TO STAY OR NOT TO STAY?

The client has requested that we stay on further (after we design our fund) to take on some alternate work for the region. The work will be for the Coral Triangle, which is a region in the ocean that six governments have a stake in.

The Coral Triangle region is the most important and diverse marine region in the world. This ‘nursery of the seas’ supports millions of livelihoods across Asia and worldwide. But it is under threat - from over-exploitation, environmental degradation, poverty, and global economic recession – all compounded by severe climate change.

Overcoming these threats, while putting new economic growth on a sustainable path, requires courage, innovation, partnership and, not least, access to credit, finance and investment – often a major barrier to progress, whether sought for the purchase of circle hooks or the large-scale development of a carbon-neutral resort.

In May 2009, the six heads of state of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI) www.cti-secretariat.net committed to ambitious conservation and development targets across the region through a regional Plan of Action. Delivering on this plan requires, in large part, meaningful engagement from the private sector. With the Government of the Philippines and partners, my client is hosting an inspirational international business event for the Coral Triangle making the case for sustainability as the future of economic health and profit – convening business change-makers, key marine resource industry sectors, the communications sector and the investment community to come together in partnership to start a green revolution.

The event will outline the business opportunities the CTI represents for key sectors and set out the financial support and investment available to businesses willing to commit to sustainability and green growth. We as a firm have been invited to support my client to research and assemble intelligence which will help my client make a compelling case for sustainable investment and business in the Coral Triangle. This will be achieved by focusing on market trends and demand from both, supply chain companies as well as consumers, located within and outside of the Coral Triangle Region Which can be delivered the 3 day business and industry event helping to make the case for sustainable business.

In a nutshell, our job would be to research industries and figure out what the best way to preserve the coral triangle would be – from coordinating fishing activities so they don’t deplete the region (but still be fair to all countries), to having the Asian Development Bank fund business enhancements that will make operating in the region ecologically safer. The project is primarily a research based role, but is highly interesting. The best part is that we would be interacting with a completely different side of our current organization – instead of business-heads, we’d be talking to scientists and conservationists. We would be interacting with companies who rely on the region for their economic livelihood, as well as their supply chain. Our recommendations could really make a substantial and sustainable impact!
It would require staying in the region for another month or so (which I am not convinced on.. in all likelihood it will take us through Jan) – which is where the question arises: should I stay or not? I love the work I am doing, and it’s truly fulfilling, but I also miss my friends and family. Stay tuned on my decision…