About IW:LEARN

GEF IW:LEARN aims to strengthen International Waters Management (IWM) by facilitating structured learning and information sharing among stakeholders. In pursuit of this global objective, IW:LEARN improves GEF IW projects’ information base, replication efficiency, transparency, stakeholder ownership and sustainability of benefits.

In light of the great interest raised by and successes of the experimental pilot phase IW:LEARN project, all three original GEF Implementing Agencies committed to jointly propose and realize the IW:LEARN Operational Phase project (2004-2009). Starting in June 2009 a new project commenced, in combination with the support to the Coral Triangle Initiative and the Global Oceans Forum, known in short as CTI IW:LEARN.

Project Profiles: Information on project finance, partners, executing agencies, contacts and documents for each of the three GEF IW:LEARN projects (to date) is available here: Pilot Phase, Operational Phase and CTI IW:LEARN. For information on GEF IW:LEARN's service line, please download our brochure.

To learn more about IW:LEARN Operational Phase read the following sections:

• Mission and Activities, a full description of IW:LEARN's outputs and services, including a full breakdown of project components and activities
• Project Structure and Partners
• Publications and Newsletters, IW:LEARN's outreach and knowledge products
• Events, IW:LEARN's events around the globe, including in particular the International Waters Conference

In 2009, a new GEF IW:LEARN project, implemented by both UNDP and ADB, began implementation, "GEF IW:LEARN: Portfolio Learning in International Waters with a Focus on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands and Regional Asia/Pacific and Coral Triangle Learning Processes" or CTI IW:LEARN. The project is designed to foster structured learning, information sharing, collaboration and replication across GEF’s International Waters portfolio through the IW:LEARN network, with a particular focus on the Asia Pacific Coral Triangle Initiative, involving the Governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste. The project incorporates a global component aimed at advancing the oceans, coasts and small island developing states targets of the 2002 Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and at addressing emerging challenges such as climate change impacts and improved governance of marine areas beyond national jurisdiction. The project will contribute to the forthcoming World Ocean Conference to be held in Manado, Indonesia in May 2009, the GEF Fifth Biennial International Waters Conference to be held in Cairns, Australia in October 2009, and the Fifth Global Oceans Conference, to be held in Paris, France, April 2010. The project document and project profile can be accessed here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• CALL FOR ARTICLES: Our GEF IW Bridges and E-Bulletin newsletters depends on article submissions from the GEF IW community. Sent article proposals and announcements to info@iwlearn.org. We are particularly interested in stories of lessons learned, challenges overcome and milestones in IW project implementation.

CONTACT US