The Final Project Steering Committee Meeting of the GEF/UNDP/PEMSEA Project on Scaling up the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) was conducted virtually through a zoom video conference call on 18 December 2020. The Meeting was attended by representatives from eight project participating countries, namely: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Representatives from the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippines were present on behalf of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Representatives from the China-PEMSEA Center and PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers participated as observers. The SDS-SEA Terminal Evaluation Consultants at the international level as well as national consultants from the eight project member countries were present as key resource persons. The PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) served as Secretariat for the Meeting.

Overall, the meeting focused on the key achievements or progress of the project from 2014 to 2020, the initial findings, assessment and recommendations from the ongoing project terminal review, and the work plan for the completion of the project’s operational and financial closure. The Final PSC Meeting made the following major recommendations:

• The PRF to validate the coverage of Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) in the region and to document ICM key accomplishments to serve as basis in further scaling-up of ICM to other sites in the future.
• The PRF and the Terminal Review to highlight the key accomplishments and contribution of the project in support of climate change adaptation and in strengthening resilience of coastal communities.
• The Terminal Review Team to finalize the first draft of the Terminal Evaluation report for dissemination to PSC members on the week of December 21, 2020 for review.
• PSC members to submit their comments on the draft Terminal Evaluation report by January 8, 2021.
• The adoption of the proposed work plan and timeline to complete the operational and financial closure of the project.