On 18 October 2023, the First SEA-MaP Consultation Workshop on the Regional Platform for Knowledge and Partnerships was conducted in a hybrid format. The event was organized by the World Bank in collaboration with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) along with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), and in coordination with the ASEAN Secretariat and the SEA-MaP Regional Project. The Workshop invited representatives from diverse organizations and institutions actively engaged in the knowledge landscape on marine plastics in the ASEAN region.

The Platform aims to support the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris in the ASEAN Member States (ASEAN RAP) Actions 8, 10, and 13 through its functions as a database for plastic-related data, a hub for knowledge exchange and discussion on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and an interactive platform to foster stakeholder dialogues. 

The Workshop concluded with several recommendations for the Platform, including to create a collaborative mechanism at the regional level, work around the current ASEAN Working Groups setups, enhance communication plan to increase its visibility. On the way forward, the insights gathered from the Workshop will serve as a guide in determining the most fitting institutional arrangement for the Platform.