celebrate the International Day for Biological Diversity. By the end of September, the WPL video has been promoted via more than 60,000 TV/LCD/LED screens in high-end office buildings, banks, shopping centers and high-end restaurants of four target major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. To reach travelers, the PSA has also been promoted at airports of eight Tier I and II cities including Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Jinan, Dalian and Haikou and in 1,521 international and domestic flights of four Chinese airlines including China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and Xiamen Airlines. The in-flight promotion generated more than 30 million impressions in three months. For online dissemination, by the end of August, the video had been watched by more than 8 million with more than 300,000 further actions including clicks, comments, likes and forwards. The promotion of the WPL video has leveraged counterpart funds. NOTE: Some of the SBCC partners will continue to promote the WPL materials until December 2018.
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 10 b) WPL wall poster promotion from June to August 2018 Based on the WPL video, a 31.45m x 2.27m long wall poster was developed and promoted from May 22 to the end of August. The poster was placed in the passageway of the transfer station connecting Metro L1 and L14 in Beijing. The station is located at the heart of the central business district. The wall poster incorporates a QR code that passengers can scan with their WeChat app, which directs them to the full WPL video posted on Tencent Video. This long wall poster has generated 28 million impressions and leveraged counterpart funds to date.
WPL wall poster c) WPL print PSAs and Ivory Ban print PSA promotion from August to October 2018 Both WPL PSAs and Ivory Ban PSA were disseminated via more than 500 buses in Beijing and 120 bus shelters in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanning and Kunming. By the end of August, the promotion of the print PSAs generated more than 192 million impressions. The PSAs were also promoted through 17 strategically selected mobile apps to reach target audiences which obtained more than seven million online impressions. The promotion of WPL print PSAs and Ivory Ban PSA has generated in-kind support to date.
Task 1.1.14 Conduct a workshop bringing together NGOs and other like-minded partners to harmonize strategy to promote the ivory trade ban WWF and TRAFFIC, with China Wildlife Conservation Association, organized an Ivory Ban Workshop on January 29. To avoid duplication of efforts, the China team joined the workshop instead of organizing another one. It was attended by 120 representatives from government entities, enforcement agencies, foreign ministries, the ivory carving industry, academia and major conservation NGOs operating in China. WWF and TRAFFIC presented key findings from an ivory market research conducted in 2017 and from a consumer survey named Demand under the Ban: China ivory consumption research 2017.
Task 1.1.15 Mobilize social sector champions to promote ivory/rhino horn free lifestyle To promote an “endangered wildlife product free” lifestyle, the China team leveraged support from a key opinion leader and influential nutritionist. With 2.6 million followers on Weibo (Chinese Twitter) and 300,000 followers on WeChat, he worked closely with the China team to develop scientific yet socially mobilizing messages to motivate his audience to stop consuming wildlife meat such as pangolin and to stop using wildlife products such as pangolin scales and tiger bone for health purposes. As a trusted nutritionist with a large follower base, his message is convincing to the target audience thus effective in changing consumer attitudes and behavior. Up to the end of August 2018, he has produced two articles, one dissuading using pangolin scales for lactation and the other rejecting the consumption of tiger bone. The two articles received more than 600,000 views on his Weibo Account and over 37,000 views on his WeChat Account. Many usually eat wildlife meat as a tonic in autumn, so he will issue another article by the end of September that will focus on dissuading the consumption of pangolin meat.
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 11 Task 1.1.16 Mobilize more companies online represented by Baidu Alibaba and Tencent (BAT) to make their marketplaces unavailable for the trade of focal species After communicating with major online platforms such as BAT and evaluating the USAID logo sensitivity issues, it is determined that making marketplaces unavailable for trade of the focal species does not fall under the demand reduction scope of work of USAID Wildlife Asia in China.
Task 1.1.17 Identify like-minded groups and convene a workshop to strategize on improving the protection of pangolins through strengthening policies and reducing supply Due to political sensitivities in China, policy and supply reduction cannot fall under the scope of work of USAID Wildlife Asia. Instead, the China team has established an NGO quarterly roundtable meeting mechanism to coordinate with other NGOs working on various aspects of pangolin-related work including policy and supply reduction.
Task 1.1.18 Conduct a workshop with like-minded groups to disseminate formative research and strategize on SBCC campaign to reduce pangolin demand The Activity conducted a Pangolin SBCC Strategy workshop on June 12-14 in Beijing to develop a pangolin strategy for Year 3 and coordinate with other NGOs working on pangolin in China. Seven domestic and international NGOs participated in the workshop including WildAid, WWF International, TRAFFIC China, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Eco-Bridge Continental (EBC). Findings from the USAID Wildlife Asia qualitative and quantitative formative research focusing on findings regarding pangolin were presented. Highlights of the wildlife study conducted by LastMile in Guangzhou were also presented. The findings from these two research studies were discussed and used as evidence to develop an overarching pangolin demand reduction strategy. Two demand reduction campaigns tackling pangolin consumption as food and the use of pangolin scales for lactation were conceptualized as outputs of the workshop. Based on the research finding that gifting is a major occasion for the purchase of all four focal species, a campaign focusing on gifting behavior and status/wealth driven targeted consumers was also planned for Year 3. The report of the workshop will be available on USAID Wildlife Asia website.
Task 1.1.19 Develop SBCC campaign for pangolins and test concepts Due to the delay in formative research implementation, the development of SBCC campaign for pangolins was postponed to June after the Pangolin Strategy Workshop. Upon discussion among the Objective 1 team, it was agreed that moving into Year 3, the strategy of SBCC campaigns will shift from focusing on each species separately to addressing common major drivers behind the consumption across multiple focal species. Based on the data from the formative research, a major common driver behind the desire for pangolin, rhino and tiger parts and products is the belief in their medicinal and health benefits. Re-analysis of medicinal use as a major driver will be conducted, and specific consumer segments will be identified and profiled. A strategy to address belief in medicinal or health benefits of pangolin, rhino and tiger will be developed in Year 3 for implementation in early Year 4.
Task 1.1.20 Implement SBCC campaign disseminating messages through various channels to target audiences to reduce medicinal use of pangolins An SBCC campaign addressing consuming pangolin, rhino and tiger for medicinal reasons will be developed in Year 3 for implementation in Year 4.
Task 1.1.21 Mobilize and leverage private sector and build capacity of local NGOs in implementing SBCC campaigns to reduce demand for the focal species To strengthen partners’ capacity in applying the SBCC methodology for wildlife demand reduction, the China team organized an SBCC workshop on March 21-23 in Beijing. It was attended by around 30 participants from 10 organizations including NGOs, public sectors, media agency and social influencers.
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The workshop was composed of sessions on USAID Wildlife Asia introduction, results of the qualitative formative research, SBCC theory and practice, introduction of WPL and CITES, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) for SBCC campaigns and developing messages using consumer psychology. According to the results of the workshop evaluation, the M&E session provided useful information on how awareness raising activities can be monitored and their impact documented. Campaign message development applying social design and social psychology was rated as one of the most popular sessions as it provided participants a brand-new perspective on SBCC. After the workshop, four organizations - Chengdu Zoo, Chengdu Panda Base, Beijing Museum of Natural History and Tianjin Children's Library - adopted SBCC methodology and conducted various online and offline events promoting the WPL.
SBCC workshop participants
Task 1.1.22 Conduct “dipstick” sentinel survey to assess campaign results The sentinel survey has been postponed due to delay in the launch of planned SBCC campaigns. The sentinel survey will include assessment of the impact of the WPL survey as well as planned SBCC campaigns for Year 3.
Task 1.1.23 Continue needs-based capacity strengthening of public-private partnership platform (workshops and mentoring). Update of SBCC tool for wildlife demand reduction As the Sino-US trade war has increasingly intensified in recent months, the sensitivity issues related to applying the USAID logo on materials continue to grow. The engagement of the Public-Private Partnership Platform under USAID Wildlife Asia has become unpractical. The target audience of needs- based capacity strengthening activities has been shifted from the private sector to non-profit institutions such as museums and zoos and other international and domestic NGOs. Based on initial feedback from the existing SBCC partners and needs-analysis of potential new partners, the SBCC toolkit will be upgraded by the Bangkok team in close collaboration with the China team in Year 3. This toolkit will be based on modules and lessons learned in implementing the SBCC workshops in China and Thailand, and will incorporate practical guidance on campaign design, creative materials development and pretesting, and M&E using SBCC. In addition, SBCC case studies applicable to demand reduction will be incorporated into the SBCC toolkit.
Task 1.2 Reduce Consumer Demand in Thailand Task 1.2.10 Monitor implementation of Ivory Free Campaign with WildAid
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In the last month of the previous FY (September 12, 2017), the I am #IvoryFree online campaign jointly implemented by the Project and WildAid Thailand, was launched. The campaign’s goal was to mobilize Thais to pledge to never buy, own or accept ivory as gifts. It aimed to deter consumers and potential consumers from buying ivory and change the perception that ivory was a symbol of status, rare beauty or used for superstitious beliefs. To gain public engagement, the campaign invited all Thai people to make their pledge by creating their Ivory Free photo at www.ivoryfreethai.org, and posting their photo with a message on why they are making the pledge to their social media profiles with hashtags including, #ไม่เอางาไม่ฆ่าชาง้ Ivory Free pledges by top Thai celebrities and social influencers #IvoryFree. They could select one of three messages, each corresponding to a driver for ivory consumption - spiritual belief, status/power, and innate beauty (based on a 2015 survey).
Response to the online campaign was overwhelming. By December 2018, full results of the campaign were documented as follows: Within a three-week period after its launch, the campaign obtained massive engagement from celebrities and influential people from various sectors e.g. top actors, Miss Universe and Miss Universe Thailand, astrologers, monks, prominent business leaders, politicians, the U.S. Ambassador, sports stars and top journalists. By end- September, the campaign achieved the following results: • 15,200 people posted online pledges and created their I am #IvoryFree photo. • 114 key popular and prominent influencers posted online pledges with their photos. • 40 news stories were posted online. • The webpage garnered 906,000 Likes; 2,400 Comments; 1,500 Shares; around 909,000 total engagements; and, around 87 million Impressions. Social Media influencer pages were encouraged to co-create content based on the messages and promoted the online pledges. This co-creation strategy accomplished the following: • around 211,000 Likes • around 217,000 Total Engagements • more than 1,300 Comments • more than 4,100 Shares • around 19 million Impressions The campaign leveraged free media value.
Task 1.2.11 Assess results for expansion In Quarter 2, the team assessed the results of the Ivory Free Campaign and decided that the expansion of the online campaign is not deemed necessary. The web page of the online campaign is still live in the WildAid website. Considering its success in gauging reaction, the public engagement through pledge strategy focusing on targeted consumer segments will be adopted for succeeding demand reduction campaigns using online or mobile platforms in Year 3.
Task 1.2.12 Monitor implementation of the Formative Research and Baseline Study
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 14 IPSOS Thailand was selected as the research agency to conduct the study based on a solicitation process. The research protocol was approved by the FHI 360 IRB and by the Chulalongkorn University IRB both in December 2017. The research had both qualitative and quantitative components. • The qualitative component was composed of six FGDs that probed drivers to purchase and use of elephant ivory among current and potential consumers, and 14 IDIs that investigated perceptions, beliefs, and attitudes underlying purchase and consumption of tiger parts and products among current and potential consumers. • The quantitative component was an online baseline survey that generated data to track the demand reduction indicators. It had a randomly selected sample of 1,000 representing the general population plus a purposive or booster sample of 550 consumers of ivory or tiger products. The research study was implemented in January - March 2018. The FGDs and IDIs were conducted in Greater Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Surin in January - February 2018. USAID Wildlife Asia staff along with the COR observed the FGDs and IDIs in Bangkok. The Activity staff observed the FGDs and IDIs in Chiang Mai and Surin, with the COR joining the team in Surin. Project staff also observed the interviewer training for the online survey particularly for the booster sample interviews which was conducted face-to-face. As per their subcontract, IPSOS submitted the PPT reports of the IDIs for tiger and FGDs for ivory as well as the PPT report for the online survey in March. The Activity reviewed the reports, held discussions on comments and revisions with IPSOS. The final PPT documents including an integrated version of key findings from the survey, FGDs and IDIs, were submitted in April. The PPT report on the Thailand research can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/2N7ZEnm. IPSOS submitted the integrated quantitative and qualitative report in the Word format in April. It will be posted in the website once finalized.
Some significant findings from the formative research are: • Among the Thai population, 2% and 1%, own or use ivory products and tiger products, respectively. • Users and those who intend to buy/use ivory and tiger are generally more affluent, middle to older age, married with kids, have at least a diploma, either business owners, merchants or office workers. • There are more female users and intenders of ivory and more male users and intenders of tiger products. • Spiritual belief in the power of the animal (brings good luck or fortune, wards off evil) is one important common driver for buying or using ivory and tiger. • Another important driver to purchase and desire for ivory is its innate beauty. • Enhancing success or affluence is also another common driver underlying the desire for ivory and tiger.
Task 1.2.13 Conduct workshop to disseminate results of baseline and formative research The integrated quantitative and qualitative report was presented to USAID and the Deputy Director General (DDG) of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) in April and May, respectively. On June 5, 2018, USAID Wildlife Asia presented both quantitative and qualitative findings of the Thailand formative research to a larger audience. There were 82 participants including Thai government officials, representatives from the Counter Wildlife Trafficking Interagency Working Group of the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, relevant donors (e.g., the EU, the U.K.), United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, INTERPOL, local and international NGOs, other CWT and conservation stakeholders, local media and USAID partners in related fields. After the presentation of findings, participants were organized into small groups to discuss how the research can be applicable to their respective organizations’ work. The event had two major outputs: 1. An action plan on applying the research to demand reduction, law enforcement or policy work
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2. Coverage in newspapers and websites, Facebook live streaming and posts, and broadcast television and government websites. The report of the event can be downloaded at https://bit.ly/2R6lueq.
Task 1.2.14 Conduct SBCC and message development for online campaign workshop with conservation partnership and introduce mapping campaign USAID Wildlife Asia conducted an SBCC workshop for Thai NGOs from October 9-11, 2017 (see task 1.2.24 below). After the workshop, a meeting was organized to discuss the project’s proposed online campaign proposal and introduce the ivory mapping campaign. An initial observation to validate the existence of ivory products was conducted and information revealed that ivory and tiger products, particularly amulets, continue to be sold in amulet malls and Chinatown outlets. The campaign concept was then further developed in consultation with IUCN Thailand (see task 1.2.17 below).
Task 1.2.15 Pretest messages and materials for online demand reduction campaign Please see narrative in 1.2.16 below. Pretesting of messages was done as part of the campaign pilot launch.
Task 1.2.16 Develop and implement demand reduction component of online campaign In December 2017, USAID approved the online campaign called the Digital Deterrence Campaign, as a pilot activity. It aims to increase the perception of risks among potential illegal wildlife consumers and deter them from completing their purchase online. Through sustained messaging, it will create a hostile, uncomfortable and ‘riskier’ trading online environment, which is expected to deter potential online buyers from pursuing their purchase, thus decreasing the demand for Digital Deterrence Campaign’s landing page wildlife parts and products. During the second and third quarter, the campaign concept and draft messages were presented to the DDG of DNP and USAID/RDMA. The campaign concept is as follows: When someone uses one of selected “sensitive keywords” (keywords that connote possible interest in purchasing ivory, tiger, rhino or pangolin obtained from Freeland and other sources) to search the internet using google, one of four alternative messages will appear. The four messages are based on Concept 1: Searching for you; Concept 2: Searching for bad luck; Concept 3: Can you afford the fines and Concept 4: Official alert. When the person still pursues the search and clicks on the link below the message, s/he will be directed to a splash or landing page containing a warning that the content searched may be prohibited, and that the Thai authorities are monitoring illegal wildlife trade online. Digital analytics will record the number of keyword searches and ads served and will monitor the IP addresses used by searchers. The following is a copy of the splash or landing page: DNP and the Activity agreed that it was important potential buyers perceive the messages and landing page as legal and coming from a government authority. In June, DNP approved the concept with the use of the words ‘official alert’ (in lieu of ‘police alert’) and the DNP logo on the landing page. It also agreed on a slight adjustment to the page design of two peepholes resembling eyes gazing at the web search.
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On July 3, USAID Wildlife Asia presented the final DNP-approved concept and landing page design to USAID, which agreed that only the DNP logo will be placed on the landing page. Containing the warning, the page should be perceived as coming from a legitimate government authority. For the information page, the USAID logo will be placed with the DNP logo following branding guidelines. The campaign was launched as a pilot on August 4. It was pretested in one week after the launch and no major issues were found. Campaign progress will be documented in the first quarterly report of FY19.
Task 1.2.17 Plan and implement participatory mapping and campaign activity Planning for this campaign was initiated in the second quarter in collaboration with IUCN Thailand. Activities were based on discussions with IUCN and results of the undercover observation of retail shops conducted by the project in November 2017 in Bangkok. It revealed focal species products were being sold in some shops including ivory amulets and tiger skin in some amulet malls, tiger bone wine in some TCM shops in Chinatown, and ivory amulets and elephant products in a few temples (see findings in the quarter 1 report). The mapping campaign’s goal is to change norms by increasing social unacceptability of wildlife product consumption especially among groups that continue to desire these products. Its activities aim to increase online pledges and generate active engagement and pressure from social networks and communities against trading of illegal ivory and tiger products. The activities are: a) mapping and reporting of retail outlets selling these products by trained volunteers from IUCN member organizations; b) preparing and disseminating stories on consumer demand by trained citizen journalists; and c) promoting purchase deterrence messages within or surrounding areas where actual purchases (point of purchase) of illegal products are made. The campaign concept was approved by USAID in March and by DNP in April. Procurement was initiated for the IUCN subcontract. However, implementation of the campaign was suspended so that resources can better be used for campaigns that would directly impact Objective 1 indicators. The point of purchase component will be retained for the campaign addressing spiritual beliefs in ivory and tiger in Year 3.
Task 1.2.18 Develop and concept test overarching USAID Wildlife Asia campaign signature In the first quarter, the project issued a solicitation for creative agencies to develop the signature and creatives for demand reduction campaigns for Thailand. McCann was selected. The signature will be developed as part of creatives for demand reduction campaigns to be implemented in Year 3.
Task 1.2.19 Conduct stakeholder workshop to develop integrated mobilization strategy for ivory demand reduction campaign – aligned with mapping With the suspension of the ivory and tiger mapping campaign, this workshop has been dropped.
Task 1.2.20 Implement the integrated mobilization strategy for ivory demand reduction During the second quarter, this activity was incorporated in the participatory ivory and tiger mapping campaign as per 1.2.17 above since it shares the same objective and activities. Task 1.2.21 Develop and implement an ivory campaign mobilizing religious leaders In the second quarter, the Activity prepared a literature review on the role of religious leaders in Thailand in helping change environmental practices and past activities involving religious leaders and faith-based groups as agents of change on environmental and wildlife issues. The review served as a background document to identify potential influencers (individuals and groups) to be mobilized for the campaign addressing spiritual beliefs that is planned in collaboration with WildAid in Year 3.
Task 1.2.22 Conduct dipstick sentinel survey to assess results In the third quarter, it was decided that the dipstick sentinel survey to assess results of implemented campaigns would be postponed since there were no major demand reduction campaigns, except the I am #Ivory Free campaign and digital deterrence campaign, launched in Year 2.
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Task 1.2.23 Conduct participatory workshop to develop strategy for integrated tiger demand reduction campaign Based on the results of the formative research, the tiger demand campaign will be integrated in the campaign to address spiritual beliefs in tiger and ivory. Targeting one driver that underlies desire for two or more species will be a more cost-efficient and effective campaign strategy.
Task 1.2.24 Continue needs-based capacity strengthening activities and updating of SBCC tool for wildlife demand reduction SBCC Workshop for Thai NGOs, October 9-11, 2017 On October 9-11, the Activity conducted an SBCC workshop for Thai NGOs in Bangkok using a revised module which incorporated learnings from the SBCC workshop held in China in June 2017. Twenty participants from ten NGOs and one government agency, DNP, attended. NGOs represented include Freeland Foundation (USAID Wildlife Asia subcontractor), Nature Play and Learn Club, Love Wildlife Foundation, Bird Conservation Society of Thailand (BCST), Seub Nakhasathien Foundation (SNF), Green World Foundation, IUCN, WildAid, WCS, and TRAFFIC. Day 1 covered presentations and discussions on the Activity, consumer situation analysis, SBCC as well as sharing of past communication campaigns. On Day 2-3, participants were divided into small groups to discuss and work on the behavior analysis and planning matrix for a demand reduction campaign. To develop a campaign, each group was assigned to one among three target audiences, i.e. status-driven ivory users, spiritual belief-driven ivory users, and superstitious/spiritual belief-driven tiger amulet users. The exercise used a building block process starting from behavior analysis. A short presentation on the concepts guiding each step in the matrix was made prior to each exercise session. Each group presented their outputs after each session. The final group presentations consisted of a description of the target audience and drivers/barriers to the desired behavior, one creative
Ivory driven by Spirituality Ivory driven by Status Tiger driven by Spirituality material and corresponding activities/strategies for their campaign. An SBCC plan matrix and corresponding creative materials were developed by the small groups. These are outputs of workshop exercises only and not necessarily what the Activity will operationalize or implement. Below is a sample of materials developed and presented by each group. SBCC toolkit development In Year 3, the SBCC module used in the workshops will be refined and developed as a toolkit that will serve as a reference for CWT and conservation organizations in using SBCC for demand reduction. Actual case studies will be included, as recommended by workshop participants in Thailand and China.
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Poster and auxiliary sessions on applying SBCC in CWT during SBCC Summit in Bali USAID Wildlife Asia held a poster session on the Iam#IvoryFree campaign and results during the SBCC summit in Bali in April 2018. On April 19, the Activity also organized an auxiliary session on Applying SBCC Strategies to Reduce Demand for Illegal Wildlife Parts and Products. The Objective I Lead and USAID/RDMA REO Director facilitated the session, attended by 12 participants. It aimed to share findings from the Activity’s research on consumption drivers for illegal wildlife products in China and Thailand, discuss campaigns to target these behaviors, engage participants in a dialogue around applying SBCC approaches, and crowd- source approaches and new ideas. The REO Director noted that the summit exposed participants to new ways of thinking. She was encouraged by the interest in USAID Wildlife Asia, especially among her colleagues in USAID Washington, adding that there is a great opportunity for the Activity to act as a catalyst to bring outside practitioners together and as a Poster Presentation at the SBCC Summit thought leader for applying SBCC to CWT and conservation.
Other Activities: Negotiations with International Air Transport Association (IATA), Thai Airways and Minor Group on demand reduction activities targeting tourists in Thailand In the last quarter, the team initiated discussions with key stakeholders in the tourism industry for potential activities that can be leveraged to reduce demand for illegal wildlife among tourists in Thailand. Meeting with Thai Airways (TG) and IATA on July 25, 2018 On July 25, USAID Wildlife Asia met with Thai Airways (TG) Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Environment Department and key staff, and an individual from IATA Thailand to explore possibilities for future collaboration in planned campaigns to reduce demand for illegal wildlife targeting tourists. TG is a signatory to the Buckingham Palace Declaration and is committed to combat illegal wildlife trafficking. The meeting identified activities for potential awareness-raising that would target TG passengers from China and other countries to Thailand’s destinations. These activities, if implemented, would be leveraged funding from TG and IATA and the Activity would provide technical assistance. Follow-up meetings were agreed upon. A TG representation and the individual from IATA Thailand also participated in the June 21 Demand Reduction Coordination meeting. Meeting with Minor Group on September 5, 2018 The Minor Group International is a Thai-based company whose vision is empowering sustainability and long-term sustainable development. It operates two large hotel chains – Anantara and Avani. Minor is committed to elephant conservation. On September 5, the team met the Minor Group’s Director of Sustainability and Conservation to discuss collaboration on demand reduction activities targeting tourists staying at Anantara and Avani. He suggested that Minor produce a short (60 seconds maximum) video that can be shown in the in-house channel of the hotel. The video would be on Cultural Do’s and Don’ts for tourists in Thailand in which demand reduction messages will be incorporated e.g. laws governing import and export of ivory to and from Thailand and purchase of other illegal wildlife products. He
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 19 requested that USAID Wildlife Asia draft a creative brief for this video which he will discuss with senior management. The draft brief was prepared and sent to him on September 17. Task 1.3 Reduce Consumer Demand in Vietnam In the third quarter, the USAID Vietnam Mission bought into USAID Wildlife Asia for the extension of the Chi Initiative, which is a social marketing program, first implemented in 2014 to combat the status- driven use of rhino horn. Chi Initiative Phase III under USAID Wildlife Asia will expand the focus to tackle other use types and allow for its application to different species. A subcontract was signed between RTI and TRAFFIC, Chi Initiative’s implementing organization, for the following scope of work: • Social mobilization activities with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and their business members to encourage corporate institutions and individual businessmen and women to act as leaders in taking a stand against the consumption of rhino horn in their personal lives and business networks • Activities with Vietnam government partners to reinforce social responsibility among senior government figures and decision-making authorities in Vietnam, leading innovative practice towards desired behaviors. • Monitoring, evaluation and learning In the third quarter, mobilization activities were launched. Mobilization plan and Gantt for Vietnam scope of work TRAFFIC submitted the mobilization plan for the Vietnam scope of work (SOW) under USAID Wildlife Asia on June 18. The SOW for Intelligent Media was also prepared and submitted to the Activity. USAID Wildlife Asia Work Planning Meeting in Pattaya Three members of the Vietnam team attended the Work Planning Meeting in Pattaya on July 16 -20 and delivered a presentation on the Chi Initiative and all aspects of demand reduction work to be implemented in Vietnam in Year 3 and 4 under funding from USAID Wildlife Asia. After the meeting, the Vietnam team worked closely with the Objective I Team Lead to fine-tune the work plan for Year 3. Recruitment of two full time positions: Project Officer and Communications Officer Following the approval from RTI and the Objective I Team Lead on the terms of reference (TOR) for the Communications and Project Officers, the Vietnam team recruited two candidates for the positions: • Project Officer, starting on September 4 • Communications Officer, starting on September 17 Orientation working session in Vietnam USAID Wildlife Asia Bangkok team members, including the COR, Objective I Team Lead, Communications and Outreach Specialist, and Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, joined the Vietnam team on August 27-29 to conduct orientations and working sessions in Hanoi. All full- and part-time project staff and Intelligentmedia team members participated in the sessions. Official launch event of USAID Wildlife Asia Activity in Vietnam – August 28 In Hanoi, USAID Wildlife Asia was launched in Vietnam on August 28 along with an announcement in relation to Chi Phase III. The launch was held in Hanoi’s historic Press Club and welcomed an audience of around 80 members of NGOs, CSOs, the Vietnamese government, and the media. The event featured presentations on the past successes and the future of the Chi Initiative, as well as recent findings from TRAFFIC’s tiger consumer survey. USAID Vietnam’s Acting Mission Director, Deputy Director at USAID Vietnam’s Environment and Social Development Office, TRAFFIC’s Head of Office in Vietnam and USAID Wildlife Asia’ Chief of Party, all spoke at the event. A sample of media coverage for the launch can be found below: https://bit.ly/2NVHsTg https://bit.ly/2Rbx2gl
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 20 https://bit.ly/2zH3AZ5 https://bit.ly/2xYrX24 Refer to the full report of the launch event, which will be on the USAID Wildlife Asia website.
Task 1.3.1 Engage CSOs and their business members to reduce demand for rhino horn consumption After the official launch of USAID Wildlife Asia activity in Vietnam, the project team set up various meetings with local CSO partners, including Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Vietnam Automobile and Transportation Association (VATA), Center for Women and Development (CWD), and the Vietnam Handicraft Village to develop a detailed plan of action for Year 3.
Task 1.3.1.1 Update Chi SBCC materials The TOR for the Invitation to Tender to develop SBCC activities and toolkits to reduce demand for rhino horn in Vietnam was developed and approved by the Objective I Team Lead on August 2. The Invitation to Tender was released on various channels. Two local creative agencies, Intelligentmedia (IM) and Ngan Ha Media, submitted their applications. Both agencies were invited to present their ideas to the evaluation committee on September 12. Upon the committee’s review, IM received a higher score. The team is now working on finalizing all necessary documents to submit for approval to proceed with contracting for this work. Another TOR for Invitation to Tender to produce a behavior change video to reduce demand for rhino horn in Vietnam was also developed will be released once the key visuals for Chi Phase III become available.
Task 1.3.1.2 Work with existing and new CSO partners to socially mobilize zero tolerance on wildlife consumption among business members and to support the new initiative A Year 3 plan of action, in consultation with CSOs as mentioned above, is currently being developed and will be submitted to Objective I Team Lead for approval.
Task 1.3.1.3 Recruit influencers and change-agents through partner network to deliver messages promoting zero tolerance of wildlife consumption and supporting the initiative During the meetings with CSO partners, at least three leaders from VCCI, VATA and CWD expressed commitment to support and champion the Activity’s demand reduction work in Vietnam, including: • Deputy Director, Promotion Center for Small & Medium Enterprises, VCCI • Director, CWD • Chairman, VATA
Task 1.3.1.4 Work with the Buddhist Association and at least three pagodas or temples to disassociate spiritual belief from the use of illegal wildlife products The Vietnam team had a preliminary working session with the Central Buddhist Association and received its consent to collaborate on August 8. A preliminary timeline for integrated events with the Association in the next two years was discussed. The team is now drafting a detailed work plan based on the discussion. In October, a follow-up meeting will be held to finalize the workplan.
Task 1.3.1.5 Engage Vietnamese members of the Community of Practice to exchange creative ideas on reducing demand for illegal wildlife products (IWP) Two leaders from local CSOs (VCCI and Vietnam Ecommerce Association) were invited to participate in an expert roundtable on “The Role of Messengers and Messages in Influencing Behavioral Change, to Reduce Demand for Illegal Wildlife Products” organized by TRAFFIC as part of its USAID Wildlife TRAPS project, on August 15-16. The leaders strongly demonstrated their enthusiasm and commitment to continue championing the demand reduction work in Vietnam.
Task 1.3.2 Work with Vietnamese government partners to reduce demand for rhino horn
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Two main government partners for Task 1.3.2 are the National Assembly (NA) and the Central Committee for Propaganda and Education (CCPE). During the reporting period, team members approached both agencies to discuss possible collaboration. Some key highlights: Central Committee for Propaganda and Education (CCPE) • Deputy Director of Scientific Research, Professional and Documentation Center, CCPE was invited to be a panelist on “project partners’ efforts and commitments to reduce demand for illegal wildlife products in Vietnam” at the launch event in August. He emphasized that the Party and the Government paid close attention to wildlife crimes in Vietnam. In many of the Party’s Resolutions, protection of the environment including biodiversity conservation was mentioned as key to sustainable development. This is stressed in Resolution No.24/2013, in which the Party requests relevant agencies to adopt innovative methods to respond to climate change and protect biodiversity. He also spoke highly of the Chi Initiative for reducing demand of rhino horn. The CCPE’s support of the Chi Initiative means that it can contribute to the planned objectives of the Party’s Resolution. CCPE will focus on improving capacity building for propagandists and journalists on writing articles that discourage illegal wildlife consumption in the Government and in society in collaboration with USAID Wildlife Asia. • After the launch event, team members sent an official letter to CCPE requesting an official preliminary meeting with an appointed point of contact from the agency on September 10. Details of the discussion will be covered in the next reporting period. National Assembly (NA) The Vietnam team set up two meetings with the National Assembly (NA): • The first meeting on September 5 was to acquire the NA’s permission and cooperation in organizing three side events at the NA Annual Meeting of the Communist Party. The side events aim to seek interest from political leaders and urge actions on illegal wildlife trade. The NA agreed on this. • The second meeting on September 7 was to develop concepts and content for the proposed side events with NA experts. The meeting further specified the activity plan at the side-events. After the meeting, the Vietnam team drafted an official letter to the NA requesting its cooperation as per NA standard procedures. The next step is to wait for official feedback from the NA on the first side event planned for November 2018.
Task 1.3.2.1 Organize two capacity-building workshops for government officials The details of this Activity will be covered in next reporting period after the team meets with the CCPE.
Task 1.3.2.2 Organize three high-profile events for political leaders to seek their interest and urge actions on illegal wildlife trade See Task 1.3.2. The detail of this activity will be reported in the next period.
Task 1.3.3 Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) The Vietnam team has been working with USAID Wildlife Asia MEL Specialist on providing inputs to the Activity MEL plan. The team submitted the raw data of the baseline consumer survey which was conducted by an independent research company, Globescan, under the USAID Saving Species project. The data is now being analyzed to establish baselines and targets for Vietnam.
Task 1.4 Plan activities with community of practice. Coordinate demand reduction activities During this year, no joint activities with the TRAFFIC Community of Practice were undertaken. However, activities were initiated to strengthen coordination among organizations that are involved in demand reduction activities in Thailand and China. The following activities were accomplished:
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Coordination meeting with NGOs on demand reduction in China organized To follow up on the agreement during Pangolin Strategy Workshop in June, the China Team organized an NGO roundtable meeting on September 12 in Beijing. Six local and international NGOs participated in the meeting including WWF/TRAFFIC China, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Global Environment Institution (GEI), World Animal Protection (WAP), The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGBF). NRDC, WildAid and Eco-bridge Continental were invited but were not available for the meeting. Participants shared progress in wildlife conservation, demand reduction, law enforcement and capacity building and policy areas.
Organization Progress Updates Wildlife Conservation • Continuing law enforcement and capacity building with government authority; Society (WCS) • Setting up a mechanism with government authority to award key persons helping in CWT especially around border areas. The activity will be launched soon in collaboration with WildAid and TRAFFIC. Global Environment • Will conduct an ivory market survey and policy implementation evaluation since Institution (GEI) ivory trade ban implemented on January 1, 2018; • Will set up a cross-border information sharing mechanism and conduct capacity building with government authority; • Continuing its community building and offer alternative livelihoods in Southeast Asia and seeking opportunities to involve anti-poaching in community education. WWF/TRAFFIC China • Will publish report of China’s Ivory Market after the Ivory Trade Ban in 2018; • Will mobilize tourism industry private sectors and promote Be-responsible Travelers lifestyle to advocate wildlife-products-free during travelling; • Will mobilize antique and artworks e-commercial APP to discuss wildlife products supply reduction especially targeting pangolin scales carving; • Will conduct domestic and cross-border law enforcement and capacity building with government authority The Nature Conservancy • Invited celebrities as KOLs and published a series of PSAs and short videos on (TNC) pangolin demand reduction with WildAid; • Conducting Policy advocacy through TNC Board and Committees such as Pony MA, the CEO and founder of Tencent; • TNC mainly focuses on Natural Reserves, integrating demand reduction in community and school education; • Published short video – “3 minute to know pangolin” to public. World Animal Protection • Introduced its strategy of 1) Wildlife. Not Entertainers; 2) Wildlife. Not (WAP) Medication; 3) Wildlife, Not Pet; • Mobilized KOLs and private sectors from travel and TCM industries China Biodiversity • Issuing official letters to government requesting them to publish storage Conservation and Green information on confiscated pangolin scales; Development Foundation • Assisting to set up pangolin rescue shelter in Guangxi Province; (CBCGBF) • Setting up mechanism to award volunteers on pangolin rescue and wildlife conservation; • Sponsoring wildlife conservation equipment to Africa.
Coordination meeting on demand reduction for illegal wildlife in Thailand organized On August 21, the Thailand team organized the coordination meeting on demand reduction for illegal wildlife products at the USAID Asia Regional Training Center. This was the follow-up meeting after the Thailand formative research dissemination event on June 5. The team presented its planned demand reduction campaigns for Year 3 and the overall messaging approach and discussed results of Expert Roundtable on Messengers and Messaging and what this means for demand reduction campaigns. The participating organizations were invited to share information on their plans for demand reduction activities in Thailand and discuss how they can be coordinated.
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After the discussion ended, the results were consolidated. The key actions for some organizations to move the coordination moving forward were identified. The Activity committed to create the information sharing platform (google drive) and take lead to organize the second coordination meeting tentatively planned in November. The google drive was prepared and sent to participants in September. The report from the event can be downloaded at: https://bit.ly/2R9Oima Participation in TRAFFIC Expert Roundtable on Messengers and Messaging On August 15-16, Objective 1 Team Members, MEL Specialist and Communication Specialist participated in the Expert Roundtable on “The Role of Messengers and Messages in Influencing Behavioral Change, to Reduce Demand for Illegal Wildlife Products” organized by TRAFFIC.
OBJECTIVE 2: INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF CAPACITY FOR EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT
Strategic Approach 2.1 Institutionalization of Capacity for Effective Enforcement Task 2.1.1 Conduct/refine CWT institutionalization needs assessment (police academies) Working in close cooperation with the USAID Saving Species Activity, USAID Wildlife Asia finalized two needs assessments with the Vietnam People’s Police Academy (PPA) in Hanoi and the Vietnam People’s Police University (PPU) in Ho Chi Minh City. Overall, discussions were very positive with the two academies showing a keen interest in integrating CWT into their training curricula. Detailed reports were prepared following both missions outlining the immediate needs of each police academy. A further strategic planning meeting with the PPA resulted in a detailed longer term workplan focusing on priority activities and including how USAID Wildlife Asia and USAID Saving Objective 2 Lead meets with the Vietnam People's Police Species will coordinate to provide support. Academy Vice President, Major General in May 2018 Meetings were organized with the Thai Police Education Bureau (TPEB) to discuss the Counter Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC) course and the potential for integrating wildlife crime into their training curricula. While discussions are still underway, no immediate activities are expected until Year 3 where support will be provided to Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NRECD) to respond to post-CTOC request for CWT capacity building, which will be done in close cooperation and coordination with the Thai Education Police Bureau.
Task 2.1.2 Utilize existing Wildlife Crime Working Group The initial plan in Year 2 was to engage with the INTERPOL Wildlife Crime Working Group in order to evaluate and validate regional training needs, ensure that capacity building efforts were “needs” driven, and develop recommendations on how capacity building efforts can best be institutionalized within participating agencies and organizations. The aim was to develop a joint award program with the Working Group to recognize effective and successful multiagency and multinational law enforcement collaboration in wildlife cases. While initial meetings and follow-up discussions with the INTERPOL Wildlife Crime Working Group showed some promise, it became clear by the end of the first quarter that there was not enough buy-in to warrant pursuing this strategy further. Following a review of potential alternative options and internal
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 24 discussion, it was agreed that the best approach would be to drop this activity. Thus, beyond the first quarter of Year 2, no further progress was reported.
Task 2.1.3 Implement and deliver capacity to law enforcement with a focus on understanding transnational organized crime and methods to combat it Counter Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC) Course In Year 2, USAID Wildlife Asia delivered two more CTOC trainings bringing the total to four over the life of the Activity. The third CTOC was held in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, on February 5-10 and was co-hosted with Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). The course was attended by 38 mid- and senior-level officers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. This course helped bridge the gap in transnational investigations on wildlife trafficking. African and Asian counterparts were engaged throughout the process and worked together towards dismantling a fictitious organized criminal network. Strong relationships were established which has helped pave the way for better information exchange and the development of more robust informal communication networks which are still active today. The fourth CTOC was co-hosted with INL and INTERPOL on June 25-July 1 and was held in Hua Hin, Thailand. The course was attended by 35 mid- and senior-officers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand and Vietnam. Through the course, law enforcement officers developed requisite skills for targeting wildlife trafficking syndicates in Africa and Asia. What made this course unique was that the Activity and INTERPOL decided to include a RIACM (Regional Investigative Analytic Case Management) module for participants to work on active cases to encourage and foster trust and collaboration in the dismantling of organized criminal syndicates. Post CTOC capacity building The major accomplishments in Year 2 of the program included: • Ongoing supply chain analysis to be able to determine key players in the field of organized wildlife trafficking and technical assistance using the analysis. This involved preparing information packages for participating law enforcement agencies for post-CTOC follow-up; • Training of Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) in the use of analytical and digital forensics tools; • The potential for setting-up a taskforce in Thailand to take on cases outlined in the RIACM section of the CTOC as per the request of Royal Thai Police (RTP); • A targeted meeting with AMLO to commence investigation on Boonchai Bach’s assets after his arrest in Thailand; and • Post-CTOC results in Africa due in part to information supplied during the CTOC events.
Task 2.1.4 Develop a cadre of trainers Over the year, the cadre of trainers has grown to encompass 30 trainers including a mix of national, regional and international instructors. The roster includes independent consultants as well law enforcement agencies such as INTERPOL; Technology Crime Suppression Division of the Royal Thai Police; Thailand Investigation and Suppression Division under the Customs Department; AMLO Thailand; Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP); Cambodia National Authority for Combatting Drugs; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Grace Farms Foundation and the National and Transnational Serious Crimes Investigations Unit in Tanzania.
Task 2.1.6 Develop innovative materials and tools to support more effective enforcement capacity
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Rapid Reference Guide USAID Wildlife Asia completed the Rapid Reference Guide (RRG) for Wildlife Investigators and Prosecutors in Thailand. The process began with the organization of a working group meeting in December 2017 chaired by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in Thailand and involving officers from Royal Thai Police, Customs Department, AMLO and DNP; which laid the foundation for the development of the RRG. A draft, which was developed by a subject matter expert consultant, was sent to the working group for further input and refinement. This was followed by a validation workshop in April 2018 to incorporate the working group’s comments and recommendations. The English and Thai translations have been approved and a bound booklet will be printed for the OAG to use and distribute. Key agencies also expected to receive the RRG will include the Royal Thai Police, NRECD, DNP, Thai Customs Department, AMLO and the Yieow Dong Task Force. Law enforcement field guide to pangolin species identification The Activity finalized the pangolin species identification guide and has to date made it available in 11 languages including English, French, Indonesian, Khmer, Lao, Malay, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Thai, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese. The English version was well received at the CITES Standing Committee meeting in Geneva in November 2017 resulting in the Guide being further made available online on the CITES Virtual College. Six languages (including English) were launched at the thirtieth meeting of the CITES Animals Committee in July 2018. The plan is to launch all languages at the CITES Standing Committee Meeting in Sochi in October 2018. The Vietnam General Department of Customs officially requested to re-print the document using its own funds for distribution to frontline officers in remote border locations. The Guide was developed as a mobile phone application with USAID Wildlife Asia working with the IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group to refine the framework for an interactive search function. At the time of finalizing this report, the app was available in eight languages with the remainder expecting to be added in the first quarter of FY19. Build capacity of law enforcement to exploit cell phones obtained in wildlife investigations In Year 2, a market needs assessment was conducted to identify the most competitive vendor for digital forensic equipment and tools. The company Cellebrite was identified as the best option and the purchase of equipment was scheduled for Year 3 with training to focus on AMLO, RTP at Suvarnabhumi Airport and Thai Customs Department. Due to budgetary constraints, however, this activity will now not be pursued in Year 3. Pangolin care workshop In April 2018, based upon a request for assistance, the Activity and Thailand’s DNP organized the country’s first Pangolin Care Workshop at Khao Yai National Park. Thai police, customs officers and DNP’s Wildlife Quarantine Center staff participated in the training. Experts from Save Vietnam’s Wildlife were invited to help lead the workshop. Topics included introduction to pangolins; overview of pangolin trafficking; evaluating and monitoring the health of confiscated pangolins; transporting pangolins; recommended enclosure set-up; dietary and feeding requirements; steps to rehabilitation; and pangolin- release protocols. The workshop fulfilled all its objectives and was positively received. “The knowledge gained will be very useful in rescuing [confiscated] pangolins from conducting initial care to releasing them back to the wild,” one participant remarked.
Task 2.1.7 Build capacity of law enforcement on open-source intelligence (OSINT) to tackle the threat posed by illegal online wildlife trade In Year 2, the Activity delivered a training to the Yieow Dong Taskforce (YDTF) on investigative techniques, crime scene investigation and open-source intelligence (OSINT). The course was aimed at equipping law enforcement with the skills necessary to track how wildlife crime moves from conventional storefronts to online platforms. A secondary objective of the course was to equip members of the YDTF with skills and knowledge necessary to develop their capacity in investigative
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 26 techniques and crime scene investigation. The training course was developed in response to a request made by the YDTF who expressed interest in developing their capacity in OSINT and investigative techniques. Progress was also made in the production of a draft a rapid-reference booklet for online wildlife trafficking investigators, an activity which will be expanded and implemented in Year 3.
Task 2.1.8 Develop and deliver a capacity building program for private sector stakeholders Throughout the year, the Activity delivered two trainings to engage with the aviation and banking sectors. The first training was for Lao Airlines, and implemented in April 2018, in Vientiane. An initial scoping trip revealed that the airline was interested in a full-scale installation, similar to what is implemented under the ROUTES project. Therefore, the scope of the activity in Lao PDR was expanded to cover mannequins demonstrating various methods of wildlife smuggling, posters, banners and life size wildlife replicas. The training, which attracted more than 70 participants, was positively received. Feedback analysis indicated a striking jump in wildlife trafficking knowledge amongst participants who were drawn from cargo, security, passenger and corporate departments of Lao Airlines. Training was also scheduled with Angkor Air, but engagement by the airline was sporadic. They welcomed a scoping mission, but then stated that they would be able to only provide 12 participants. Repeated follow up by phone and email over several weeks yielded no further discussions; therefore, engagement with the airline was dropped. Instead, discussions were initiated with Thai Airways with the expectation that a training course will be organized with them next fiscal year. On September 21, USAID Wildlife Asia delivered, what is believed to be, the first ever Bank Sector Awareness Training in collaboration with the State Bank of Vietnam as the host of the event. The aim of the workshop was to arm banks with information and techniques to prevent their facilities being misused by wildlife traffickers. The half day training workshop covered an introduction to wildlife trafficking, the illicit supply chain, indicators and red flags, and how to detect and report suspicious cases. The event was attended by over 70 participants drawn from 60 Hanoi-based banks. The presentations stimulated lively and heated discussion around constraints of current information sharing protocols related to illegal financial flows and money laundering, and the need for wildlife trafficking related typologies and red flags that allow compliance officers to more effectively detect illegal activity.
Strategic Approach 2.2 Strengthen regional, international & inter-institutional law enforcement cooperation and coordination Task 2.2.2 Foster improved bilateral, regional and international collaboration both within ASEAN and between ASEAN and African stakeholders In addition to the two CTOC events highlighted under Task 2.1.3 which represented important collaborative events, two additional workshops focused on fostering collaboration were also organized. The first was in June 2018 where USAID Wildlife Asia and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) held a course entitled “Crime Scene Management and Advanced Investigative Techniques for Wildlife Trafficking Cases”. The course strengthened Cambodian law enforcement capacity to detect, identify and interdict illegal wildlife shipments and conduct follow-up investigations leading to the charging and prosecution of those involved. Participants included frontline officers and specialized investigators from the forestry administration, the wildlife rapid rescue team, police and customs. Topics included wildlife crime scenes management, electronic surveillance, controlled delivery and online investigations. The event is part of USAID Wildlife Asia and UNODC’s ongoing commitment to jointly fund events to improve enforcement in ways that move beyond seizures to arrests, prosecutions and asset seizures of high-level members of criminal supply chains. The second event, also a joint USAID Wildlife Asia and UNODC workshop was organized in August 2018, titled “Risk Profiling to Enhance Interception of Illegal Wildlife Trade Training Course”. The three-day training course targeted a combination of frontline officers including police, customs and
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 27 prosecutors. Course participants included 15 customs officers, two Forestry Administration officers and three officers from the Anti-Economic Crime Department. The workshop also took advantage of a separate UNODC-sponsored “field study visit” of African customs officials from Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Uganda to build relationships and partnerships between source and transit/destination countries.
OBJECTIVE 3: INCREASING COMMITMENT TO ADDRESSING CWT
Strategic Approach 3.1 Support National Legislative Policy and Regulatory Reforms Task 3.1.1 Assess regional laws and policies, as well as legislative work programs, in order to prioritize USAID Wildlife Asia interventions
Development of policy research papers Two major policy research papers were developed including 1) the Scaling Efforts to Counter-Wildlife Trafficking Through Legislative Reforms: Policy and Legislative Analysis, and Recommendations for Thailand (Policy Package); and 2) The Principles of Restitution and Wildlife Conservation Funds - Additional Remedy to Wildlife and Forest Offenses (Restitution and Conservation Fund Monograph). Scaling Efforts to Counter-Wildlife Trafficking Through Legislative Reforms: Policy and Legislative Analysis, and Recommendations for Thailand (Thailand Policy Package)
Thailand Policy Package covers the following: • Thailand’s legal framework for implementing CITES and CWT efforts, with key findings and recommendations of the Policy Package. The full comparison of Key Provisions and Penalties between the WARPA and the Draft Wildlife Law can be found in Chapters IV and V respectively in the Policy Package. • Overview of the illegal trade in endangered species and law enforcement efforts in South East Asia. This is an essential perspective as it shows Thailand’s integral role in the region as well as the need for regional cooperation to optimize CWT efforts. • Thailand’s commitments to International Conventions, Treaties, and other Agreements, relevant to CWT measures, including key laws implementing the same. While the focus of this Policy Package is on the WARPA and the Draft Wildlife Law, the transnational and organized crime aspect of wildlife trafficking cannot be over-emphasized. It highlights the importance of inter-agency cooperation and inter-regional collaboration. By providing an overview of the relevant international and regional commitments made by Thailand, and the existence of the enabling laws, this chapter provides a more comprehensive perspective of Thailand’s legal framework in CWT efforts. • Comparative Review of Key Provisions and Definitions between WARPA 1992 and the Draft Wildlife Law. The review and comparison of Thailand’s main wildlife legislation, the WARPA, was done within the framework of Key Provisions identified as important in CWT efforts. The Key Provisions address aspects of wildlife trafficking such as hunting, trading, import, export, re-export, transit, possessing, obtaining and the consumption of wildlife. It also includes enabling mechanisms such as protected species review mechanism, handling and disposal of confiscated wildlife, compensation, reward for informants, establishment of conservation funds and appointment of a special prosecutor for wildlife crimes. The Key Provisions identify elements, which constitute such offences. The Key Provisions are compared, and color coded by improvement (green), status quo (orange), or non-existent (red). The review includes recommendations for improvements to the Draft Wildlife Law, including recommended Best Practices and Model Provisions (drawing from Chapter VI) for adaptation. • Comparative Table of Penalties between the WARPA and Draft Wildlife Law. This penalty comparison is to: 1) map the differences between WARPA and the Draft Wildlife Law; 2) highlight areas for improvement; and
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3) provide a baseline for the review of the key provisions. The penalty review is divided into offences relating to hunting, possession, propagation/breeding, trading, import/export, transit/passing through, setting up zoos, etc. Like Chapter IV, the comparison was done by improvement (green), status quo (orange), or improvement required (red). • Best Practices and Model Provisions – Short descriptions and highlights of key innovations or model provisions from other legal and regulatory framework and enforcement measures of other jurisdictions.
Monograph on the Principles of Restitution and Wildlife Conservation Funds - Additional Remedy to Wildlife and Forest Offenses Although an integral part of the Thailand Policy Package, the monograph on The Principles of Wildlife Conservation Funds and Restitution – Additional Remedy to Wildlife and Forest Offenses can be a stand-alone policy paper for introducing these policy innovations as priority legislative measures in Thailand and in the region. Incorporating conservation fund and restitution mechanism into national wildlife legislations was specifically highlighted by the panel of Parliamentarians at the UN Africa Asia-Pacific Symposium on Strengthening Legal Frameworks to Combat Wildlife Crime Symposium, Bangkok, in July 2017. One of the biggest issues faced by many wildlife law enforcement agencies in the region is the lack of prioritization and funding by their governments. This is especially true in ASEAN member states that are developing countries, where other needs come first such as national gross domestic product, infrastructure development, poverty alleviation, human health, education, etc. When a country is struggling to survive or developing economic competence, protection of its environment and wildlife seldom takes priority. A possible solution might be for countries to establish a Wildlife Conservation Fund whereby proceeds from confiscated assets of wildlife criminals, as well as fines and damages (or at least a percentage of it) can be mandated or ordered to be paid into this fund. The fund can then be used to support the costs of capacity building, enforcement, investigations, behavior change campaigns, handling wildlife seized, rewarding informants, and other costs toward combatting wildlife crime. The monograph was reviewed by a Member of the United States Federal Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking. Through the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the Activity partners with the Parliaments of ASEAN to review and enhance legislative responses to CWT. The monograph was also co-branded AIPA. The document is available on the USAID Wildlife Asia and AIPA websites. Legal translation partnership with Tilleke and Gibbins International Ltd. (T&G) Accurate and legally vetted translation is crucial in legislation review. For the Thailand legislation review portfolio, the Activity collaborated with Tilleke & Gibbins International Ltd. (T&G) in the legal translation of the Draft Wildlife Act. T&G provided pro-bono services, leveraging financial support towards the legislative review of the Draft Wildlife Act. During this period also, T&G endorsed the legal translation of the Draft Elephant Act, which the Activity will review in the coming months with the National Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. During 4th Quarter period USAID Wildlife Asia finalized drafts of two major policy monographs as detailed below. The drafts will undergo internal edit and branding review and will be endorsed and launched in the first quarter of FY19 with Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly, Department of National Parks, Plants and Wildlife Conservation, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.
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The Elephant in the Room: Demystifying Thailand’s Legislative and Regulatory Frameworks on Elephant Protection and Conservation The draft Elephant Act is another initiative by the Thai government to streamline its laws and thereby fulfill its obligation and commitment under CITES National Ivory Action Plan (NIAP) to counter the trafficking of elephants, elephant carcasses and products, and to prevent the laundering of wild elephants (specifically Asian elephant) and illegal ivory into the legal domestic ivory trade and to protect elephants in Thailand. From the outset, there are several challenges that the draft Elephant Act must address, including (a) Coordination and jurisdiction of different agencies mandated by different laws; (b) Existence of legal trade in elephant and elephant ivory/products versus illegal trade; (c) International obligation to curb illegal wildlife trade; and (d) Inconsistent, overlapping and outdated laws. These irregularities create loopholes, which have allowed wildlife traffickers to exploit the illegal trade in elephants and their products. The draft Elephant Act attempts to address several issues and loopholes that span the Beast of Burden Act and the Elephant Ivory Act. As Thailand’s legal domestic trade in elephants, elephant carcasses and products have an impact on, or facilitate wildlife trafficking, this paper attempts to address major relevant legislation in a holistic approach by reviewing key elephant-related laws in Thailand. To that end, this paper provides a baseline comparison of the key provisions of the draft Elephant Act with the following laws: (i) Best of Burden Act B.E 2482 (1939); (ii) Elephant Ivory Act B.E. 2558 (2015); (iii) Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act (WARPA), as amended by B.E. 2557 (2014) (No.3); (iv) Draft WARPA (as at 26 December 2016); (v) Animal Welfare Act B.E. 2557 (2014); (vi) Animal Epidemics Act B.E.2558 (2015); and (vii) Wild Elephant Protection Act B.E. 2464 (1921). This monograph was co-authored by a renowned Asian elephant expert and founder of the Elephant Conservation Network of Thailand (ECN). Scaling Efforts to Counter-Wildlife Trafficking through Legislative Reform – A selection of best practices – Key provisions, key innovations and model provisions The wildlife trafficking market has expanded significantly over the last decade. From an originally European and Western demand, wildlife trafficking has spread to ASEAN states in both the demand and supply sides. Many ASEAN states have now become wildlife trafficking hubs. It is vital that states with prominent wildlife trafficking should implement laws and regulations to decrease the illegal trade in wildlife. This monograph provides a short description and highlights of key provisions and presents a selection of legislative and policy innovations and best practices available in the ASEAN region and other jurisdictions, with examples of model provisions that would enhance CWT efforts. The selection considered insights obtained from consultations with various government stakeholders. Further, the following events led or co-hosted by the Activity provided the recommendations and outputs, taken into account when developing this monograph. The selection of best practices and model provisions can be broadly categorized into the following themes for ease of reference: 1. Harmonizing of protected species list 2. Enhancing enforcement efficacy 3. Sustainability and funding mechanism 4. Governance 5. Incentives and compensation 6. Enhancing deterrent effect of penalties The overarching aim of the model laws and key innovations in this monograph is to use legislation to increase the risk in the commonly understood low-risk, high-reward nature of wildlife trafficking. It is intended that this monograph becomes a live document whereby more best practices and model provisions can be added to the list as the legislative and policy reform arena continues to innovate.
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Task 3.1.3 Provide STTA to individual governments/parliaments to develop strategic legislative agendas and work plans.
CAMBODIA Preliminary inputs to the review process of the draft Environment and Natural Resources Code of Cambodia, through UNDP Cambodia and Vishnu Law Group In October 2017, USAID Wildlife Asia endorsed the Preliminary Review and Recommendations on the CWT-related articles and books of the draft Environment and Natural Resources (NR) Code of Cambodia to UNDP Cambodia and Vishnu Law Group. The Activity utilized key provisions from its policy package Statement of Work in reviewing the wildlife components of the Environment and NR Code. The Activity continued to support CWT Legislative Review and Reforms in Cambodia On March 22, Vishnu Law Group, on behalf of the Ministry of Environment and the TWG (Technical Working Group), organized the seventh National Consultation Workshop on the 10th draft of the Environment and Natural Resources Code of the Kingdom of Cambodia (ENR Code). The target of the workshop was to inform key government institutions, civil society groups, members of the private sector and development partners about the Ministry of
Environment’s policy objectives th th during the drafting stages of the 7 National Consultation Workshop on the 10 Draft of the ENR Code draft ENR Code. USAID Wildlife Asia has provided comments to the 9th and 10th drafts of the ENR Code on CWT related issues. The 11th draft was released in April 2018 in Khmer, not yet in English. The Activity shall, in coordination and collaboration with UNDP and USAID Cambodia, continue to provide expert advice and research support on CWT legislative review of the ENR Code to the Parliament and other stakeholders in consolidating policy best practices from ASEAN, the U.S. and other jurisdictions; and collaborate with UNDP on the implementation of the ENR Code and its legal instruments pertaining to CWT legislation.
LAO PDR The Activity initiated discussion with the ‘Wildlife Legality Compendium’ project funded by FAO in Lao PDR. USAID Wildlife Asia and FAO will continue to share notes and ideas as the FAO team move with the review of the Wildlife and Aquatic Act in 2018, including the Activity-funded posting of a short-term national policy fellow in Lao PDR to support the National Assembly and the FAO legal compendium project team in Year 3. In coordination with RDMA and USAID Mission in Lao PDR, the Activity will also explore facilitating high-level political outreach with some AIPA champion Members of Parliament and support the efforts of Wildlife Legality Compendium Project.
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On May 21-25, 2018, the Lao Government participated in an Observation Mission on CWT Policy Best Practices organized by USAID Wildlife Asia and the Thai Government in Bangkok. The Lao delegation consisted of representatives from the CITES Management Authority, Department of Forest Inspection (DoFI), Department of Combating Natural Resource and Environmental Crime (Environment Police), Customs, Office of the Supreme Public Prosecutor, CITES Scientific Authority and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF). Lao Observation Mission on CWT Policy in Thailand, May 2018
The Lao PDR-Thailand policy exchange initiative explored best practices in regulatory and policy responses to CWT and control of ivory smuggling and promotion of elephant conservation in Lao PDR. The Lao team met key leaders from all relevant CWT-related task forces including the DNP Director General, Royal Forestry Department DDG, Customs Department DDG and the Royal Thai Police Deputy Commissioner General. The Activity facilitated a legislative dialogue with the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Environment (SCNRE) of the NLA, focusing on inclusive policy consultations, utilizing parliamentary oversight powers to support CWT agencies, Thai-Lao High-level bilateral cooperation, and appropriations to task forces and enforcement bodies. The legislative learning session was hosted by the Chairman of the SCNRE of the NLA and was also attended by an Adviser to the Prime Minister of Thailand. Lao PDR will formalize working engagement and cooperate with USAID Wildlife Asia in the review and development of its National Ivory Action Plan (NIAP) implementation strategy and other national commitments to CWT such as the review of Lao PDR's key CITES- enabling legislation, the Wildlife and Aquatic Law No.7/NA, 2007. In August 2018, USAID Wildlife Asia provided inputs to the Lao PDR NIAP Progress Report to CITES. Following the Activity’s recent support to Lao PDR on policy best practices exchange with Thailand in May 2018, the Department of Forestry (DOF) as CITES Management Authority of Lao PDR endorsed USAID Wildlife Asia to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) as a formal partner to support legislative and policy reforms, in particular to support Prime Minister Order No. 5 and Wildlife and Aquatic Management in Lao PDR, No.0360 /MAF.2003. A formal decision on USAID Wildlife Asia’s role duly approved by the Deputy Prime Minister of Lao PDR is forthcoming. In September 2018, CITES Secretariat published "SC70 Doc. 27.3.1 – Compliance matters: Application of Article XIII in the Lao People's Democratic Republic” outlining NIAP progress and commitments by Lao PDR, to be presented at the CITES 70th Standing Committee Meeting on October 1-5, 2018. The report recognizes the role of the Activity in "providing additional support to the Lao Government on its NIAP process” as a follow-up of Lao PDR Observation Mission on CWT Policy Best Practices in May.
THAILAND: Act to plug loopholes and strengthen Thailand’s wildlife legislation underway
Providing policy technical assistance to Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly
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On January 12, the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Environment of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) of Thailand hosted USAID Wildlife Asia at a specialized agenda of their plenary session to present the preliminary draft of the legislative and policy analysis and recommendations package to enhance the CWT component of Thailand's main wildlife legislation, the Wild Animal Reservation and Preservation Act B.E.2535 ("WARPA"), entitled, "Scaling Efforts to Counter-Wildlife Trafficking Through Legislative Reform". Designed as USAID Wildlife Asia team with the Chairman and Vice Chairmen of an innovative, solutions-oriented review, the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Environment of the legislative and policy package is guided the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) of Thailand with key and model provisions identified by ASEAN parliamentarians and enforcement authorities. The package aims to mainstream CWT as a core element of criminal justice and recognized as serious crimes through unbridling inter-jurisdictional arrangements, species-specific level protection, penal and fines provisions, and the complex subsidiary legislation. It provides better prosecution responses and identifies sustainability strategies for better enforcement actions (see the text box above for key Policy Package contents). At the special session, USAID Wildlife Asia and the NLA agreed on next steps to sensitize key MPs assigned to manage the deliberations and enactment of the proposed new wildlife act (that will replace WARPA) utilizing findings from the policy package, organize specialized internal sessions with MPs and key staffers of NLA, and carry on further legislative research support. On April 24, the Activity convened an informal gathering of partners to discuss potential activities in preparation for the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference (IWT2018), including high-level negotiations with the Thai Government to commit to the London Declaration on IWT and working with the NLA to enhance legislations and discuss strengthening the wildlife act. USAID Wildlife Asia was joined by representatives from the British Embassy Bangkok, Freeland, Minor Group - Anantara Hotels, and the Elephant Family UK. The Activity and Elephant Family UK will collaborate on policy paper to analyze legislative and regulatory frameworks on elephant protection and ivory trade in Thailand, which aims to support the needs of the National Legislative Assembly.
Engaging with the National Reform Council on policy reform On June 1, 2018, USAID Wildlife Asia met with the Inspector General of the Office of the Prime Minister, and concurrent Member of the National Reform Council’s (NRC) Environment and Natural Resources Committee to present key findings of the Thailand Policy Package, developed at the behest of the NLA of Thailand. As mentioned above, the team planned with the NRC a potential joint NRC-NLA- DNP policy seminar on Thailand wildlife legislations. The NRC was created through the National Reform Plans and Procedures Act B.E. 2560 (NRPPA) and is tasked to develop a national strategy and roadmap for the environment.
Engaging with Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation on policy reform On June 14, 2018 DNP hosted USAID Wildlife Asia to present the Thailand Policy Package and to jointly strategize on the review of the draft Wildlife Act with the NLA. A revamped draft Wildlife Act was submitted to the Cabinet of Thailand in 2017 and is expected to be endorsed by the Council of State to the NLA by the end of 2018. USAID Wildlife Asia and the DNP agreed on next steps, including a specialized internal learning session with DNP legal focal points and Wildlife Act key specialists on key
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 33 and model provisions to improve the Act; collaboration with upcoming USAID Wildlife Asia field missions with the Supreme Court and the NLA; and supporting the DNP in its high-level ivory and elephant conservation policy research. Both parties also agreed to collaborate on upcoming Thailand- Lao PDR high-level bilateral cooperation on CWT, as a follow-up to the USAID Wildlife Asia-facilitated Lao PDR-Thailand Bilateral Meeting on CWT Policy Best Practices in May 2018. USAID Wildlife Asia and DNP co-hosted Internal Wildlife Legislation Seminar As agreed in the meeting in June, on July 1, the Deputy Director General (DDG) of the DNP hosted a closed-door legal seminar for the Activity to brief the DNP legal specialists and Council of State advisers on the Thailand Policy Package to enhance the CWT component of Thailand's main wildlife legislation, WARPA. Fifteen DNP officers attended the seminar from various divisions (Wildlife Conservation Bureau, Internal Wildlife Legislation Seminar with DNP on July 1, 2018 CITES, Legal Division and International Division), including the drafters of the proposed Wildlife Act and the Elephant Act. The Activity presented the comparative analysis of the key provisions, penalties, best practices and model provisions of the WARPA and the draft Wildlife Act. There were very insightful and open discussions on the improvements, issues and challenges at the meeting. The DNP team expressed interest in the proposed recommendations, including improvements to the penalty provisions, species lists, online trading and evidential procedure on live specimen. As DNP is part of the drafting committee for the draft Elephant Act, it was also briefed on the Activity’s research on Thailand’s legal framework on elephants, particularly the domesticated ones and their products. It further requested for technical support on the ivory trade policy research, in preparation for the IWT conference in London. The DNP team will continue direct consultations with USAID Wildlife Asia in incorporating recommended provisions into the draft Wildlife Act and in reviewing the draft Elephant Act and other relevant legislation. The Activity continues to facilitate a coordinated CWT legislative response bridging Thailand’s executive and legislative bodies. This meeting will be followed by a broader policy dialogue to be hosted by USAID Wildlife Asia for the NLA, the DNP and the NRC after the Council of State's endorsement of the draft Wildlife act to the NLA.
Multi-sector partners’ review of tiger protection, wildlife and animal welfare legislations On September 26, 2018, the Activity attended a policy meeting with NGO and government stakeholders to update the situation of tigers in captivity, and laws related to animal protection and wildlife trafficking. The meeting was hosted by World Animal Protection (WAP) in Bangkok. Two major proposed legislations were discussed, the draft Wildlife Act and the amendments to the Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animals Act B.E.2557. The Thai Government was represented by DNP, Department of Livestock Development (DLD), and the Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) of MONRE, who also serves in concurrent capacity as an adviser to the NLA. The DPS reported that the Council of State’s endorsement of the draft Wildlife Act for parliamentary review and enactment is forthcoming and is expected by end of October 2018. If the draft is not endorsed in time, the NLA will just amend the existing Wildlife Act or WARPA, specifically, provisions on species list, procession, welfare and penalties. During the meeting, the DNP updated the stakeholders on the ongoing Tiger Temple case and their efforts to develop animal welfare guidelines for zoos. The DLD reported that a Ministerial Notification on hybrid tigers was recently announced through the Government Gazette. The Activity
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 34 continues to provide support to both the DNP and the NLA in the comparative analysis of the current WARPA and the draft Wildlife Act. USAID Wildlife Asia will host upcoming multi-stakeholder dialogues, with WAP and the Thai Government on tiger-related policies (e.g. banning tiger farms), the enhancement of WARPA and the Animal Welfare Act. Also related to tigers, in Quarter 2, USAID Wildlife Asia contributed to the delivery of Thailand’s legislation and regulatory survey to the implementation review of Asian big cats required by CITES Decision 17.228 (Asian Big Cats Resolution Conf. 12.5 (rev. COP17).
USAID Wildlife Asia – Office of Attorney General (OAG) Cooperation On August 31, 2018, USAID Wildlife Asia paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Director- General of the International Affairs Department of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) of Thailand. The OAG and USAID Wildlife Asia confirm continued cooperation on specialist prosecutorial support or participation in USAID Wildlife Asia’s CWT capacity building or policy- related initiatives. The meeting also discussed the positive implications of the recently approved 20- Meeting with Office of Attorney General on August 31 year National Strategic and Reform Plan, on prosecution of environmental crimes in Thailand. The Plan is a core component of the National Strategy Preparation Act B.E. 2560 (NSPA), enacted in August 2017 and the latter expressly recognized the need for specialized environmental prosecutors within the OAG. The Activity supports the creation of a specialized or dedicated environmental prosecution unit for the OAG through legislative and judicial reforms.
Task 3.1.4 Support judges and lawyers to bring cases into court. (Strengthening Judicial responses to CWT cases) Greening the Judiciary: Unprecedented collaboration between USAID and the Supreme Court of Thailand to Counter-Wildlife Trafficking Courtesy call on the new President and Secretary of the Environment Division of the Supreme Court On October 5, 2017, USAID Wildlife Asia met with the newly appointed President and Secretary of the Environment Division of the Supreme Court of Thailand, during the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) 2017 Annual Judicial Dialogue of Southeast Asian Judges: Women’s Human Rights and the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment in Bangkok. Chief Judge, Secretary of the Office of the First Vice President of the Supreme Court (SC) and previously Secretary of the Environment Division facilitated the meeting. The meeting covered areas of cooperation with the SC’s Environment Division, protocols within the SC and potential collaboration in the areas of human rights and environmental protection, with the ICJ. The event also served as an opportunity to touch base with the Supreme Court of the Philippines, a potential twinning The US Ambassador and Thailand’s Supreme Court President
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partner of the SC Thailand as identified under the Activity’s Year 2 Work plan. CWT among topics discussed at United States Ambassador's courtesy call on the Supreme Court of Thailand On November 20, 2017, the United State Ambassador to Thailand, paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice, President of the Supreme Court of Thailand. During this visit, the officials discussed continuing partnership in the areas of judicial reforms and cooperation, and an expanded collaboration on counter wildlife trafficking, in particular the Supreme Court’s official partnership with USAID Wildlife Asia. Work plan meeting and courtesy call on the Secretary General of the Supreme Court of Thailand On December 21, 2017, the Activity met with the management team of the Office of the President of the Supreme Court of Thailand led by Secretary General Justice and Deputy Secretary General Justice. The meeting discussed Year 2 proposed activities with the SC which covers technical support in judicial policy research, field missions, CWT curriculum development for the Judicial Institute, “twinnings” with other Supreme Courts and support on dialogues to explore adoption of a dedicated rules of procedures on environmental cases of the proposed Act to Create the Environmental Court of Thailand. The SC is a formal partner of USAID Wildlife Asia, which duly registered with the Thailand International Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Work plan meeting with the President of the Environment Division of the Supreme Court On February 14, 2018, the President of the Environment Division of the SC of Thailand hosted a work planning meeting with USAID Wildlife Asia, attended by senior judges from the Environment Division, Research Justice Division and the Office of the First Vice President of the SC. Considered as unprecedented and unique partnership, the work program covers many collaborative initiatives which aims to increase and Working Planning Meeting with Thailand’s Supreme Court enhance the role of the judiciary in CWT by providing judicial reliefs to cases, with tools and innovative policies. The Activity will work with the US Department of Justice, US Courts, the ASEAN Judges Network on Environment (AJNE) and its membership to draw on judicial best practices such as sentencing guidelines, anti-Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP), special civil actions and precautionary principles, and habitat equivalency analysis (HEA). The work program covers building awareness within the SC and its specialized divisions and courts, institutionalization of knowledge and CWT curriculum development to support the Judicial Institute, and high-level field missions to court houses within "CWT hotspots" in Thailand. The cooperation aims to prepare the Environment Division of the SC to become a full-pledged court as the Thai Government will soon endorse a bill to create the Environment Court of Thailand to the NLA for deliberation and enactment. Follow-up work plan meeting with the President of the Environment Division of the Supreme Court On June 29, 2018, the President of the Environment Division of the SC of Thailand hosted a follow-up work-planning meeting on the recently approved SC of Thailand-USAID Wildlife Asia Work Plan on the Development of Thailand’s Green Benches Program and CWT Awareness Initiatives. The Work Plan agreement further recognizes and institutionalizes USAID’s unique support to the SC, which aims to be a permanent basis for cooperation amidst the many changes within courts leadership. In Quarter 4, the SC-USAID Wildlife Asia Biennial Work Plan 2018-2020 was endorsed to the President of the SC. To enhance judicial responses to CWT and the broader environmental crimes, the work plan outlines strategic efforts with the SC including field and outreach missions, “twinning” with the SC of the Philippines, producing CWT-integrated judicial training standards and curricula for the Judicial Institute
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 36 and research on model judicial policies. An inaugural seminar and work plan launch is expected in the first quarter of FY19.
Task 3.2.1 Assess and prioritize opportunities for increased country commitment to CWT Meeting with Thailand’s policy prioritization-setting arm to discuss CWT commitments On October 10, 2017, the Activity met with the Environment Committee of the National Reform Council (NRC). Its Environment Committee is tasked to develop a national environment strategy and roadmap. The Activity will provide recommendations on how Thailand can activate its many CWT- related commitments through a national strategy. CWT Political Commitment Mapping Report During this period, USAID Wildlife Asia finalized the CWT Political Commitment Mapping Report produced by the individual who previously authored The Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES): Local Authority and International Policy (2014). The draft will undergo internal edit and branding review and will be endorsed and launched in the first quarter of FY19 with relevant high-level government stakeholders in Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and intergovernmental bodies such as AIPA, ASEAN Working Group on CITES and Wildlife Enforcement (AWG CITES WE), CITES or UNODC. The report is an evidence base for preemptive policy and/or recommendations for on-the-ground responses to improve conservationists’ ability to address CWT. Findings will be used to inform global policy and decision-making particularly in the context of the 2018 London IWT Conference and USAID Wildlife Asia’s direct collaboration with partner countries on policy reform. The aim is to take advantage of this timely opportunity to raise awareness of CWT, preemptively addressing challenges while solutions are realistic and enabling conservationists and governments to work more effectively. Findings will be used to chart not only partner governments’ CWT investment, but also USAID Wildlife Asia’s inter-objective strategies. The report will be submitted for publication in an open access journal, and a summary will be disseminated widely in a policy brief. The study will be endorsed to AIPA, the Activity’s partner governments and other policy-related bodies such as UNODC or ASEAN. Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment On September 4, 2018, USAID Wildlife Asia and UNODC met to discuss cooperation to develop a new transnational organized crime threat assessment (TOCTA). Produced by UNODC and used by the UN, countries and regional organizations; TOCTAs provide a baseline for understanding the mechanics of illicit trade, its size and implications as a basis for developing strategic and programmatic responses. UNODC produced the last TOCTA for East Asia and the Pacific in 2013, examining major illicit flows including smuggling of migrants, human trafficking, counterfeit goods, illicit drugs, wildlife, and timber. Findings from the 2013 assessment have served as a foundation for discussions by the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) and the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC), policy leaders and international and regional organization. The report has been helpful for setting priorities to address transnational criminal flows and their destabilizing influence in the region. For the wildlife crime portion of the TOCTA, USAID Wildlife Asia will contribute findings from the 2017 and 2018 "Counter Wildlife Trafficking Digest: Southeast Asia and China”, updated compendium of fines and penalties for wildlife offenses in ASEAN, political commitment mapping, wildlife consumer behavior studies, and other relevant policy/legislative monographs developed by the project. More importantly, the Activity will contribute to the policy recommendations section of the report, which aims to guide ASEAN’s responses to transnational organized crime (TOC) threats. USAID Wildlife Asia also identified additional focus areas of concerns such as emerging crime areas in special economic zones, cryptocurrencies and blockchains. The 2019 TOCTA is expected to be presented to the AMMTC ministers and the UN in mid-2019.
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Task 3.2.2 Host capacity-building events for parliaments, facilitate US-Asia legislative cooperation, present and develop conservation fund models, showcase forfeiture best practices in prosecution and sentencing, and provide targeted technical assistance. U.S.-Thailand Cooperation on CWT included in Joint US-Thailand Statement On October 2, 2017, the U.S. and Thai Governments issued a Joint Statement with the theme "Stronger Alliance for Common Security and Closer Economic Partnership for Common Prosperity”. In the Statement, the US President recognized the important role of Thailand in ASEAN and noted his appreciation of Thailand’s strong support for a wide-ranging partnership between the U.S. and ASEAN. The two leaders pledged to strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation to promote the U.S.-ASEAN Strategic Partnership, including cooperative efforts to combat regional and global security threats like terrorism, pandemics, and transnational trafficking in persons, drugs, and wildlife. The U.S.' links with Thailand go beyond a bilateral relationship to have an impact on the broader region. In ASEAN, Thailand leads regional CWT platforms such the AWG CITES WE and the SOMTC Working Group on Wildlife and Timber Trafficking. The Thai Government issued a press release ahead of the Thai Prime Minister’s visit to the White House with reference to the areas of US-Thailand partnership, which includes counter wildlife trafficking. http://thainews.prd.go.th/website_en/news/news_detail/WNPOL6010010010002. USAID Wildlife Asia provided inputs to the Thai Cabinet’s position paper for the PM’s State Visit to the U.S. on CWT-related cooperation between the two countries. ASEAN and partners met to support Regional Plan of Action on CITES and Wildlife Enforcement On March 21, 2018 USAID Wildlife Asia and USAID/RDMA staff participated in the 14th Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on CITES and Wildlife Enforcement (AWG CITES WE) in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. USAID Wildlife Asia led discussions on a proposed strategy for an ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on
Transnational Organized Crimes and AWG AWG CITES WE Meeting in Luang Prabang CITES WE action plan. Official collaboration with ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly With AIPA, USAID Wildlife Asia provides targeted research support and analysis to the NLA in the review of the draft Wildlife Act. In 2017, the 38th General Assembly of AIPA in Manila, approved a work program with the Activity to expand the partnership base of national parliaments, including linkages with the ICCF. Also, in 2017, during the 9th AIPA Caucus in Jakarta, the Activity provided inputs to the Working Group Meeting on CITES and Wildlife Protection which discussed legislative and model best practices. During this regional caucus meeting, the NLA Delegation proposed the creation of a regional parliamentary task force to combat wildlife and rosewood trafficking; and that AIPA work closely with AWG CITES WE and national Wildlife Enforcement Networks (WENs). USAID Wildlife Asia with partners from AIPA, ICCF and CCN will facilitate US-Thailand Parliamentary Exchanges responding to the Joint US-Thailand Statement mentioned above.
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Expanding partnership to support US- ASEAN high-level CWT legislative reforms and outreach USAID Wildlife Asia works with ASEAN Inter- Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and their member national parliaments to promote best practices in legislative reforms and improve participatory outreach between government and citizens by supporting consultations and oversights on wildlife protection. To support stronger US-ASEAN legislative collaboration on CWT, the Activity has partnered with the Conservation Council of Nations (CCN) which facilitates the development of US Representative and AIPA Secretary General, with an Conservation Caucuses in legislatures around individual from CCN in the foreground. Photo Credit: AIPA the world. In October 2017, during the AIPA Secretariat Secretary General’s visit to the US, the joint AIPA-CCN group met with Congress to discuss U.S.-ASEAN legislative cooperation on CWT through AIPA and USAID Wildlife Asia. The team also met with the World Bank, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and USAID to introduce AIPA’s role in CWT and expanded mandate to support law enforcement efforts in the region. Advancing private-public sector coalition-building to support counter-wildlife trafficking (CWT) through parliamentary caucuses Partnership roundtable with Thailand’s NLA on developing conservation caucuses On February 27, 2018, the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Environment of the NLA hosted partnership roundtable with USAID Wildlife Asia, the Secretary General of AIPA, the President of International Conservation Caucus Foundation (ICCF) and the Executive Director of CCN, to expand inter- parliamentary networking, dialogue and collaboration on regional and global Thailand’s NLA hosted a partnership roundtable with USAID Wildlife Asia, AIPA, ICCF and CCN conservation issues, through the development of conservation caucuses in Thailand. Caucuses are designed as platforms for inclusive decision-making processes involving executive agencies, civil society, political parties and the private sector. The team will work with AIPA and NLA legislative leaders to advance a “good stewardship” agenda while bringing nations and national leaders together informally to build personal bonds between leaders that will transcend nations and party politics to achieve conservation goals. The NLA was represented by the Chairman, the Spokesperson and the Chairman Emeritus of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Environment. Currently, the NLA is pushing to enhance various natural capital legislative measures including marine, forest resources, and community forestry acts. In the pipeline are the Elephant and Wildlife Acts, which will soon be endorsed by the Royal Thai Government to the NLA. The meeting also discussed NLA-USAID Wildlife Asia coordination mechanisms to support the internal review of the Policy Package, including best practices and model legislations workshop for key NLA members and staffers, and field oversight missions to wildlife trafficking hotspots in Thailand.
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Preparatory meetings on upcoming Thailand Delegation to U.S. to explore the Conservation Caucus model • On May 31, 2018, the Activity and AIPA met with the Minister of MONRE on an upcoming Thailand Delegation to meet U.S. Congress to discuss in depth the U.S. Conservation Caucus model and how it might be applied in Thailand. The delegation will be composed of high-level officials from MONRE, the NLA and the Office of the Prime Minister - from both the executive and legislative branches of the government. The mission also aims to foster shared understanding of the regional conservation challenges especially on CWT and TOC and increase knowledge about methods and resources that can be used to confront these challenges. It will also establish connections with the international conservation community in Washington DC including government agencies, multilateral organizations, NGOs, and the private sector. • On June 2, 2018, the Activity met with the Deputy Government Spokesperson of the Office of the Prime Minister to discuss the aforementioned Thailand Delegation to meet U.S Congress on the Conservation Caucus model. The Deputy Government Spokesperson leads the Office of the Prime Minister’s foreign media relations and public outreach work and was part of the recent US-Thailand Bilateral Meeting in DC in October 2017. This upcoming USAID Wildlife Asia-led U.S.-Thailand collaboration forms part of the 2018 Bicentennial Anniversary of U.S.-Thailand Relations. Presentation of the Thailand Policy Analysis and Recommendations to the US Government Inter-Agency CWT Working Group On June 21, 2018, USAID Wildlife Asia presented the preliminary draft of the legislative and policy analysis and recommendations package to enhance the CWT component of Thailand's main wildlife legislation, WARPA, entitled, "Scaling Efforts to Counter-Wildlife Trafficking Through Legislative Reform”, to the US Government Inter-Agency CWT Working Group at USAID RDMA. The presentation was well-received, with a lively chat and question and answer session.
OBJECTIVE 4: SUPPORTING RDMA’S REGIONAL COORDINATION OF CWT STAKEHOLDERS AND EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN THE USG INTERAGENCY CWT TEAM
Task 4.1.1 Support information exchange, alignment and coordination amongst non-USG actors (focal country governments, development partners/donors, NGOs, private sector) Activities under each objective support information exchange and coordination amongst our four focal governments, development partners, NGOs and the private sector. Details can be found under each Objective’s read-out, and broad strategy includes:
Objective 1: formative research findings workshops, pangolin workshop and the institutionalization of roundtable discussions amongst conservation NGOs and development partners in China; team in China works closely with local institutions and private enterprises, and will initiate the quarterly roundtable discussions with development partners and NGOs in Quarter 4; roundtable discussions have been held in Thailand with development partners and NGOs, and forming partnerships with the government for the online digital deterrence campaigning; the new subcontract with TRAFFIC in Vietnam is synergizing SBCC strategy for the Chi Campaign, working closely with key stakeholders and already-established relationships with development partners in the area.
Objective 2: all activities engage country governments and development partners to some level, with key information exchange concerning wildlife trafficking regionally and trans-continentally through the various trainings provided, the rapid reference guide formulation and the CTOC trainings. Moving toward institutionalizing the CTOC curricula, aligning needs with capacity has been initiated in Vietnam,
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particularly as Saving Species Vietnam is now an active development partner. Major private sector discussions have been and are being had through the Air Transport Sector Awareness Programs.
Objective 3: concentrates most work collaborating and engaging with focal country governments, working effectively to review and align efforts on CWT with local and regional policy, both in revisions and best practices found in southeast Asia and throughout the world.
Task 4.1.2 Support RDMA’s coordination with ASEAN and Development Partners USAID Wildlife Asia supported USAID RDMA by providing country-specific CWT information for the END Act assessment during Quarter 1 of Year 2. The findings from this assessment will support upcoming activities under this Task. In addition, USAID Wildlife Asia responded to several requests by RDMA for input on CWT activities in the area, including Laos, suggestions for other potential task orders, responses to questions from INL regarding the development of their CWT approach, and so on. USAID Wildlife Asia is well-positioned for these questions and are happy to work with RDMA to respond to such requests.
Task 4.1.3 Implement internal and external communications and knowledge-management program that enhances information exchange for better coordination and alignment Development of Communications and Outreach Plan To strengthen strategic communications and outreach activities and effective implementation of the Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan; a Senior Communications Specialist from RTI International’s DC office traveled to Bangkok and provided short-term technical support on communications planning. Facilitated by the Senior Communications Specialist, a communications workshop was organized in February to identify target audiences, key messages, tools, and indicators to measure the impacts of communications activities. All Bangkok-based staff, representatives from the China team and the TRAFFIC Vietnam, attended the workshop, which contributed to the development of Year 2 Communications and Outreach Plan. The Plan, including a communications calendar, talking points and an event calendar, was submitted to and approved by the COR. Subsequently, the Year 3 Communications and Outreach Plan which contains full details of the communications and outreach activities, as well as production timeframe of communications materials was developed and summitted to USAID with the work plan. It has been approved by COR in September 2018. In addition, a concept note on the Asia-Africa Media Exchange was developed and submitted to USAID for Year 3. USAID Wildlife Asia will conduct this in a collaboration with USAID PROTECT Tanzania. In agreement of both projects, the exchange was added to the upcoming year’s workplans and has been approved by the COPs of the two projects. Wildlife Trafficking Media Workshop for Thai journalists The results of USAID Wildlife Asia investigative media workshop in 2017 set ground and strategized future media engagement. Journalists view wildlife trafficking as a hot issue that always draw media attention. They need to enhance their media investigative report skills further to cope with the complexity of the issue. Access to sources and resources are also among their concerns. On top of this, a request to organize the investigative media workshops for local journalists, using local/national language is proposed to USAID Wildlife Asia. In line with a growing relationship that USAID Wildlife Asia has with the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) and the DNP, the three parties co-organized the Investigative Wildlife Trafficking Media Workshop on September 24-27, 2018. The workshop consisted of two key parts - meeting the issue experts in Bangkok and a field trip to Wildlife Breeding Center in Ratchaburi Province. Journalist
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 41 participants represented both traditional (TV and print) and new media (online). After the workshop, journalist participants produced following news stories and disseminated via their respective outlets. Title Media Outlet Link Special report: Wildlife trafficking: a global scourge, The Nation Newspaper https://bit.ly/2Pb1k1m Wildlife in the cage (in Thai) Ejan https://bit.ly/2PaP40P Don’t let trans-national organized crime runs free (in Thai) Nation TV https://bit.ly/2C0rgcy (Nation TV also used our giveaways to engage with the audience by asking questions about the news.) Infographic on seizures data (2015-2018) from RTP Isra News https://bit.ly/2O7GMdJ Wildlife Delivery PPTV https://bit.ly/2pBhypm Trade lives with money – transnational organized crime Thai PBS online https://bit.ly/2P714k4 “ชวิตแลกเงิน”ี วิกฤตอาชญากรรมค ้าสตว์ป่าขั ้ามชาติ Behind the scene of seizured Urang-Utang Thai PBS online https://bit.ly/2NZUkYB เบื้องหลังล่อซอื้ "ลิงอุรังอุตัง" มนุษย์ล่า-สตว์ป่าติดคุกั Tigers – lived evidences habilitation Thai PBS online https://bit.ly/2O4ZEKj เปิดภารกิจเยียวยา "เสอ"ื ติดคดี When Thailand is still the transit country for wildlife Thai PBS online https://bit.ly/2xVh1mH trafficking, what can we do? ทําอย่างไร? เมื่อไทยยังเป็นทางผ่านค ้าสตว์ป่าั An informal Line group to create a wildlife trafficking reporter network was set up. This is also a channel where the group keeps each other informed and exchanges information about CWT issues. In relation to media engagement, journalists were invited to key launch events of the projects, such as the research results dissemination workshops in Thailand and China. Technical assistance and support to the team on communications Meeting with TRAFFIC Vietnam team on USAID Wildlife Asia Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan and the implication to Chi Campaign The Communications, Outreach and Learning Specialist along with Objective 1 Lead and M&E Specialist traveled to Hanoi in August to support the organization of Chi Imitative Launch. On this occasion, she also provided the orientation on USAID Wildlife Asia’s Branding Implementation Plan and Marking Plan, as well as all USAID Communications Guidelines and templates that the team need to use. Ensure all USAID Wildlife Asia materials follow USAID branding guidelines All reports and other public communication materials that the project produced have been reviewed and formatted based on USAID Graphic Standards. All public documents are uploaded on the USAID Wildlife Asia website, with limited circulation for internal documents. In FY18, 54 reports/presentations (both for public and internal circulations) were produced and formatted. USAID Wildlife Asia Communications Manual The USAID Wildlife Asia Communications Manual is made available for staff to use as a reference and guideline. It was shared to all team members. As part of the orientation to new members to the project, the Communication Manual and all relevant USAID Branding are presented to them. Supporting USAID/RDMA’s communications and outreach efforts Communications, Outreach and Learning Specialists, COP and USAID/RDMA’s communications teams with COR meet monthly to discuss outreach and exchange new activity ideas. The biweekly bullets and monthly write-ups are produced on a regular basis for REO. In addition to the regularly scheduled communications channels, USAID Wildlife Asia was often requested for additional information or support. As a result, the revised communications outreach plan provided more detail to what the project could provide throughout the year, including details to what would be provided during key environmental days, as well as a more robust plan for outreach through USAID’s social media. External communications on USAID Wildlife Asia and CWT through various channels
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Counter Wildlife Trafficking Digest #2 The Counter Wildlife Trafficking Digest #2 covering January-August 2018 was produced for the launch in September. However, in consultation with USAID, it was agreed that the Digest should cover the entire year. The current version will be updated and will be tentatively launched for the World Wildlife Day in March 2019. USAID Wildlife Asia Website From October 1, 2017-September 30, 2018, USAID Wildlife Asia website has 7,936 users. The majority is from the U.S. (40%), Thailand (18%), Vietnam (7%), Indonesia (6%) and Singapore (4%). Apart from the homepage, the most viewed pages are Reports section, the Pangolin Species Identification Guide (English), the information about BIJAK project and “Our Team” page. The users accessed the website via desktop (91.7%) and mobile (8.3%). Throughout Year 2, there are 23 reports/presentations uploaded and nine articles/press releases published on the site. News Roundup The News Roundup compiling news coverage related to wildlife trafficking was regularly produced and circulated to the subscribers. Throughout Year 2, there were 36 News Roundup published. From 38 subscribers in the beginning, the number of subscribers increase to 114 at the end of Year 2.
2.2 Implementation Challenges Activity-wide While the change in senior management of the program did not delay implementation, it is always a challenge not to have a permanent COP in place. RTI Director and the Project Manager worked with USAID, the subcontractors and team members on a seamless transition while the Project Manager transitioned to acting COP, and one that provided platforms for discussions and the change management process. The timing of the Pause and Reflect also assisted for this transition and focused on looking forward and next steps, including how best to harness the expertise and skills in the Power of the (Activity) Partnership. Since then, RTI Director and the Project Manager request monthly check-ins with the USAID COR and alternate COR to keep apprised of project-related updates and the progress of the program overall, as well as the general esprit du corps of the Activity. The Project Manager worked closely with the subcontractors, visiting the IFAW team in China and meeting with Freeland in person while in Thailand, as well as coordinating closely with the others based in the U.S. in an effort to create a more transparent, open dialogue. This also included close coordination with the team and ensuring the spirit and dynamic in the office was positive and proactive. Despite the lack of a permanent COP, morale was boosted, teams were starting to work more effectively together, and synergies were developing. This fed nicely into the Year 3 workplanning sessions and provided a very energized and enthusiastic introduction to the new COP.
Objective 1: Reduction of consumer demand through SBCC • A main challenge in early FY18 was the delay in obtaining the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval of the formative research studies in China and Thailand. As a result, data collection for both studies took place after what was planned or in December 2017-March 2018. The research agencies submitted draft reports in March-April 2018. The project team’s extensive review team was needed to finalize the research results. Findings dissemination was held in June for both countries. Since campaign strategies must be based on the findings, the IRB delay caused further delays in the planning of campaigns. Future applications for IRB approvals will likely be faster as the IRB has gained familiarity with wildlife consumer research and the risks involved to human subjects, and the Activity is aware of recommended research design and protocol factors to minimize risks. Still, the team mobilized expeditiously once the IRB was approved to put in place the formative research.
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• The time needed to finalize plans and produce materials prior to campaign launch has taken much longer than the expected process due to the need for USAID approvals of key milestones, pretesting and procurement processes. Unlike trainings and similar activities which can be planned without the need for USAID to approve training modules, approvals are necessary for campaigns seen by the public and contain the USAID logo. USAID generally needs to approve a) strategies or concept papers for campaigns and materials; b) draft creative materials; and c) final produced materials before they are launched. Pretesting of materials add to the planning timeline. Another necessary delay is the procurement process for subcontracting implementing partners (other NGOs or creative agencies). In Thailand, another step that adds to the process is presentation to and approval of messages and materials by our government counterpart, DNP. We now know to estimate concept planning to actual campaign launch period to take 5-6 months, and will budget time accordingly so as to set a more realistic timeframe, and thus details to the workplan (as done for Y3) • Alignment of existing campaigns continued to be a challenge because the Activity has no funding allocated for this in its budget. Organizations need some funding to align its campaign with ours. In China, for examples, the passion and incentives of partners joining USAID Wildlife Asia has been limited by lack of funding opportunities. Considering that similar funding will not be available in the future, the project’s strategy will be to lead coordination among organizations that have demand reduction activities so that messaging can be aligned or harmonized with those of the Activity. • In China, application of the USAID branding guidelines remained a challenge. USAID approved a waiver for co-branding for the WPL campaign. However, due to political sensitivities, even co- branding of materials (USAID logo alongside IFAW and organization logos) was not a practicable option for private sector and other partners. These partners, nevertheless, continued to promote the WPL and aligning messages with those promoted by the project in their respective activities. It must be noted that the political sensitivities of applying the USAID logo have increased as the Sino- US relationship experiences more challenges. • In China, the Foreign NGO law requires that only international NGOs registered with the State Forestry and Grassland Administration are qualified to implement CWT-related projects. Thus, NGOs which are not registered with this agency are unable to implement activities.
Objective 2: Institutionalization of Capacity for Effective Enforcement • The CWT institutionalization needs assessment timeframe had to be shifted due to additional time required to coordinate and include the People’s Police University, a new partner to USAID Wildlife Asia and Vietnam Saving Species. • For the training evaluation exercise (Task 2.1.5), validating trainees’ participation in successful law enforcement actions can require more time to be certain of cause and effect. Some law enforcement supervisors prefer to wait for cases to close before disclosing details on how cases evolved and who was responsible for key successes. This led to a workshop to brainstorm useful law enforcement indicators in order find ways to best capture law enforcement capacity development results. • The law enforcement indicator workshop conducted in January clearly identified challenges in linking law enforcement actions with specific capacity building efforts. With this information, the project then conducted the validation exercise, which has been delayed from the anticipated timeline. • Cambodia Angkor Airlines initially expressed no interest in conducting an Air Sector Awareness training, but further follow-up suggested that they had changed their mind. A number of attempts were thus made to plan for the event, but a lack of commitment and engagement from Angkor Airlines resulted in the workshop being cancelled.
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• The Vietnam PPA was unable to host the CTOC as originally planned because it fell on their summer break. The CTOC was subsequently moved to Hua Hin, Thailand. Discussions with the PPA are ongoing regarding activities in Year 3 including their hosting the Asia CTOC. • Leahy vetting protocol seems to have grown increasingly confusing with more layers of bureaucracy and unrealistic timeframes both in when they need to be submitted and in when results are to be received. The team would welcome any support and/or guidance it can get to expedite the process.
Objective 3: Increasing commitment to addressing CWT • Additional levels of approval for activities and political engagements in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Thailand remain a challenge. • There have been management changes in the Supreme Court of Thailand. In mid-2017, a new President of the SC was appointed, together with a new set of Vice Presidents, specialized courts and divisions presidents. There were also changes in the various courts and divisions secretariats, which required re-orientation of the cooperation on CWT. As explained above, the Activity has been engaging with new Supreme Court management throughout FY18. Despite the delay, the efforts led to the SC President’s endorsement of the joint work plan later in the FY.
Objective 4: Supporting RDMA’s regional coordination of CWT stakeholders and efforts to strengthen the USG interagency CWT team.
Given the outcome of the AWG CITES WE and SOMTC meetings last year, USAID Wildlife Asia will await to hear from SOMTC if they are amenable to meeting with AWG CITES WE to clarify roles that overlap, as well as how best to coordinate effectively together. If SOMTC is not amenable to further action, USAID Wildlife Asia will re-strategize on what effort and possible support it can provide to these bodies. For USG interagency CWT work related to the END Act, we await to hear from USAID on final determinations.
M&E Plan and Implementation Update Throughout the reporting period, USAID Wildlife Asia fully implemented the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan by providing technical assistance to the program team and ensuring data collected, analyzed and reported are in line with the USAID data quality standards. Data quality assessments Immediately after the end of FY2017, the M&E Specialist conducted an internal data quality assessment (DQA) with Freeland and IFAW China in October-November 2017. Consisting of two components, M&E system assessment and data verification; the DQA ensured the quality of the annual performance indicator data submitted to USAID and identified how the Activity’s MEL system can be strengthened. Weaknesses of the M&E system of both organizations and action points were identified and undertaken to improve their systems and data quality. Following the internal DQA, USAID through the COR conducted a DQA on the Activity end of Quarter 1, Y2. Based on discussions between the M&E specialist and COR during the DQA. Any written guidance from USAID on the results of the DQA will be fully integrated into USAID Wildlife Asia M&E work. M&E capacity strengthening and technical assistance to the program team The M&E Specialist conducted thorough briefings on the Activity’s MEL system and indicators to the program teams throughout the FY including detailed orientations to all staff in all focal countries. Indicator reporting guidelines and quarterly indicator reporting templates have been developed, explained to Objective Leads and distributed for use Activity-wide. Specific technical assistance has been provided to the team as follows:
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SBCC formative and baseline research studies Serving as the Co-Principal Investigator of the Thailand wildlife consumer demand formative and baseline research, the M&E Specialist took part in reviewing the final research instruments and observed the qualitative fieldwork in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Surin to ensure data collection followed the topic guides and the informed consent procedure was carried out accordingly. She also reviewed both China and Thailand research report. The baseline data of the behavioral indicators 6-9 have been established for China, Thailand and Vietnam. China Wildlife Protection Law (WPL) Campaign A tool to follow up with WPL campaign implementing partners in China has been developed for the China team’s use. The M&E Specialist delivered a half-day session on how to conduct M&E planning of an SBCC campaign to WPL implementing partners during the March 2018 SBCC workshop in Beijing. This session was included based on the needs of several local organizations to build their M&E capacity. M&E technical assistance to the Vietnam team With the addition of the Chi Campaign Phase III in the end of the FY, USAID Wildlife Asia provided orientations on M&E to the Vietnam team and worked with them on indicator target setting, M&E planning and baseline setting, Organization of law enforcement indicator workshop On January 16, the Activity hosted an expert workshop to discuss challenges, recommendations and indicators of success for projects that work on building law enforcement capacity of local agencies and institutions. CWT projects/organizations with a law enforcement component, including INTERPOL, UNDP-GEF, UNODC, USAID Saving Species, USAID Wildlife Asia and WWF, attended the workshop. Recommendations from the workshop were 1) use simple and practical results framework, 2) focus on meaningful outputs that are the building blocks for effective enforcement, 3) use mixed methods to validate capacity building interventions, 4) tailor indicators according to program context, 5) use ICCWC’s comprehensive list of CWT and law enforcement indicators, and 6) track wildlife crime prevention in addition to wildlife crime response. A workshop report was produced and disseminated to participating organizations. The Activity has used lessons and recommendations from the workshop to review and revise its indicators; for example, adding a law enforcement institution disaggregation type to an existing indicator on agencies applying CWT competencies. USAID Wildlife Asia Learning Agenda Starting in January, USAID Wildlife Asia undertook a series of meetings and exercises to produce its learning agenda including four teleconference sessions with Measuring Impact and USAID E3, each was followed by internal meetings to complete homework assignments. The Activity produced a final learning agenda, which consists of the learning questions, learning activities (how the questions will be answered), learning products and how the lessons will be used.
USAID Wildlife Asia Learning Questions: 1.1) Will changes in social norms decrease levels of (1) desire and/or (2) consumption of wildlife parts or products among target audiences? How? 1.2) Is awareness of China's Wildlife Protection Law (WPL) associated with levels of (1) desire or (2) consumption of wildlife parts or products? 2.1) How have our capacity building programs contributed to changes in CWT law enforcement responses? (e.g. quality, frequency) 2.2) What factors are important for improving and sustaining inter-agency collaboration and information sharing among intercontinental, regional and national law enforcement authorities? 3.1) To what extent, has the Activity influenced our champions to adopt our learning tools and policy recommendations in each country’s policy reform process? 4.1) How effectively did the Activity increase regional networking and collaboration among USG-funded and non-USG CWT efforts?
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The learning agenda was presented to all staff including the China team in May, and later adopted for implementation. In June, the Activity started collecting some early lessons through re-analyses of the formative research datasets and the law enforcement training validation of which data collection completed in July. Lessons learned will be documented in early FY19. MEL plan revision The first MEL plan was submitted at the start of the Activity and was approved in June 2017. To reflect program expansion and progress, stay focused on relevant expected results and integrate the newly developed learning agenda, the MEL plan was revised and submitted to USAID in the end of September 2018. Major changes on the plan include: What has been change Major changes made Templates The new MEL plan template, the new Indicator Reference Sheet template and the Indicator Tracking Table of USAID/RDMA were adopted. Learning agenda The learning agenda was added replacing the previous set of questions for adaptive management. Indicator 2: Number of CWT actions was changed to “Number of cooperative law enforcement actions on taken counter wildlife trafficking taken” Indicator 4: Number of organizations Objective 3 was added to the indicator that have applied new tools, technologies, methodologies and practices. Indicator 14: Number of targeted The indicator’s name has been changed to “Number of targeted decision makers who take concrete champions who take concrete actions to combat wildlife trafficking” to actions) to champion counter wildlife accommodate the reporting of demand reduction influencers under trafficking agenda Objective 1. Two new indicators Indicator 15: Percentage of wildlife crime cases that were brought to trial (proxy indicator) Indicator 16: Number of innovative tools, technologies, methodologies, knowledge products or practices developed or enhanced that support the design and implementation of biodiversity conservation, and sustainable ecosystems management and trade of natural resources activities (adapted from IRMNC PAD NC2002) Indicator targets Targets have been adjusted for Year 3-5 for most indicators to reflect current program updates and accommodate the addition of the Vietnam team implementing Chi Campaign. Most targets have been increased not reduced.
3. INTEGRATION OF CROSSCUTTING ISSUES AND USAID FORWARD PRIORITIES Science, Technology and Innovation Objective 1: Reduction of consumer demand through SBCC • WPL Campaign: The team has applied the QR code system on print materials so that target audience can access the campaign videos through their mobile phones. • Digital Deterrence Campaign: The team employed digital technology through google to communicate purchase deterrence messages to potential illegal wildlife buyers who initiate google searches using specific keywords.
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Objective 2: Institutionalization of Capacity for Effective Enforcement • The Special Investigations Group (SIG) app was introduced at the CTOC Lusaka workshop and has been used at each CTOC since. Developments later in the year included new features such as a chat and SMS functions to improve usability as a platform for wildlife law enforcement network building. The chat feature, for example allows CTOC participants and facilitators to communicate more effectively among themselves. When the app is installed, a contact list is automatically generated for each user and contains only participants attending the same CTOC training with the user. Users are automatically assigned to a secure chat room incorporated into their CTOC training. • USAID Wildlife Asia developed the Pangolin Species Identification Guide app which is available on iOS and Android platforms. The current version of the app allows USAID Wildlife Asia to digitally disseminate information on pangolin species identification to a broader audience. The next version will include walkthrough questions to guide the users through the identification process. Over the year, the Pangolin Species Identification Guide app was expanded to include English, French, Khmer, Malay, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese.
Gender Inclusion Under Objective 1, gender insights revealed by the Thailand and China consumer demand research studies in Year 2 are being used in planning new campaigns to be implemented in Year 3. The Thailand research revealed that those who consume elephant ivory for beauty and rarity (a significant portion of ivory consumers), are generally women while those who consume ivory and tiger amulets for spiritual reasons (belief that the animal part/product wards off evil, brings good fortune) are generally men. The China research showed that there more females reported past 12-month purchase of elephant parts and products while more males reported buying pangolin parts and products for the same period. No significant gender differences were noted for rhino and tiger. Messaging will incorporate these gender differences and take into account other influential persons and factors underlying these gender differences. In relation to Objective 2, women in law enforcement agencies have typically been outnumbered by men. Therefore, men are predominately more represented than women in the Activity’s law enforcement trainings and capacity building events. To seek greater involvement of women, the Activity made an effort to recruit two female Thai Customs officers into the CTOC Brazzaville. They took part in delivering the training and are being groomed to be local instructors and law enforcement champions. During the validation exercise data collection, the team conducted in-depth interviews with female customs officers to not only learn about their application of what has been trained by the Activity, but also what they bring to the work as women. The report is being finalized and findings will be available in early FY19. Under Objective 3, to celebrate the World Women’s Day, the Activity produced a story on the female judge, (In Defense of the Environment: Trailblazing Woman Judge Leads the Charge). Sheis a champion of environmental jurisprudence who played an important role in facilitating the official partnership of the Supreme Court of Thailand and USAID Wildlife Asia.
4. STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT
Objective 1: Reduction of consumer demand through SBCC China: Various partners are engaged to adopt SBCC strategy and promote campaign messages. • Chengdu Panda Base promoted WPL PSAs in its vicinity and surrounding areas in May- October. By end of August, more than 61,000 visitors viewed the PSAs. In addition, the WPL video is incorporated into its campus events to deliver the message to the youth.
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• Chengdu Zoo promoted WPL PSAs in the Zoo in May-October. By end of August, the promotion received 1,473,606 visitor impressions. • Beijing Museum of Natural History promoted WPL PSAs in the museum in May-December. By end of August, the promotion achieved 168,810 visitor impressions. • Tianjin Children’s Library launched two WPL promotion campaigns in June and in September. In addition to playing the WPL video in the Library, the campaigns incorporated various offline events including exhibitions and presentations. • Coordination meeting was organized in the end of the FY with six local and international NGOs to share progress on their activities.
Thailand: The Thailand team continued to engage government, NGO and private sector stakeholders to collaborate with USAID Wildlife Asia demand reduction activities. • DNP: Meetings were held regularly with the DDG and senior DNP officials to discuss collaborations, update and plan upcoming activities as described in the progress section. DNP is a co-implementor of the Digital Deterrence campaign and its logo is prominent in the online materials and splash page. • Implementing partners (IUCN, Freeland, Wild Aid): Regular meetings were held to discuss the campaign concept, plan for the implementation and update the campaign progress as described above. • Private sector: In Quarter 4, the team met with IATA Thailand, Thai Airways and the Minor Group to discuss partnership and leveraging opportunities on demand reduction activities targeting tourists in Thailand. There is a strong potential for collaboration in Year 3 with these three key organizations. • Coordination meeting: The team organized a meeting to discuss coordination of demand reduction efforts in Thailand. Participants included the Thai government, international and local conservation NGOs and private sector. An agreement was reached regarding regular knowledge sharing and coordination in planning and implementing key events e.g. on wildlife observation days. Vietnam: The team geared up for mobilizing government and other stakeholders for Chi Phase III. • Key partners across business, government, and civil society will be selected based on their ability to best influence the target consumer groups as well as on their capacity to engage with additional cooperate and private sectors. • The team will continue to share any insights into success factors and lessons learned emerging through Chi Phase III, with members of the SBCC Community of Practice.
Objective 2: Institutionalization of capacity for effective enforcement At the regional level, USAID Wildlife Asia and the UNODC coordinated and co-financed three capacity building events focusing on strengthening customs authorities’ ability to detect, investigate and develop wildlife trafficking cases for successful prosecution. The first workshop was in Laos and the next two were in Cambodia. Co-funding and coordinating these workshops allowed their delivery in twice as many locations as either organization separately contemplated. The Objective 2 team maintains on-going collaboration with the USAID Saving Species program in Vietnam which is facilitated by a full-time USAID Wildlife Asia staff member based in their office in Hanoi. This has allowed the two programs to effectively coordinate activities in Year 2 and plan for joint activities in Year 3. Overall, cooperation is growing with an increasing number of organizations to further Objective 2 work. These include INTERPOL, UNODC, DNP, PPA, PPU, Lusaka Agreement Taskforce (LATF), YDTF, Lao Airlines, Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, USAID Saving Species, State Bank of Vietnam, AMLO, DNP, the Thai Police Education Bureau, IUCN Pangolin Specialist Group, and law enforcement agencies across the target countries especially Customs and Police.
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At the country level, the two CTOCs saw the engagement of all the key law enforcement agencies from each of the target countries. Also, the Activity has collaborated with various agencies as below: Thailand • Royal Thai Police (RTP) facilitated discussions the Activity had with the internal Training/Education Department of the RTP to institutionalize CWT capacity building. The RTP also participated in on- the-job training (OJT) regarding pangolin and rhino horn trafficking, using CTOC skills. • DNP hosted both Pangolin Care Workshop and Yioew Dong Task Force Training on OSINT. • Customs participated in OJT regarding pangolin and rhino horn trafficking, using CTOC skills. • AMLO participated in Digital Forensics and Analyst Notebook Training. Cambodia • Ministry of Interior supported the Digital Forensics Assessment conducted by USAID Wildlife Asia. Vietnam • The Activity worked in close cooperation with the People’s Police Academy in Hanoi and the People’s Police University in Ho Chi Minh City to undertake training needs assessments for both institutions. This has resulted in an increased commitment, especially by the PPA, to play a more active role in helping to address wildlife crime through the work they do as a capacity building institution.
Objective 3: Increasing commitment to addressing CWT Overall, Objective 3 Team continues to engage all relevant government and partner organizations in legislation, legal and judicial reform work to support enhanced political commitment to counter wildlife trafficking. The team is expanding its private sector and NGO outreach through the work of CCN partners in the US, and here in Thailand with new allied organizations working on public outreach to reform national wildlife legislations, such as World Animals Protection, New England University, and the Species Survival Commission and World Commission on Environmental Law of the IUCN.
Objective 4: Supporting RDMA’s regional coordination of CWT stakeholders and efforts to strengthen the USG interagency CWT team. USAID Wildlife Asia will continue to provide RDMA with information useful for the USG interagency CWT Team, including seizure data and evaluation on countries that have improved legislation, regulations and/or enforcement as outlined in the END Act.
5. LESSONS LEARNED
Objective 1: Reduction of consumer demand through SBCC • Considering the longer time frame required to effectively plan for a campaign launch, the project will ensure that documents required for USAID approvals are prepared and submitted, and procurement actions are initiated as early as possible. Procurement of an ad agency for Thailand campaigns in Year 3 was initiated and completed in Year 2. A creative brief was prepared and sent to USAID in September 2018. Discussions are ongoing with the agency and NGO partner (WildAid) for activities to be implemented for the spiritual beliefs campaign. Ad agency selection for China will be expedited. Meetings with DNP are being held to obtain early buy-in for Year 3 campaigns. • In China, involvement of the US Embassy will be obtained as early as possible. Four of the five PSAs originally developed to promote WPL were rejected by USAID due to political sensitivities. The US Embassy in Beijing made the evaluation that featuring a Chinese citizen handcuffed in a USAID branded PSA is not politically appropriate to the situation in China. Moving forward, the opinion of the US Embassy should be consulted at the concept paper stage to streamline the approval process.
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Objective 2: Institutionalization of capacity for effective enforcement • Organizational and personal relationships remain vital to success of the Activity, and we need to keep cultivating them. This includes including maintaining strong working relationships with bi-lateral programs especially those also funded by the U.S. Government. This approach will minimize delays and amplify impact. • Corruption remains a major impediment to progress in reducing illegal wildlife trade in Southeast Asia. This rhino horn case (https://elephantleague.org/thailand-eal-wildlife-bach-syndicate/) reveals the significant role played by corrupt officials in safeguarding illicit supply chains. • OJT work needs close and active follow-up. Many officials who attend CTOC courses are keen to finalize investigations, but are not receiving the information they need from their international counterparts. Furthermore, unless directed to engage by their superiors, a lot of officers are not able to take on cases which are not deemed to be a priority. Moving forward, the Activity needs to engage a larger number of high-level officials in trainings to help ensure buy-in from unit leaders.
Objective 3: Increasing commitment to addressing CWT • Hindered by bureaucratic processes and political instability in some USAID Wildlife Asia partner countries, legislation reforms continue to be slow.
Objective 4: Supporting RDMA’s regional coordination of CWT stakeholders and efforts to strengthen the USG interagency CWT team.
USG interagency coordination is an important aspect of the USG’s efforts to reduce CWT and, given the various mandates and chains of command of these USG agencies, the process for regional coordination is more complex and time consuming than initially thought. Success in this area requires consistency, determination and creative ideas to maximize the potential of the USG as a whole.
6. UPDATES ON ISSUES/COMMENTS RAISED BY A/COR FROM THE LAST PROGRESS REPORT
Below are responses and updates to COR’s comments from Quarter 3 report. For comments on Quarter 1 and 2 reports, please see the Quarter 2 and 3 reports respectively.
Objective 1: Reduction of consumer demand through SBCC COR Comments Responses Praised the formative study’s comprehensiveness We are in regular contact with the COR. As of now, we have no and said that the findings validated DNP information on DNP specific demand reduction plans. We have information and were aligned with its plans. been involving DNP in our campaigns e.g. digital deterrence. As for What are DNP's plans? How can we align with DNP plans, the COR requested that we organize an SBCC their plan? workshop for DNP concerned staff sometime in January. We will take this as an opportunity to discuss alignment of plans between DNP and UWA. Want Want has decidedly refused any possibility We will see how we can bring Want Want back to the table. of USAID logo exposure. Very unfortunate However, the USAID logo continues to be an issue. Other partners indeed. Can we use other resources (like leverage have agreed to promote demand reduction messages but without other funds) or be more creative to engage them? the logo and branding. Co-branding is possible but no-branding is difficult.
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Objective 2: Institutionalization of capacity for effective enforcement COR Comments Responses Please follow up and let me know whether the Noted. Implementation effectiveness will be tracked in Year 3. RRG helps increase prosecution/conviction/etc.? This should be a good success story. Banking sector training: This could make sense BSAT will not be continued in Year 3. for Thailand and Vietnam but not for China. CWT is not a big issue in China and doing the training with Chinese banking may not lead to increase awareness. Let's discuss this.
Cooperation is growing with an increasing number Agreed. Progress has been made with USFWS and DOJ attaché and of organizations to further Objective 2 work. USG others. agencies should be included for coordination as well. Aware of Saving Species Vietnam’s challenges The issue relates to activities under USAID Saving Species needing they face in implementing in Vietnam, we are to be coordinated through the Vietnam CITES Management conscious of the fact that we may potentially be Authority. It’s a somewhat cumbersome process whereby any faced to follow similar protocol I'm not aware agency who seeks support from Saving Species is required to write of this. Please advise. an official letter to the VN CITES MA first. We thus need to be careful that any USAID Wildlife Asia activities that are coordinated with USAID Saving Species in Vietnam don’t necessarily get slowed down as a result. Explore the potential of developing a Vietnamese USAID Wildlife Asia strongly feels that the development of the RRG RRG Although I think this is a good idea, this should remain with the Activity. Justification has been provided to might make more sense for USS to develop. the COR separately on this matter.
Objective 3: Increasing commitment to addressing CWT COR Comments Responses What are we preparing for IWT exactly? What None. Oxford Martin will present their list of recommendations. are our roles/contributions? Please advise and I Initially planned for our studies to merge, but they took a different will coordinate with our colleagues in Washington. design strategy (i.e. Horizon Scan) to be vague with their recommendations, due to the nature of their global remit. We have targeted policy recommendations for our project countries. For FY3, we will continue to dialogue with Oxford Martin to explore how our respective reports can influence policy change. We will also strategize with AIPA or directly with the govts or national parliaments on the prioritization of their CWT strategies and investments based on our political commitment mapping. Are we aiming for Laos to be upgraded from Category 1 CITES' Class 3 to 2 or 1? U.S. - Thailand Parliamentary Exchange on Perhaps after the TH election (Q3). Conservation Caucus-Building in Washington DC, potentially for Year 3. This is interesting. Are we planning to attend? I want to participate as well. Please keep me posted.
Monitoring and Evaluation COR Comments Responses As discussed, we may not do the mid-term Noted. It would be helpful if we can discuss with USAID on what evaluation since we have quite good monitoring the evaluation will entail, so we can do our best to prepare for it. indicators and learning agenda to track progress. I plan to do the evaluation around April/June 2019. Let's follow up on this.
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2 court cases: what are they? Please advise. 1) A consignment of 28 elephant tusks weighing was seized at Bangkok airport in Sep 2017. The ivory had been illegally moved from neighboring DR Congo and exported through the airport in Brazzaville. A USFWS Special Agent based in Gabon shared the information with LATF, Freeland and BNAL Congo joint team. With the support of NCB Brazzaville, BNAL Congo carried out investigations into the case as coordinated by LATF in Dec 2017 that led to the arrest of five (5) suspects in Brazzaville who appeared in Court in January 2018. During the C-TOC in Brazzaville, countries held round table bilateral and multilateral meetings coordinated by LATF, which resulted in identification of OJT potential cases. All officers involved attended the CTOC. 2) Police in Thailand arrested Boonchai Bach involved in the smuggling thousands of tons of elephant tusks and rhino horns from Africa to Asia. The case has gone to court. The court case is still ongoing and further information remains confidential. During the July 2018 interviews with AMLO and Customs officers to validate the Activity's trainings, both agencies mentioned that the trainings and network building USAID Wildlife Asia conducted have helped with the arrest and handling of the case. Indicator 4 target: 1 in VN is Chi? The target was set in the first MEL plan version. At that time we did not think of the Chi Campaign, but we have incorporated Chi Phase III targets in the MEL plan version 2. Clarify behavioral indicator baselines For the indicator on wildlife consumption in the past 12 months, we used the base/denominator of people who have ever bought focal species products (ever buyers) and the numerator of people who have bought focal species in the past 12 months (P12M buyers) or: P12M Buyers / Ever Buyers X 100 For the indicators on Desired Attitudes, Social Unacceptability and Demand, we used the denominator of Ever Buyers plus people who informed that they are likely to buy in the future (Intenders), or: XX (based on each indicator) / (Ever Buyers + Intenders) X 100 As the denominator/base is smaller than the general public, the baselines are higher than what appear in the research reports.
7. PLANNED TASKS/INTERVENTIONS FOR THE NEXT REPORTING PERIOD
USAID/RDMA approved the Activity’s Year 3 Work Plan on October 8, 2018.
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ANNEX 1. SUMMARY RESULTS TO DATE
Relevance Baseline Quarterly Status – FY18
Data Indicator Outcome Statement Comment Source Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Year Value % Achieved Annual Result Annual Target UWA Obj. Disaggregate by Disaggregate UWA Output AM Question Quarter 1 Total ------Obj.1: IAmIvoryFree ------Objective 1 ------Obj.2: UNODC co-training ------. Obj.1 Adequate resources are Objective 2 ------Obj.3: T&G legal review ------mobilized/leveraged. Quarter 2 Agencies Objective 3 ------Obj.2 Resources are in place Obj.2: CTOC Brazzaville, INL ------Quarter 3 giving Objective 4 ------with tools, training, ------Obj.1: WPL campaign ------1) Monetized value of resources resources, infrastructure and funds to Financial ------Obj.2: Co-trainings with AMLO, DNP, Lao mobilized to undertake CWT interviews, take targeted actions at Airlines, UNODC ------actions as a result of assistance document X X N/A Infrastructure ------sufficient scale. N/A Quarter 4 from USAID Wildlife Asia reviews, Human ------Obj.3 Resources are mobilized Obj.1: Digital Deterrence ------WPL Activity (CUSTOM) monetary for CWT by host countries. Non-USG ------, Chi Campaign ------calculation Obj.4 Resources by Obj.2: Co-trainings with INTERPOL ------, INL method USG ------development partners are ------, UNODC ------, SBV ------; Public sector ------mobilized. ------Oudomxai event ------Private sector ------Obj.3: Thai delegation to US ------
Dev partners ------Obj.4:Quarter Tha 2 i PBS co-training ------Total 50 0 9 9 21 39 78% 9 seizures/arrests by Yieow Dong Obj. 2 The probability of Objective 2 48 9 9 21 39 81% Quarter 3 prosecution following arrest Objective 3 2 Personnel 9.8% of Investigation 0 9 2 arrests in Africa, 4 arrests in Thailand, 2 for crime increases. 2) Number of CWT actions carrying out arrests Arrests 29 9 7 12 28 97% court cases (5 as a result of CTOC, 1 from TA Obj. 3 Improved enforcement taken as a result of assistance actions, were Court cases 19 2 2 11% and 2 from Yieow Dong Taskforce training) & prosecution of existing laws X X National 35 9 2 10 21 60% from USAID Wildlife Asia Interviews, convicted, Quarter 4 & agreements (11.3) International 15 7 11 18 120% Activity (CUSTOM) document 2008-2015 ASEAN 2 arrests of Vietnamese in Thailand, 1 Obj.4 Analysis and Cambodia 5 reviews WEN Lao PDR 5 investigation of laundered African ivory, 10 recommendations inform Thailand 30 9 5 21 35 117% seizures in Thailand, 8 active cases consulted policy and LE decisions (9.4) Vietnam 10 at CTOC Other 0 4 4 N/A
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 55 Relevance Baseline Quarterly Status – FY18
Data Indicator Outcome Statement Comment Source Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Year Value % Achieved Annual Result Annual Target UWA Obj. Disaggregate by Disaggregate UWA Output AM Question Total 250 45 83 177 111 416 166% Quarter 1 SBCC actors 30 11 21 32 107% 24, Customs Training; 11, SBCC; 10, i2 for LE actors 200 34 62 169 88 353 177% AMLO Leaders 20 8 15 23 115% Quarter 2 Media 0 8 8 15, CTOC Brazzaville; 47, i2 for AMLO; 21, 3) EG.10.2-4: Number of Women 66 10 44 40 69 163 247% SBCC people trained in sustainable Men 184 35 39 137 42 253 138% Trainees, Quarter 3 natural resources management Cambodia 22 5 24 18 47 214% training sign- X N/A 25, Pangolin Care; 79, Airport Training, and/or biodiversity conservation N/A China 10 21 21 210% in sheets Vientiane; 15, YDTF; 22, joint UNODC, as a result of USG assistance Indonesia 0 0 Phnom Penh; 28, CTOC Hua Hin; 8, Lao (STD) Lao PDR 22 24 2 87 113 514% Policy Mission Malaysia 0 3 3 Quarter 4 Philippines 0 0 Thailand 147 21 52 47 23 143 97% 18, joint UNODC, Sihanoukville; 70, State Vietnam 49 3 4 70 77 157% Bank of Vietnam; 15, Thailand Wildlife Act Other 12 12 workshop; 8, media training 1) ZSL used our questionnaire to develop its Total 4 2 2 50% 4) IR1.1 NC202: Number of instrument for pangolin consumer research. 2) organizations that have applied China 2 1 1 50% Freeland used our research results to design new tools, technologies, Organizatio Digital Deterrence key messages. We haven't methodologies or practices that ns, SBCC Individual Thailand 1 1 met the target because we haven't fully Organizations have improved support biodiversity capacity X baselines implemented SBCC campaigns. More will be
skills in conducting SBCC. 2017 conservation and sustainable assessment collected Vietnam 1 achieved in Year 3. ecosystems management and tool trade of natural resources as a NGO 4 result of USG assistance NGO network 0
Total 4 1 1 2 50% WPL Campaign in China and Digital 5) IR1.1 NC2005: Number of China 2 1 1 50% Deterrence Campaign in Thailand. Obj. 1's behavior change campaigns Implementer Thailand 1 1 1 100% implementation has been delayed due to the implemented to reduce s, Document X N/A N/A Vietnam 1 IRB process, but SBCC campaigns will be unsustainable demand for review One species 4 implemented in full scale in Year 3. natural resources Multi species 0 1 1 N/A
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 56 Relevance Baseline Quarterly Status – FY18
Data Indicator Outcome Statement Comment Source Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Year Value % Achieved Annual Result Annual Target UWA Obj. Disaggregate by Disaggregate UWA Output AM Question 6) % of target audience(s) with By year 3 end, X% change of Survey, The baselines and targets for FY19-21 will be desired attitudes related to audience saying they have Target X TBD 0 determined once the SBCC messages have consumption of parts or negative attitudes on 2018 audience been selected. products of targeted wildlife consumption of wildlife parts 7) % of target audience(s) who By year 5 end, X% of target believe consumption of Survey, 7% China audience say consuming and products or parts of targeted Target XX 3% 0
buying wildlife products is not 2018 wildlife species is not socially audience Thailand socially acceptable. acceptable (CUSTOM) The baselines are based on the formative 8) % of target audience(s) with By the end of year 4, X% Survey, 84% China research studies conducted in early 2018. The demand for parts or products change of target audience(s) Target XX 86% 0 targets for FY19-21 will be developed once of targeted wildlife species in 2018 adopting desired behaviors audience Thailand SBCC campaign geographic areas of focus have the future (CUSTOM) been determined.
9) % of target audience(s) who In X months of campaigns, self- Survey, 82% China report consuming products or report wildlife product Target XX 13% 0 parts of targeted wildlife species purchases of audience are 2018 audience Thailand within the last year (CUSTOM) reduced by X%.
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 57 Relevance Baseline Quarterly Status – FY18
Data Indicator Outcome Statement Comment Source Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Year Value % Achieved Annual Result Annual Target UWA Obj. Disaggregate by Disaggregate UWA Output AM Question Total 150 83 83 55% 83 from 89 persons interviewed in July 2018 reported that they have applied new practices 10) EG.10.2-6: Number of Women 30 11 11 37% % and # of target personnel Personnel, in their job. We achieved 55% of the target people that apply improved Men 120 72 72 60% successfully apply targeted interviews, because it was very difficult and time conservation law enforcement X N/A Cambodia 15 21 21 140% compliance and LE to address document N/A consuming to follow up with past participants. practices as a result of USG Lao PDR 15 11 11 73% problems. reviews 83/89 represents 93%of people interviewed. If assistance (STD) Thailand 90 35 35 39% we could interview more people, the number Vietnam 30 16 16 53% will be higher. Total 24 1 16 17 71% Thailand: 1) Yieow Dong Task Force, 2) Cambodia 6 5 5 83% AMLO, 3) NRECD, 4) Airport Police, 5) 11) Number of units, agencies, Lao PDR 6 2 2 33% Airport Customs, 6) Customs Investigations Agencies, organizations, and/or Thailand 6 1 6 7 117% Div, 7) CITES MA Competencies are acquired by competency institutions adopting improved X TBD Vietnam 6 3 3 50% Lao PDR: 1) DOFI, 2) Customs identified audience. assessment TBD law enforcement competency Conservation 10 1 3 4 40% Cambodia: 1) Combating Drugs Authority, 2) tool (CUSTOM) Police 7 6 6 86% Customs, 3) Foresty, 4) Police, 5) Gendarmerie Vietnam: 1) Customs, 2) Anti-Smuggling, 3) AMLO 1 1 Environmental Police Customs 7 6 6 86% Total 12 1 1 4 1 7 58% Quarter 1: 1) Risk Profiling, Vientiane Obj. 2 International/ Objective 2 5 1 1 3 1 6 120% Quarter 2: 2) CTOC, Brazzaville Event interagency collaboration in Junior-mid 3 1 1 3 1 6 200% Quarter 3: 3) Pangolin Care, 4) Lao Policy 12) Number of documented reports, sign- LE occurs from reformed Senior 2 Mission, 5) Investigation Techniques, Phnom collaboration events in sheets, X N/A processes N/A Objective 3 1 Penh, 6) CTOC Hua Hin (CUSTOM) document Obj. 3 By year 3, CWT actors Objective 4 7 Quarter 4: 7) Risk Profiling Sihanoukville review are effectively coordinating. USG agencies 3 Obj. 4 implementation was delayed, hence the Other 4 under achieved target.
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 58 Relevance Baseline Quarterly Status – FY18
Data Indicator Outcome Statement Comment Source Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Year Value % Achieved Annual Result Annual Target UWA Obj. Disaggregate by Disaggregate UWA Output AM Question Total 2 1 1 50% 13) EG.10.2-5: Number of laws, Environmental and Natural Resource Code of Authorized Proposed 2 1 1 50% policies, or regulations that Cambodia: We have provided comments to the Improved or new laws, government Adopted 2 address biodiversity 9th and 10th drafts of the ENR Code on policies, and agreements that officials, Implemented 0 conservation and/or other CWT related issues. The 11th and final draft address identified gaps and policy X N/A Law 1 1 1 100% environmental themes officially TBD was released in April 2018 in Khmer and has issues are ratified or otherwise milestones Policy 1 proposed, adopted, or been proposed in the Cabinet. adopted. document Regulation 0 implemented as a result of USG Thailand's Wildlife Act has been delayed, hence reviews National 1 1 1 100% assistance (STD) the under -achieved target. Regional 1
Total 2 2 2 4 200% Quarter 2 Women 1. Lt. Gen. NLA, Thailand, formally accepting
Men 2 2 2 4 200% Policy Package 2. Adm. facilitated the partnership roundtable Cambodia to create conservation caucuses 14) Number of targeted Decision Decision-makers are Quarter 4 decision makers who take makers, Lao PDR champions of CWT agenda. X X N/A concrete actions to champion documents, N/A (8.2) Thailand 1 2 1 3 300% 1. AIPA SG CWT agenda (CUSTOM) interviews Vietnam 1 2. Gen., MONRE Minister Both self-funded a trip to US to explore ASEAN 1 the conservation caucus model and
National 2 2 1 3 150% expressed interest in replicating it in Thailand
Regional 1
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 59 Annex 2. TraiNet Report
Name of Training City Date No. of trainees Training Cost- Cost- Women Men Total cost share share by 1. Risk Profiling to Enhance Vientiane 10/2-5/17 0 25 25 ------UNODC Interception of IWT 2. SBCC Training Bangkok 10/9-11/17 10 8 18 ------3. LE6 i2 Training for Anti- Bangkok 11/27- 1 9 10 ------Money Laundering Office 28/17 4. CTOC "Africa - Asia" Brazzaville 2/5-10/18 1 14 15 ------INL 5. i2 Training for Anti-Money Bangkok 2/5-6/18 9 6 15 ------AMLO Laundering Office (AMLO) 1 6. i2 Training for Anti-Money Bangkok 2/12-13/18 9 6 15 ------AMLO Laundering Office (AMLO) 2 7. i2 Training for Anti-Money Bangkok 3/5-6/18 10 7 17 ------AMLO Laundering Office (AMLO) 3 8. SBCC Training for WPL Beijing 3/21-23/18 20 6 26 ------Campaign Implementers 9. Pangolin Care Workshop Khao Yai 4/18-20/18 6 20 26 ------DNP 10. Awareness Training for Vientiane 4/26/18 19 40 59 ------Lao Airline and Airport Staff Airlines 11. YDTF Investigative Bangkok 5/21-23/18 2 17 19 ------DNP Technique, Crime Scene Investigation & OSINT 12. Lao PDR Policy Observation Bangkok 5/22-25/18 8 8 ------Mission 13. Crime Scene and Other Phnom 6/19-22/18 24 24 ------UNODC Investigation Techniques Penh, 14. DETECT-CTOC Hua Hin 6/25-7/1/18 3 15 18 ------INL, INTERPOL 15. Thailand's Draft Wildlife Act Bangkok 7/2/18 8 7 15 ------Workshop 16. Risk Profiling to Enhance Sihanouk- 8/28-30/18 2 18 20 ------UNODC Interception of IWT ville 17. Anti-Money Laundering and Hanoi 8/28-30/18 54 16 70 ------State Bank CWT Awareness of Vietnam 18. Wildlife Trafficking Bangkok & 9/24-27/18 12 15 27 ------Thai PBS Investigative Media Ratchaburi Workshop
USAID Wildlife Asia Quarterly Report April-June 2018 60 Annex 3. Success Story Objective 1: Reduction of consumer demand through SBCC Initial Results of Digital Deterrence Campaign Show High Effective Reach and Cost Efficiency among Targeted Consumer Segment An innovative USAID Wildlife Asia pilot campaign using digital marketing techniques has proven to be a cost-efficient and effective way of reaching an important segment of the consumer target audience – those with intent to buy illegal wildlife online. Launched in Thailand on August 4, 2018, initial results revealed that this campaign has disseminated creative messages meant to deter purchase of illegal wildlife products to potential online buyers using google as their search engine. Within a seven-week period, these messages, in the form of google ads, were shown to 135,000 searches. Called the “Digital Deterrence Campaign”, this innovative activity aims to increase the perception of risk among potential buyers who generally go online with a comfortable feeling of “anonymity”. The google ads aim to disrupt this sense of anonymity and create the impression that online trading in illegal wildlife is risky, thus preventing them from completing their purchase. The consumer research conducted by USAID Wildlife Asia in Thailand in 2018 validated reports from other sources (e.g. TRAFFIC and IFAW) that online channels are increasingly becoming popular to obtain information and conduct trade in illegal wildlife. The campaign goes as follows: When someone uses a word from a list of selected “sensitive keywords” (keywords that connote possible interest in purchasing ivory, tiger, rhino or pangolin) to search the internet using google, one of four alternative ads will appear. The four ads are based on the following concepts: • Concept 1: ‘Searching for you’ • Concept 2: ‘Searching for bad luck’ • Concept 3: ‘Can you afford the fines’ • Concept 4: ‘Official alert’
A sample of creative copy When the person still pursues his/her search and clicks on the link accompanying the ad, he/she will be directed to a splash or landing page sponsored by Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) with a warning message saying that the content being searched for may be prohibited and the Thai authorities are monitoring illegal wildlife trade online. With this message is an invitation to tip-off the DNP via a link to their online Task Force's Facebook page and their hotline number. The following is copy of the landing or splash page:
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As of September 24, 2018, around 150,000 keyword searches were tracked of which 135,000 searches were served the ads (87 percent of total search share). Of these ads served, 3,700 (3.48 percent) continued to click to the landing page. “Ivory” was the most common keyword searched comprising 65 percent of searches. Keyword analysis revealed that “ivory” searches were related to jewelry, such as ivory rings and ivory necklaces. “Tiger Tooth” and “Tiger Claw” were the next highest keywords searched representing 15 percent and 10 percent of searches, respectively. Thai was the predominant language used (keyword ads were bought in English, Chinese and Vietnam). Digital analytics revealed that 46 percent of searchers were male and 32 percent female. Searches emanated mostly from cities, especially Bangkok. The analysis also showed that the share of search volume was high among those who were between 25-34 years old. Mobile is the most popular platform representing 77 percent of total searches, compared to 17 percent of searches from desktop users. The digital campaign will continue until early 2019. Further digital analytics will be done to monitor campaign results and track the IP addresses used by the persons conducting the search. This will provide information on the extent to which the campaign has deterred online purchases.
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Objective 2: Institutionalization of capacity for effective enforcement Impact of USAID Wildlife Asia's Law Enforcement Training Shows Promise The illegal wildlife trade is increasingly being recognized as a major global crisis driving many species to extinction. Wildlife smuggling ranks among the most lucrative illegal businesses behind narcotics, human trafficking and weapons. Driving supply is the reality that it is a high-reward, low-risk crime. As wildlife crime continues to increase in Asia, law enforcement efficacy and effective information- sharing among authorities remain uneven. Over the last two years, USAID Wildlife Asia has been working to strengthen regional law enforcement capacity and coordination. To this end, the team has delivered, in conjunction with Photo: USAID Wildlife Asia partners, a variety of training courses covering a broad range of topics including transnational organized crime, digital forensics, pangolin care, crime scene investigation, risk profiling, and interception of illegal wildlife trade. A major thrust of many of the training events has been to strengthen coordination and collaboration among enforcement stakeholders to address the transboundary and transnational nature of the crime. Over 220 law enforcement personnel were reached from agencies such as customs, police, the judiciary, economic crime units, and wildlife protection authorities. Following an assessment of USAID Wildlife Asia’s law enforcement capacity building programs for counter wildlife trafficking (CWT), there is reason to be optimistic about the impact the program is having. The aim of the assessment was to evaluate the skills, knowledge, and competencies learned and applied at the individual and agency levels in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam. It also explored the degree to which training is leading to more interagency, regional, and transcontinental collaboration. While it is too early to claim that USAID Wildlife Asia has achieved its law enforcement capacity building objectives, there are some promising indications of success emerging especially from the anecdotal feedback received by those who responded to questionnaires and participated in one-on-one interviews. Looking at the responses overall, almost all participants (93%) who took part in the evaluation reported that they have applied some level of improved conservation law enforcement practices in their work due to training provided by USAID Wildlife Asia and its partners. Most of them also agreed that USAID Wildlife Asia has led to increased interagency coordination and interaction to combat wildlife trafficking within their own countries. These same respondents further added that they had noted increased CWT actions, collaboration, information sharing, and knowledge as result of the training. In terms of specific skills and knowledge applied, 63% highlighted “investigative techniques”, 56% “communication exploitation”, 48% “acquisition and handling of evidence”, 46% “document exploitation”, and 44% an “understanding of transnational organized crime” (respondents were able to choose multiple answers to questions, n=91). The remaining responses were spread across a broad range of skills including, for example, forensics, interview techniques, anti-money laundering and pangolin care.
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An example of how USAID Wildlife Asia has supported increased CWT actions is captured in a response from a customs head of investigations who noted that the arrest and prosecution of Boonchai Bach earlier this year, started with her unit. She credited the support from USAID Wildlife Asia citing that one of the key players involved in the investigation had attended a past Counter Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC) training course. An interview of two female custom officials working in cargo inspection at Suvarnabhumi Airport revealed that their involvement in a CTOC training course resulted in an expanded and more informed understanding of transnational crime, wildlife product routes, and the cooperation required to combat wildlife trafficking. “Now we have a connection with so many other professionals from around the world,” said one of the officials. “We have a LINE [social media] group from the CTOC that we still use. We have communicated with the Investigations and Suppression Division of Customs. They are separate from us, so we were not really much of a community before the training.” While further evaluation work is required, these initial results are certainly very positive, and a good indication that USAID Wildlife Asia is achieving some measure of success due to the training programs it is delivering.
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Annex 4. List of Meetings Objective 1 Partner(s) Met Main Discussion Topic Date China Chengdu Zoo Introducing Activity and building partnership 09/04/2017 Chengdu Panda Base Introducing Activity and building partnership 09/05/2017 Chengdu Zoo WPL campaign events & MOU discussion 11/27/2017 Chengdu Panda Base WPL campaign events & MOU discussion 11/28/2017 TRAFFIC China TRAFFIC’s demand reduction activities and 11/20/2017 opportunities to collaborate WildAid China WildAid’s demand reduction activities and 11/20/2017 opportunities to collaborate Tencent, China (WeChat and QQ Tencent’s activities re anti-wildlife crime online and 11/22/2017 owner) opportunities to collaborate Baidu, China (China’s Google) Baidu’s activities re anti-wildlife crime online, and 11/22/2017 opportunities to collaborate Global Environmental Institute (GEI), GEI’s mammoth ivory market study, its activities and 11/23/2017 China opportunities to collaborate WWF/TRAFFIC Attending China’s Ivory Trade Ban Workshop 01/29/2018 Tianjin Children's Library Introducing Activity and building partnership, WPL 02/02/2018 campaign events & MOU discussion Beijing Museum of Natural History Introducing Activity and building partnership, WPL 02/06/2018 campaign events & MOU discussion Chengdu Zoo Attending International Day for Biological Diversity 05/22/2018 event promoting WPL materials Chengdu Panda Base WPL promotion campaign events discussion 05/23/2018 U.S. Embassy Beijing, British Embassy Formative Research Dissemination Workshop 06/12/2018 Beijing, NGOs and other sectors involved in conservation, local media WildAid, WWF, TRAFFIC, Natural Pangolin strategy workshop 06/12-14/2018 Resources Defense Council (NRDC), ZSL, WCS and Eco-Bridge Continental Thailand A meeting of NGOs in Thailand The proposed online campaign presentation and the 11/16/2017 (Freeland, Seub Nakhasathien, Bird ivory mapping campaign Conservation Society, Love Wildlife, IUCN, WildAid and TRAFFIC) Meeting of NGOs in Thailand (similar Overall update from partners and presented the 02/08/2018 organizations as above) findings for Ivory Mapping campaign. DNP Present Digital Deterrence Campaign and propose 03/15/2018 for collaboration DNP, IUCN Present the concept for the Ivory and Tiger 04/02/2018 Participatory Mapping to DNP DNP Progress update of the Digital Deterrence Campaign 05/10/2018 and seek feedback from DNP Thai PBS Dissemination of research findings and discuss the 06/21/2018 Citizen journalism training WildAid Future collaboration in campaign to mobilize 07/10/2018 religious, spiritual and thought leaders IATA and Thai Airways International Future collaboration in planned campaigns targeting 07/25/2018 Public Company Limited tourists in Thailand from China.
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Conservation partners (local and Coordination Meeting 08/21/2018 foreign) and relevant key stakeholders DNP Inform the progress of campaigns 08/30/2018 Minor Group Possibility of collaboration and leveraging for 09/05/2018 demand reduction targeting hotel guests Vietnam Central Buddhist Association Preliminary working session to request the 08/08/2018 Association’s collaboration National Assembly Preliminary working session with to request the 09/05/2018 Association’s collaboration Center for Women and Development Brainstorm ideas/map out possible plan of action to 09/06/2018 engage the targeted women’s group National Assembly Work with experts to develop content of the side- 09/07/2018 event in November 2018 Vietnam Automobile and Brainstorm ideas/map out possible Plan of Action to 09/11/2018 Transportation Association encourage and engage the transportation sector in the fight against wildlife crime Vietnam Chamber of Industry and Brainstorm ideas/map out possible plan of action to 09/11/2018 Commerce encourage and engage the business community in the fight against wildlife crime Vietnam Association of Craft Villages Preliminary working session with new CSO partner 09/14/2018 to explore interest in collaboration
Objective 2 Partner(s) Met Main Discussion Topic Date Meetings with law enforcement Digital Forensics Assessment Oct 2017 agencies in 4 target countries Office of Attorney General of Thailand Rapid Reference Guide development working group 11/10/2017 to be chaired by OAG UNODC SOMTC update, next steps for ASEAN 12/4//2017 collaboration USG law enforcement agencies USAID Wildlife Asia’s Year 2 work plan on law 12/6/2018 enforcement activities People’s Police Academy, Vietnam Capacity building needs assessment 12/12/2017 INTERPOL, UNDP-GEF, UNODC, Expert workshop on developing law enforcement 01/16/2018 USAID Saving Species and WWF indicators Lao Airlines Scoping mission for air sector training 02/20/2018 INTERPOL, UNODC, Lao Police, Lao Joint investigative meeting of Thai and Lao law 02/20/2018 Customs, DOFI, Thailand NRECD, enforcement officials Suvarnabhumi Airport Police US Embassy in Vientiane, USAID Briefing on joint investigative meeting of Thai and 02/21/2018 Country Office in Laos Lao law enforcement officials and the air sector training Environmental Investigation Agency Possible collaboration on big cat and Mozambique 03/08/2018 CWT issues Thailand Police Education Bureau USAID Wildlife Asia Activities and possible future 03/09/2018 partnership with Police Education Bureau. Vietnam’s People’s Police University Scoping Needs Assessment 03/12/2018 DNP Pangolin Workshop Coordination 03/15/2018 SOMTC Working Group, INTERPOL, Working Group Meeting on Illicit Trafficking of 03/29/2018 UNODC Timber and Wildlife PPA, USAID Saving Species, USAID Meetings to discuss coordination between USAID 05/15-17/2018 Vietnam, WCS Wildlife Asia and USAID Saving Species
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PPA, USAID Saving Species Workplan development meetings 06/11-13/2018 Lao Airlines Senior Officials Post awareness survey wit Lao Airline staff 06/11-13/2018 Angkor Air Discuss upcoming airport awareness training 06/13-14/2018 State Bank of Vietnam Next steps in the organization of the banking sector 06/15/2018 awareness training Cambodian Police and UNODC Crime scene and other investigation technique for 06/19-22/2018 wildlife crime investigators NRECD, Royal Thai Police Wildlife trafficking as TOC awareness raising session 08/20-21/2018 - Chiang Mai Cambodian Customs and UNODC Customs Training on Risk Profiling 08/28-30/2018 Royal Foundation, WCS, Standard UFW Financial Taskforce Meeting 08/30/2018 Chartered, ANZ Bank, JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, HSBC DOFI, Ministry of Agriculture and Transboundary workshop on combatting wildlife 08/30-31/2018 Forestry, WCS and WWF trafficking in the Greater Mekong NRECD, Royal Thai Police Wildlife trafficking as TOC awareness raising session 08/30/2018 - Songkhla NRECD, Royal Thai Police Wildlife trafficking as TOC awareness raising session 09/06/2018 - Khon Kaen NRECD, Royal Thai Police Wildlife trafficking as TOC awareness raising session 09/10/2018 - Bangkok
Objective 3 Partner(s) Met Main Discussion Topic Date President and Secretary of the Courtesy call on the new President of the 10/05/2017 Environment Division of the SC of Environment Division of the SC in the sideline of the Thailand, Secretary of the Office of the International Commission of Jurists’ 2017 Annual First Vice President of the SC Judicial Dialogue of Southeast Asian Judges ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly AIPA SG’s debrief of US mission and meetings with 10/20/2017 US Congress, USAID, US FWS, WB GEF and ICCF Environment and Natural Resources Partnership and the Activity’s inputs to the national 10/10/2017 Committee of NRC of Thailand environment strategy of Thailand for the Cabinet Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ) Partnership on all legal-related activities for Year 2 10/27/2017 (Judiciary support and partnership with the SC) American Bar Association (ABA) Rule Potential collaboration and support in implementing 11/09/2017 of Law Initiative (ROLI) Task 3.2 FAO-GIZ-SUFORD-SU-WB Lao PDR The Lao authorities are preparing a ‘Wildlife Legality 11/13/2017 ‘Wildlife Legality Compendium’ project Compendium’ based on Wildlife and Aquatic Law UN Environment Programme Year 2 activities and Global Judicial Institute confab 11/17/2017 2018 Brookings Institution Potential collaboration on their recent book, “The 11/27/2017 Extinction Market: Wildlife Trafficking in Asia” DNP Meeting with MOU Partners Launch of DNP’s official partnership platform on 11/29/2017 WHS and cooperation MOU - DNP and NGOs Partners Launch of official partnership platform of DNP 12/01/2017 ICCF FY2 Work Plan 12/13/2017 Secretary General and Deputy FY2 Work Plan Activities with the SC 12/21/2017 Secretary General of the SC ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN member First Meeting of the SOMTC Working Group on 29/03/2018 states, UNODC, Royal Thai Police Illicit Trafficking of Wildlife and Timber ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN member 14th Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group 20-22/03/2018 states, UNODC, INTERPOL on CITES and Wildlife Enforcement (AWG CITES WE) in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR
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ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN member First Meeting of the SOMTC Working Group on 29/03/2018 state, UNODC, Royal Thai Police Illicit Trafficking of Wildlife and Timber ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN member 14th Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group 20-22/03/2018 state, UNODC, INTERPOL on CITES and Wildlife Enforcement (AWG CITES WE) in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR TWG, UNDP and USAID Cambodia Next steps in Activity support to ENR Code on 23/03/2018 CWT and planning for joint Parliamentary Workshop on the ENR Code Standing Committee of Natural Courtesy Call on Chairman, Vice Chairmen and 27/02/2018 Resources and Environment, NLA of Members of the Standing Committee and Thailand, AIPA, ICCF/ CCN Presentation on Conservation Caucuses Environmental Division, Supreme Courtesy Call on the President of the Environment 14/02/2018 Court of Thailand Division and Work Plan Meeting with the SC Indonesia Embassy Courtesy Call on Indonesia Embassy to introduce 11/02/2018 the USAID Wildlife Asia Obj.3 US Presidential Advisory Committee Update work and future of the US Meeting with US 19/01/2018 to Combat Wildlife Trafficking Presidential Advisory Committee to Combat Wildlife Trafficking and briefing on Policy Package. Standing Committee of Natural Presentation of Preliminary Findings of the Thailand 12/01/2018 Resources and Environment, National Policy Package and Objective 3 FY2 Work Plan Assembly of Thailand Presentation ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN member First Meeting of the SOMTC Working Group on 29/03/2018 state, UNODC, Royal Thai Police Illicit Trafficking of Wildlife and Timber ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN member 14th Annual Meeting of the AWG CITES WE in 20-22/03/2018 state, UNODC, INTERPOL Luang Prabang, Lao PDR British Embassy Bangkok, Freeland, Informal gathering of partners to discuss potential 04/24/2018 Minor Group - Anantara Hotels, and activities in preparation for the IWT2018, including the Elephant Family UK (under Royal high-level negotiations with Thai Government to Patronage of the Prince of Wales and commit to the London Declaration on IWT and the Duchess of Cornwall) working with the NLA to enhance legislations Members of the IUCN Asian Elephant IUCN Asian Elephant Specialist Group membership 04/27/2018 Specialist Group action plan, coordination and networking Thai Environmental NGOs Assembly Thai Environmental NGOs Assembly Annual 05/17/2018 Meeting. The civil society - Thai Government dialogue discussed National Reform Plan on Natural Resources and Environment, with the NRC Chairman of the Standing Committee Courtesy Calls for the "Lao PDR Legislative - 05/21-25/2018 on Natural Resources and the Executive Observation Mission on Counter-Wildlife Environment of NLA, DNP Director Trafficking (CWT) Policy Best Practices” General, Royal Forestry Department Deputy Director General, Customs Department Deputy Director General and Royal Thai Police Deputy Commissioner General UK Embassy-led “Global Challenges Held in the lead up to the IWT 2018, the seminar 05/22/2018 Seminar: Combating the Illegal Wildlife highlighted IWT as an urgent global issue. It also Trade” and Reception hosted Lao and Thai government participants of the Activity-sponsored Lao PDR Legislative - Executive Observation Mission on CWT Policy Best Practices Minister of Environment and Natural Conservation Caucus-building for Thailand with 05/31/2018 Resources of Thailand AIPA and ICCF Deputy Government Spokesperson of Conservation Caucus-building for Thailand 06/02/2018 the Office of the PM of Thailand
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Inspector General of the Office of Presentation of "Scaling Efforts to Counter-Wildlife 06/01/2018 the PM, and concurrent Member of the Trafficking Through Legislative Reform” and Legal NRC’s Environment and Natural Seminar work planning Resources Committee Deputy Director General of the Presentation of "Scaling Efforts to Counter-Wildlife 06/14/ 2018 Department of National Parks, Wildlife Trafficking Through Legislative Reform” and Legal and Plant Conservation (DNP) Seminar work planning World Commission on Environmental Partnership to contribute to upcoming best 06/17/2018 Law (WCEL) of IUCN practices and model provisions monograph President of the Environmental SC-UWA Work Plan Approval 06/29/2018 Division, Supreme Court of Thailand Deputy Director General of DNP Seminar on "Scaling Efforts to Counter-Wildlife 07/02/3018 Trafficking Through Legislative Reform” and Legal Seminar work planning UN Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC Transnational Organized Crime Threats 09/04/2018 (UNODC) Assessment for Southeast Asia University of New England, Australia Conference Call for Dec 2018 ASEAN Animals Law 09/06/2018 Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand Prosecutor, Office of the Attorney Policy Session of the UWA Media Workshop 09/25/2018 General, and Director of CITES, DNP DNP Deputy Director General, GEF 5 DNP-organized in-situ Tiger Conservation, and 09/25/2018 UNDP and IUCN Asia Regional Office Thailand-Myanmar forestry complex, border management cooperation meeting Director General of International Courtesy Call and Work Plan presentation 08/31/2018 Affairs Department, Office of the Attorney General of Thailand Deputy Permanent Secretary of Policy Meeting on WARPA and Animal Welfare Act 09/26/2018 MONRE, Director of Animal Welfare and Veterinarian Service Division, Department of Animal Livestock, Director of Wildlife Protection Division, DNP, Director of Zoo Permit Section of DNP
Objective 4 Partner(s) Met Main Discussion Topic Date UNODC SOMTC update, next steps for ASEAN participate 12/4//2017 collaboration Thai Public Broadcasting Service Potential collaboration and partnership 01/19/18 03/05/18 03/19/18 Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai SBCC campaign collaboration (citizen journalism 06/21/2018 PBS) training), increasing CWT coverage and investigative journalism workshop
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