The Second Meeting of the Scienctific Experts Committee (SEC) of ARCBC was held to select the research project proposals for funding by the ARCBC and discuss the guidelines in improving the call for proposals for the second tranch; use of research funds; and the procedures for monitoring the approved projects in the region.

The meeting was participated in by SEC members and National Biodiversity Reference Unit Coordinators from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam; resource persons from EU and ASEAN; representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN Working Group on Nature Conservation and Biodiversity; ARCBC Project Management Unit and Staff.

Selected 21 projects from the 53 pre-evaluated research proposals to form the ARCBC Research Prospectus (1st Tranch). Revised the Guidelines and Criteria for the Research Grants of ARCBC Scientific Quality - 30% Justification of Project - 30% Social Dimension - 20% Networking - 20% Revised the format for the research proposal preparation Formulated recommendations for improving the call for research proposals Developed schematic diagram for monitoring and evaluating research grant projects