Operational Phase Objectives - [Powerpoint]

Editor's Notes

• #3: Activity A.1 Establish a central metadata directory of all available IW project data and information (GEF IW Information Management System: IW-IMS) Details:A database for remote search and access to project profiles, contact information, publications, geo-referenced data, news, etc available on-line. Interface readily addresses stakeholders’ priority needs and questions, and is accessed via the Web and CD-ROM and through IA-related portals (e.g., env-dir.org, developmentgateway.org). Additional elements include: (a) portfolio-wide electronic lists and e-forums to share experiences and address IW projects’ day-to-day needs (e.g., vacancies, consultancies, questions). (b) dissemination of IW projects' news, experiences, success stories, tools and events through central Web site. (c) presentations by and discussions among GEF IW projects attending IW community events. (Builds upon Pilot Project success of GEF IW Resource Centre Web site.)   Activity A.2 Develop a "Library of Practical Experiences" to increase access to GEF IW projects' experiences and address surveyed needs and priorities.  Details:Searchable Web-based compendium of practical experiences and insights derived from such experiences to address key IW management problems.   Activity A.3 Provide technical assistance to GEF IW projects to develop or strengthen their websites and ICT tools according to defined ICT quality criteria,[i] and connect all GEF IW project websites to the GEF IW Information Management System.   Details:Elements include: (a) An Internet-based help desk, on-line templates, training materials and workshops to support effective use of Web and ICT in IW project management established and functioning. (b) collaboration with GEF IW projects to facilitate transfer of effective ICT tools between projects; and (c) coordination with GEF IW projects achieved to integrate their information into the GEF IW IMS and maintain archived content after their projects end.
• #4: Activity B.1 Organize 3-5 inter-project learning exchanges on a regional scale Details: Facilitated electronic and face-to-face discourses across the freshwater-to-marine continuum of GEF IW projects within a region or sub-region. (Meets regional or sub-regional demand in Africa, Caribbean Sea and Southeast Asia. )   Activity B.2 Organize 3-4 thematic inter-project learning exchanges Details: Facilitated electronic and face-to-face discourses among GEF projects managing specific types of aquatic ecosystems (e.g., lake or river basins, aquifers, wetlands, large marine ecosystems (LMEs), coral reefs) or addressing similar IW management issues (e.g., water scarcity or fisheries depletion) or challenges (e.g., social indicators).   Activity B.3 Coordinate inter-project exchanges between GEF IW projects and partners Details: Inter- and intra-regional learning through exchanges of project personnel for several weeks at a time.[i] Staff from public sector or NGO communities participating in similar GEF IW or other TWM projects would be eligible to participate in such exchanges.   Activity B.4 Provide face-to-face and virtual training to enhance public participation in Transboundary Waters Management. Details:Targeted training to addresses Public Participation (the highest priority need among surveyed project participants and partners at the last GEF IW Conference). This activity draws upon public involvement experiences, strategies and tools used by projects across GEF focal areas (e.g., IW, Biodiversity and Climate Change) and by other projects to actively involve civil society in participatory management of transboundary waters.
• #5: Activity C.1 Organize third GEF International Waters Conference Details:Continues from Pilot Phase a successful series of global IW conferences hosted by the GEF.   Activity C.2 Organize fourth GEF International Waters Conference Details:Continues from Pilot Phase a successful series of global IW conferences hosted by the GEF.
• #6: Activity D.1 Organize Public Private Partnership (P3) Meeting Details: Dialog among banks, projects and collaborating countries to promote, design and deliver innovative P3 mechanisms to support IW management during and beyond GEF’s involvement. This activity supports the GEF IW Strategic Priority to promote innovative demonstrations of P3 initiatives in water sub-sectors, drawing on resources and comparative advantages of Bretton Woods partners (World Bank and IFC, with support from GEF-affiliated regional development banks).   Activity D.2Develop African IW network Details: A test of mechanisms to support a virtually-mediated network of African projects and partners sharing information and experiences in pursuit of GEF Strategic Priorities for IW (water scarcity/competing uses, fisheries depletion, contaminant reduction) within and between ecosystems, as well as with other GEF focal areas. This activity builds upon results of a successful DLIST demonstration from the IW:LEARN Pilot Phase, with potential to replicate or scale-up DLIST across other African LMEs. This IW Network could include demand-side management and data valuation as two other possible topics. (Facilitated in cooperation with existing networks such as African Association of River Networks (AARN, an INBO-affiliate), LakeNet, SEACAM, etc   Activity D.3 Develop South East Asia Regional Learning Center (SEA-RLC) Details: A test of benefits of decentralizing and tailoring IW:LEARN services at sub-regional level. A draft framework for SEA-RLC has been proposed by the GEF South China Sea project in partnership with SEA-START RC (Chulalongkorn University, Thailand), to serve GEF IW projects in SEA region (e.g., Mekong, Bay of Bengal, PEMSEA, Yellow Sea) Activity D.4 Create a Black Sea/Danube Regional Distance Learning Program Details: Deliver targeted training via distance learning to address nutrient reduction and other issues across the Black Sea and Danube basin. This activity utilizes peer-to-peer knowledge sharing to build basin-wide nutrient management capacity. (Coordinated with Train-Sea-Coast course on Reducing Black Sea basin Nutrient Pollution from Agriculture.)   Activity D.5Build a Transboundary Aquifer and Groundwater Management Learning Community Details: Build a shared aquifer and groundwater Internet portal to facilitate information and experience sharing amongst the GEF’s geographically dispersed aquifer and groundwater projects and related organizations and institutions. Partner with global shared aquifer experts[ii] and initiatives at the GEF STAP, IAs, ISARM, UNESCO-IHP, University Partnership for Transboundary Waters, et al. Develop Mediterranean Rim Transboundary Aquifers Community of Practice[iii] to promote interactions among GEF and other aquifer projects in the region: (a) support exchange of experience and lessons learned on establishing frameworks for transboundary groundwater management, (b) catalyse the launch of new initiatives around the Mediterranean, and (c) enhance the effectiveness of existing programs, and (d) transfer knowledge from the Mediterranean to other countries and regions with less experience in Transboundary Aquifer Management.   Activity D.6Address South-eastern Mediterranean Transboundary Waters Information Management Details: Support information management needs of a new Balkans initiative for Transboundary River Basin and Lake Management. Facilitate exchange of information from the GEF Danube River Basin and Transboundary Lakes Management experiences for use by stakeholders in the South-eastern Mediterranean to develop integrated water resources management plans for specific transboundary waterbodies in the region.   Activity D.7Assist IW Capacity Building in the Amazon Basin Details: Support the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Secretariat in carrying out discussions and capacity building on IW issues involving all countries in the Amazon Basin.  This could also include having a shared database of water-related issues and projects.  The Amazon Regional Initiative will already be conducting some preliminary work on the establishment of a basin-wide network of monitoring points for water quality and flow.
• #7: Activity E.1Facilitate internal dialogue and partnerships with Implementing Agencies (IAs) and Executing Agencies (EAs). Details: IW:LEARN helps IAs and EAs develop and co-implement plans for progressive decentralization/delegation of responsibilities for IW:LEARN information systems and services to projects, IAs, EAs, and regional institutions leverage these entities’ comparative advantages and resources to institutionalise IW:LEARN activities beyond the Operational Phase IW:LEARN project.[i]   Activity E.2 Pursue dialogue and partnerships with external organizations Details: Exploring collaboration with other partners, such as donor countries with relevant Transboundary Waters Management experience, to ensure sustained benefits to GEF IW community. This activity will promote cross-cutting information sharing systems and learning exchanges, as necessary, to sustain successful activities not supportable directly by GEF entities. (Actors to drive the transfer of this sustainable benefits will be enlisted during the PDF-B period and explicitly identified in the Operational Phase Project Brief, in order to foster ownership from the outset of the project.) [i] E.g., collaboration with UNEP-DEWA to enhance and integrate IW information management; with UNDP’s Cap-Net to provide capacity-building support at sub-regional scales; with World Bank and IFC to address Public-Private partnerships; with World Bank Institution to sustain Black Sea -Danube Regional Distance Learning Program, etc.