Inception Workshop for Thai NuRA: Nutrient Reduction Action (Clean and Healthy Ocean Integrated Programme)

Date: 07 May 2026
Venue: SkyView Hotel Bangkok Sky 2

Thai NuRA aims to address marine hypoxic zones by curbing coastal nutrient pollution from tourism, agriculture, and fishing ports and seafood processing in Thailand through the achievement of the following 4 project outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Public and private sector have an improved understanding and awareness of nutrient pollution sources, impacts, and solutions;
• Outcome 2: Thailand implements strengthened national policies and management frameworks on nutrient pollution reduction, aligned with a comprehensive source-to-sea approach;
• Outcome 3: The agricultural, tourism, and fishing port sectors apply effective management practices to address nutrient pollution; and, 
• Outcome 4: National, regional and global stakeholders demonstrate an enhanced capacity in addressing nutrient pollution from the agricultural, tourism, and fishing port industries.

Clean and Healthy Ocean Thailand - Thai NuRA is one of 14 child projects of the Clean and Healthy Oceans Integrated Programme (CHO-IP) funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led globally by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The Project is implemented in Thailand by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and co-executed by the Pollution Control Department (PCD) of the Thailand Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA). With an overall GEF funding worth USD3.5M, Thai NuRA was initiated through an Expression of Interest and Concept Note in 2023, followed by the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) in 2024. The Project has been approved for execution on 11 August 2025.

Objective of the Inception Meeting

• To formally launch Thai NuRA project.
• To introduce the project objectives, components, and expected results to all relevant stakeholders.
• To highlight stakeholder roles in project implementation, coordination, and sustainability.
• To build early buy-in, ownership, and collaboration among all actors.

Expected Outcomes of the Inception Meeting

• Increased visibility for Thai NuRA.
• Project goals, components, timelines, and expected impacts communicated.
• Stakeholders’ roles and interfaces clearly communicated.
• Alignment to enhance collaboration and smooth implementation kickstarted