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Activity B3: Inter-Project Stakeholder Exchange Missions

EA/PAL: IW:LEARN PCU

OTHER PARTNERS: INBO-TWINBASIN, GEF STAP, IUCN, UNESCO-IHP and IOC

DESCRIPTION

  • Coordinate inter-project exchanges between GEF IW projects and partners
  • This activity builds upon lessons from the 2003 pilot. Objectives include:
    • Exchanging project experience and expertise at the operational level between projects with similar goals, objectives and activities;
    • Mutually increasing capacity for more effective protection of shared resources and sustainable management of transboundary water systems;
    • Documenting and disseminating recommendations and lessons gleaned from the exchanges across participating GEF IW projects.
  • The activity brings together project managers, scientists and technical experts, non-governmental organization leaders, and policy makers for exchanges of project experiences and lessons learned during multi-week “learning missions.” The exchanges enable participating institutions to share experience and learn from each other in practical ways through collaborative face-to-face interactions over two to six week periods. To date, a number of projects and their partners (e.g., BCLME, GCLME, HCLME, PEMSEA, PERSGA, IUCN (Mekong and Tanganyika), Globallast, DeltAmerica? (IWRN)) have already requested notification and consideration for exchanges in 2004. Even though the pilot phase necessarily had a short notification period, tight application deadlines, and limited publicity, the interest was widespread and vigorous.par

 

RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Application for Stakeholder Exchange
IW:LEARN Mission Report File

PREVIOUS EXCHANGES/OUTPUTS

 

CTI Knowledge Management (March 2012)

PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS INVOLVED

Tomi Supratomo Assistant Deputy Director for Partnership Program, Directorate General Marine, Coastal and Small Islands Affairs, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
Permana Yudiarso Program Officer, Directorate Spatial Planning for Marine, Coastal and Small Islands, Directorate General Marine, Coastal and Small Islands Affairs, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries
Lysa Wini Focal Point, Coral Triangle Support, Solomon Islands NCC, Partnership and Member of the CTI National Coordinating Committee
Carmen Aquino OIC-Division Chief, Public Information Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines NCC
Mary Claire Miguel Creative Art Specialist II, Public Information Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Jhorace Engay Project Evaluation Officer II, Coastal and Marine Management Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Erick Avelino Information Officer, Coastal and Marine Management Office
Rueth Cabral IT Specialist, Planning Staff, Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau
Thelma Perez Chief, Interpretive and Nature Conservation and Education Section, Protected Area and Wildlife Bureau
Marites T. Salas FIMI- Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Michelle C. Garcia FIMI- Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Charisse Macalalag Senior Ecotourism Development Officer, ADB-ICRM Project, Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau
Annadel Cabanban Senior Fisheries Expert Sulu-Celebes Sea Sustainable Fisheries Management Project
Ian Joey Tajonera Project Assistant Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA)
Diane Factuar Training Specialist
John Eric Dylan Saet, Webmaster
Khristine Custodio Project Manager, IW:LEARN Component 4 Global Environment Facility's (GEF) International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network (GEF / IW:LEARN)
Abbie Trinidad EEPES Specialist and Team Leader ADB Knowledge Management Project
Lourdes Margarita Caballero, Web Writer and Documentation Specialist
Jay Payuyo, IT Specialist
Leo Pura, Senior Manager, Operation
Joy Ortiz, Project Assistant
Dr. Serafin Talisayon, Resource Person

HOST INSTITUTION

Asian Development Bank

OTHER FUNDING PARTNERS

Asian Development Bank (Primex Consultancy)

INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE: WHY AN EXCHANGE

During the 6th GEF Biennial International Waters Conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia last October 2011, GEF/IW:LEARN projects were challenged to ensure that impacts are felt on the ground. Alfred Duda, retired Senior Adviser to GEF/IW:LEARN, raised the bar for success by encouraging managers to go beyond the traditional means of sharing knowledge (i.e., making reports, writing journal articles, and conducting meetings) so that communities can benefit more from science. Participants also identified the urgent need to capitalize on the network, activities, and processes that have been developed within the GEF learning community to triple the rate of progress in the coming years.
ADB’s Knowledge Management for the Coral Triangle Initiative (RETA 7307) project intends to respond to this challenge by championing opportunities for knowledge sharing at the regional level. In May 2011, GEF/IW:LEARN supported the participation of two RETA team members, and four participants from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and the Regional Secretariat in a week-long training of the IW:LEARN toolkit. The project’s Coral Triangle Learning Resource Network (CT-LRN) (www.coraltriangleinitiative.net) portal and the beta website of the Solomon Islands National Coordinating Committee (NCC) were produced using the Toolkit.  CT-LRN was launched during the 7th Senior Officials Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia in October 2011.
Besides these products, the training also yielded three positive outcomes:
1) Higher interest in IW:LEARN tools that will facilitate collaboration – i.e. the new platform for the Communities of Practice, etc. and how it can be used for the projects three focus areas (payment for ecosystem services, sustainable financing, and knowledge management) and the writing of the State of the Coral Triangle Report (SCTR);
2) Growing support for activities that will enhance communication and collective learning within the NCCs of the six Coral Triangle countries (CT6); and
3) Stronger relationships among knowledge management advocates within the CT6.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After six months, participants from the first workshop have expressed their desire for another workshop which will focus on:
1) peer-to-peer learning – sharing session on the challenges faced by each country in applying tools and concepts learned in May 2011 as well as strategies and approaches used to overcome constraints
2) training and testing of the new platform for the Community of Practice and other functionalities of the IW:LEARN toolkit – in-depth discussions on how these can be used to a) support existing collaboration mechanisms; b) improve knowledge capture and storage of CTI knowledge; and 3) advance knowledge sharing and learning on the three focus areas and the SCTR

OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES

 

 

Governance and Leadership (5-11 May 2011)

PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS INVOLVED

Hubert Onibon, Volta River project
Parvin Farschi, Caspian Sea project
Tonny Wagey, CTI Timor and Arafura Seas project
Dmytro Rushchak, Dnipro River project
Rondolph Payet, Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries project
Yihang Jiang, Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem project

HOST INSTITUTION

Legal and Institutional Frameworks Project

OTHER FUNDING PARTNERS

Legal and Institutional Frameworks Project

INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE: WHY AN EXCHANGE

The workshop Lessons Learned and Experiences with Governance of International Waters through Experiential Learning was held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 6 - 10 May, 2011. More than 35 participants, representing a range of professions including academics, GEF project managers, and lawyers, travelled from all over the world to contribute to improving the understanding of governance of transboundary waters.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The specific objectives of the workshop were to:
1. Present Draft International Waters and Governance Reference and Training Manual.
2. Participate in group exercises to develop lessons and skills useful for successful cooperation in transboundary waters.
3. Solicit feedback on the results of the workshop, the experiential learning tools and for the future direction of the project. This includes the clarification of any major training needs in transboundary water management and which learning tools might be most useful to accomplish them, such as through workshops, web material, interactive learning tools, short videos, amongst others.
4. Establish a global network to continue the process of reviewing learning tools and exchanging experiences regarding international waters management.
5. Exchange information about the experiences of setting up and managing frameworks for transboundary waters, with the goal of sharing experiences and recommendations that may be useful for other transboundary water institutions, including those related to international freshwater, groundwater, and large marine ecosystems.

OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES

Enhanced leadership capacity among GEF IW projects in the area of governance.

Mariculture (Feb 2011)

PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS INVOLVED
Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem, Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem
HOST INSTITUTION
Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem
OTHER FUNDING PARTNERS
INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE: WHY AN EXCHANGE
The Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem (YSLME) provides important socio-economic services -- provisioning, supporting/regulating, and cultural services – for the people living in large urban areas in the YSLME’s coastal zone as well as for the global population.
Among the 64 large marine ecosystems (LMEs) in the world oceans, the Yellow Sea LME has been one of the most significantly affected by human development. Today the Yellow Sea faces serious environmental problems, many of a transboundary nature, that arise from anthropogenic causes.
The Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem Project is an ecosystem based effort support by the Global Environment Facility with the goal to achieve environmentally sustainable management and use of the YSLME and its watershed by reducing development stress and promoting sustainable exploitation of the ecosystem.
Fishing and mariculture are socio-economically utmost import activities in the Yellow Sea, providing employment opportunities, source of revenues and protein and livelihood for hundreds of thousands of artisanal and small scale fisher-men. Yet in order to allow for the recovery of depleted stocks fishing efforts in the Yellow Sea had to be drastically reduced. This reduction in fisheries efforts was only possible, socially and economically viable by making up for lost production from fisheries, maintaining livelihoods and nutritional security in the Yellow Sea by improving and developing new approaches in mariculture. Thus the development of regional strategies for sustainable management of fisheries and mariculture is a key element of the YSLME project. To ensure the negative impacts from mariculture are minimized, while productivity is enhanced, the issue of sustainability needs to be addressed. One of the solutions from the management actions of YSLME was the introduction of integrated multi-trophic polyculture i.e two or more species are cultured together, usually with some added benefit in terms of productivity. Integrated Multitrophic Aquculture is a type of polyculture where species from different trophic levels (eg. algae, fish and oysters) are cultured together so that the waste products of one species are utilized by another.
This approach, which is recognized as best environmental practice, allows to:
• Balance nutrients so that there is no detrimental effect of eutrophication
• increase the densities of the various culture species as a result of optimizing, without over-stretching the carrying capacity of the bay and through utilizing the 3 dimensional culture space.
• To increase the profitability of these systems as a result of integration
This has allowed the Yellow Sea to become a key supplier of mariculture products for the global supply chain while reducing detrimental environmental impacts; the region accounts for 10 percent of the world’s mariculture production.
Mariculture is rapidly increasing and becoming more important in the Guinea Current LME. The prevailing type being developed in the GCLME is conventional one dimensional mariculture, with some 70% of the feeds provided to fish ending up as un-used nutrients in the GCLME’s coastal waters. This additional nutrient input into the GCLME’s coastal water has the potential to contribute to eutrophication, oxygen depletion, hypoxia as well as harmful algal blooms.
In order to support the GCLME countries to develop mariculture along a sustainable development path, allowing to gain economic beneficts, reducing the pressure on partly over-used fish stocks while maintaining food security and providing income opportunities for the ever growing population in the GCLME’s coastal region, Best Environmental Practice needs to be presented and disseminated by experts coming from the YSLME. This will constitute an extremely good opportunity for a South-South exchange, making crucial know-how and Best Appropriate Technology accessible for West and Central Africa. To allow for the broadest possible dissemination across the 16 GCLME countries, the Regional Coordination Unit will organize a regional workshop to which decision makers as well as businessmen active in conventional aquaculture will be invited.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

To enhance the understanding of key decision makers in the public and private sector on the potential of Multitrophic Aquaculture to improve business efficiency while reducing detrimental environmental impacts in the same time.
Specifically
• Present Practical Experience, Best Environmental Practice and Best Appropriate Technology in Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture to decision makers from public and private sector
• Support targeted learning through structured discussions at expert level and discuss the requirements for an ecosystem wide up-scaling of Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture in the GCLME

OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES

1.Outcome: to achieve higher profitability of Aquaculture in the GCLME with a lower environmental impact by introduce the concept of Multitrophic Aquaculture. Decision makers in the GCLME are to learn from the top experts in this field from the YSLME
2.Outputs:
• A training and awareness creation workshop held for 50 decision makers from private and public sector
• Action plan for a demonstration and the LME wide up-scaling developed
• Specific page on the potential of Multitrophic Aquaculture developed for the IGCC webpage
• Establishment of a community of practioners of Multitrophic Aquaculture launched in the GCLME
3.Outputs beneficial to IW portfolio: Lesson learned in the LME can be made available for other GEF IW LME projects
4.IW Experience Note: An experience note on how the YSLME experience was taken up and deemed suitable for replication by decision makers in the GCLME will be produced

Nutrient Reduction (October 2010)

PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS INVOLVED

Viktor Subotic, Skadar-Shkodra Lake
Ivica Trumbic, Mediterranean Regional Project

HOST INSTITUTION

Serbia Danube Enterprise Pollution Reduction Project
Nutrient Reduction Best Practices Project

OTHER FUNDING PARTNERS

Nutrient Reduction Best Practices Project/Regional Environment Centre

INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE: WHY AN EXCHANGE

There is currently no coordinated repository or process for gathering and sharing information on nutrient reduction best practices in CEE.  As you know, the Living Water Exchange funded $150,000 for four demonstration projects in the region on topics ranging from wetlands restoration to agricultural best management practices and training.  During the fall of 2010, (likely September and October) we will be scheduling Peer-to-Peer Exchanges for Ministerial-level representatives  and agricultural practitioners (agricultural associations, farmers, extension agents and organizations, etc.) from across Central and Eastern Europe to visit these demonstration sites.
The peer-to-peer exchanges will help meet the GEF 5 IW strategy goals by:
1. Building capacity at the country level in the region and beyond to scale-up solutions to reduce land-based nutrient pollution of surface waters, coastal zones and oceans
2. Further helping to develop and implement regional policies and measures
3. Promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and ecosystem approaches
4. Catalyzing global attention to disruption of the nitrogen cycle and to limit expansion of “Dead Zones” that interfere with food security, community livelihoods and overall ecosystem health
5. Promoting innovative solutions, partnerships, investments and financing to address agriculture pollution and for wetland restoration/enhancement (including use of ecological sanitation and simple constructed wetlands treatment) from existing GEF investments

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The goals of these events include:
• Showcasing on-the-ground, innovative nutrient reduction best practices from our demonstrations, which build on and link to previous GEF investments;
• Developing and adopting successful replication strategies in key countries in the region;
• Bringing together in a direct exchange of information among key policymakers, practitioners and potential sources of nutrient reduction funding that will help to facilitate replication of nutrient reduction practices; and,
• Creating a new value proposition for agriculture across Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES

 

Large Marine Ecosystem Governance (22 March - 01 April 2009)

Participants & Projects Involved

Humboldt Current Large Marine Ecosystem: Hector Soldi, Marcelo Nilo, Alberto Garcia and Jorge Castillo

Host Institution

Benguela Current Commission

Other Funding Partners

 

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

The HCLME region extends between 5o and 40 o degrees south Latitude with a high biodiversity and important fisheries managed by two countries, Chile and Peru. A need has been identified to implement an integrated management system through a coordinated framework for the sustainable use of the living marine resources of this LME.

The HCLME project PIF has just been approved by the GEF and therefore over the coming months Chile and Peru will  be working together to develop a project strategy that will deliver a coordinated and integrated way to implement a comprehensive (ecosystem-based) approach to manage this ecosystem in a sustainable way.

The HCLME Project requests this exchange with the Benguela Current LME to benefit from the experience of this recently implemented project. 

The following are the reasons for this request:
1. The Benguela Current LME project has recently concluded the first phase of the TDA-SAP process and there are important lessons that can be useful to the Humboldt Current LME project as it defines its project strategy.
2. Both projects have similarities since they are located in two of the most important upwelling regions of the world.
3. Both ecosystems are complex and have a highly variable environment that transcends national boundaries and there are important declining fish stocks at stake.
4. The experience of the Benguela Current LME project from the institutional point of view in terms of assessing and managing transboundary issues can be of outmost importance to the Humboldt Current LME project.
5. The experience regarding the design and implementation of a governance structure to manage the resources shared by various countries in a common ocean region would be of great importance in the development of the Humboldt Current LME project and SAP process.

Learning Objectives

To share the experiences (good and bad) of the Benguela Current LME project with the National Coordinating Units of the HCLME in order to enable them to apply them in the design, formulation and development of the project strategy and eventual SAP implementation. .

Specifically the HCLME team would benefit from lessons and practices in the following issues:

•    Problems and challenges with SAP implementation
•    Experiences regarding the role of stakeholders in the project and strategies for effective involvement  
•    Strategies to develop high – level government commitments for  successful project implementation and in particular with the SAP process
•    Experience on specific cases of successes and failures that resulted from the implementation of the BCLME that can be useful to the HCLME.
•    The design and working experience of the present multinational governance system for the management and follow-up of the BCLME.
•    A follow up on the financial aspects of the initiative beyond the GEF funding cycle

Outputs/Outcomes

•    Enhanced capacity amongst technical level officials of the National Coordinating Units (NCUs) of the two countries of the HCLME to contribute to the successful design and formulation of the GEF project and to implementation of the project objectives
•    To identify best practices within the BCLME that can be applied to the HCLME.
•    To identify individuals and institutions with far-reaching experience in the execution of the BCLME that can provide assistance and support to the HCLME along its implementation process.
•    Identify possible technical cooperation areas between both Projects.
•    Document the experience of the governance system in place for the BCLME as a case study for future design the HCLME.
•    Documented specific success and failure stories that can provide learning experiences on implementing the HCLME.
• Exchange Report

SAP Implementation and Nutrient Reduction (23-27 March 2009)

Participants & Projects Involved

La Plata River Basin project (UNDP-GEF): Andres Carsen, Hugo Eguila

Host Institution

International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, Regional Enivronment Center, IBRD-GEF Hungary Nutrient Reduction Project

Other Funding Partners

 

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

The Río de la Plata and its Maritime Front (RPMF) constitute a transitional water system whose resources are shared between the Argentine Republic and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay. At a global level it is a unique system, as one of the leading fluvial and river-marine systems in the world, connecting the Río de la Plata Basin (the second largest basin in South America and fourth largest worldwide) to the Atlantic Ocean. It is an integral part of the Patagonian Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) of the south-western continental shelf of South America, and contains globally significant biodiversity. The Río de la Plata is among the richest, most singular and endangered natural areas in the planet.

The FREPLATA  Project is a bi-national initiative that has culminated in the endorsement of a Strategic Action Program (SAP) by a comprehensive range of 37 key stakeholders including 9 ministries, the navy, coast guards, provincial and local authorities, and private sector representatives. This constitutes the broadest SAP endorsement in UNDP’s IW history and is a significant achievement for the GEF IW portfolio. FREPLATA is a pioneering initiative in the region and has generated a huge body of integrated information suitable for an ecosystem approach to sustainable management. It has built capacities across a range of sectors, and enhanced regional cooperation both in public and private spheres to unprecedented levels.  The aim of the project is to contribute to the long term goal of mitigating the degradation of the transboundary environmental resources of the Río de la Plata and its Maritime Front and enhancing the sustainable use of these resources by the inhabitants of the region.

The FREPLATA project requests this exchange to learn from the experiences of the Danube  Regional (ICDPR)

Learning Objectives

To enhance the understanding of the SAP implementation process among key agencies of Argentina and Uruguay.

Specifically to:
•    strategically implement FREPLATA SAP and on the ground actions,
•    acknowledge the need and development of a strategy to ensure broad based stakeholder participation during SAP implementation,
•    develop a strategy to reinforce high-level government commitments toward SAP implementation,
•    develop follow-up projects in SAP implementation.

Outputs/Outcomes

•    A program for continued technical cooperation between ICDPR and FREPLATA project including possible technical assistance for the FREPLATA SAP implementation process.
•    A program for continued technical cooperation between institutions involved with Danube project and the Administrative Commission of the Río de la Plata (CARP), Bi-national Technical Commission for the Maritime Front (CMFM) and national institutions of Argentina and Uruguay.
•    A report submitted to the governments, UNDP, other GEF projects of Argentina and Uruguay, and IW-Learn documenting outputs and benefits of the technical cooperation.
•    Updates on the website of the FREPLATA Project.
•    Initial steps towards the development of a sustainable means of cooperation between FREPLATA and Danube Project aimed at supporting FREPLATA SAP implementation, and ensure stakeholders involvement.

Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation Workshop (2-5 March 2009)

Exchange Website: http://www.iwlearn.net/abt_iwlearn/pns/learning/climate-change-adaptation-exchange/mainstreaming-climate-change-adaptation-learning-exchange/

Participants & Projects Involved (IWL Share: 50% of first two targeted workshops, leveraged six more)

Participants include the following GEF IW projects and partners:
• Okavango River basin
• Lake Tanganyika (Regional, Burundi, DRC)
• Lake Tanganyika (Tanzania)
• Lake Tanganyika (Zambia)
• Orange-Senque River basin
• Pangani River basin
• Botswana IWRM

Host Institution

UNDP Pretoria

Other Funding Partners

InWEnt

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

 

Learning Objectives

The workshop is aimed at assisting project managers and executive secretaries of regional commissions
1) to come up with concrete ways to incorporate climate change considerations into the strategic planning of the transboundary water resources management (Strategic Action Programme and/or IWRM planning processes) and
2) to develop indicators that help measuring the adaptation benefits to be realized through the project implementation

Outputs/Outcomes

· Enhanced capacity amongst both project managers and executive secretaries of the invited basins to meaningfully prepare for and manage the mainstreaming of climate change adaptation considerations.
· Experiences and best practices shared/exchanged re: climate change adaptation processes/practices
· A clear and concise strategy to mainstream climate change into the strategic planning processes promoted by GEF projects, namely, TDA/SAP processes and IWRM planning processes
· A set of indicators agreed that track the progress of mainstreaming climate change adaptation into strategic planning both at the project/basin level as well as at the portfolio/regional level.
· Revised project logframe, which includes a set of indicators that measure the progress in adaptation capacity building targets, to be tabled at the next project steering committee meeting for approval. To enhance the understanding of and enable strategic planning for mainstreaming climate change adaptation.
· A compendium of useful resource material
· A report submitted to the governments, UNDP and IW:LEARN documenting outputs and benefits of the technical cooperation
· A joint presentation at the 5th Biennial GEF International Waters Conference as well as at the SADC River Basin Dialogue on the outcomes of this learning exchange.
· An agreed plan for continuous learning and information exchange mechanisms among the participants to further advance their knowledge and experience in mainstreaming climate change adaptation into strategic planning of the transboundary water resources management.

Targeted Workshop on Integrated Management of Shared Lake Basins (16-18 July 2008)

Exchange Website: www.watersee.net

Participants & Projects Involved (IWL Share: 50% of first two targeted workshops, leveraged six more)

Participants included stakeholders of three transboundary lakes in the Western Balkans - Prespa, Ohrid and Shkodra/Skadar, including in particular the active GEF projects that exist on the first and latter of those lakes.

Host Institution

FYR Macedonian Ministry for Environment and Physical Planning

Other Funding Partners

Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean (GWP-Med) and the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO/ECSDE) in cooperation with the GEF/UNDP "Integrated Ecosystem Management in the Prespa Lakes Basin of Albania, FYR-Macedonia and Greece" project

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

The exchange of practical experience and knowledge between managers and decision-makers as well as stakeholders in the different shared bodies has been limited. The need to address this challenge has been made also obvious in the activities organized within the Petersberg Phase II / Athens Declaration Process.

Based on this, a series of targeted capacity building workshops will focus on experiences and methodologies for addressing specific issues of transboundary water resource management. They are expected to leverage the varying levels of practical knowledge in the area, facilitiating the cross-fertilization between stakeholders of the different shared basins as well as introduce knowledge and experience from outside the region.

The aim is to enhance the practical capacity of stakeholders on specific issues of integrated management of their shared water bodies.

Learning Objectives

1. To get familiar with the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approaches, concept and tools as well as with the Ecosystems Approach as an integral part of the IWRM approach.
2. To understand the need for integration of water resources management and spatial planning.
3. To be informed about the legal frameworks and tools for water resources management at international and EU levels.

Outputs/Outcomes

1. Targeted Workshop Report
2. All Presentations and Background Materials at the Transboundary Waters Information Exchange Network for SE Europe

Inter-Basin Cooperation, Commission Support and TDA-SAP (13-20 July 2008)

Participants & Projects Involved

Orange-Senqu River Basin Project:
Okavango River Basin Project
The ORASECOM delegation will include:
•    Three participants from each of the four riparian countries (mostly ORASECOM Council members but may include members of the ORASECOM Technical Task Team)
•    Two participants from ORASECOM Secretariat
TOTAL 14

Host Institution

International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, Danube Commission, Austrian, Hungarian and Serbian Governments

Other Funding Partners

GTZ (primary funder)

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

The Orange-Senqu River originates in the Lesotho Highlands some 3,300m above sea level where the average annual precipitation can exceed 1,800 mm, with a corresponding average annual potential evaporation of 1,100 mm. The river stretches 2,300 km from the source to its mouth (Alexander Bay/Oranjemund) on the South Africa/ Namibia border, where the average annual precipitation drops to below 50 mm, while the average annual potential evaporation rises to over 3,000 mm. The Orange River basin is the most developed river basin in southern Africa, with a total catchment area in the order of 1,000,000 km2, of which almost 600,000 km2 lies within the Republic of South Africa with the remainder in Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia. The effective catchment area is difficult to determine, since it includes many pan areas and also several large ephemeral tributaries, such as the Molopo and Nossob in Botswana and Namibia, which have not contributed to flows in the main river in living memory. The principal anthropogenic threats to the integrity of the basin include: over-extraction of water leading to water scarcity; land degradation, diminishing the water retention capacity of soils; pollution; climate change, expected to lead to greater environmental variability in future (e.g. dislocations in spatial and temporal rainfall patterns); and, loss of biodiversity and introduced invasive species.  Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM) was established in 2000 as an advisory body to the four riparian member states to achieve the sustainable development of the Orange-Senqe River basin.

Upon the request from ORASECOM made in 2004, UNDP has been assisting the four riparian countries to secure the GEF resources to ensure the global environmental benefits will be accrued from the basin-wide planning processes through the TDA/SAP approach.  The countries are about to conclude the preparatory phase and has received the GEF Council approval for the full-sized project (USD6.3 million for 4 years).  Preliminary TDA has been endorsed by ORASECOM in April 2008.  Project document will be appraised in June 2008 before it is submitted to GEF Secretariat for CEO endorsement. 

The ORASECOM and the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) jointly request IW:LEARN for its financial support to make a learning, networking and exchange of information possible.  A visit of ORASECOM delegation to the ICPDR and the Danube basin is targeted towards knowledge transfer from the Danube’s experience to ORASECOM and strengthening of the institutional capacity of the ORASECOM, especially on its coordination capacity necessary to oversee the implementation of the multi-donor funded ORASECOM Environment and Water Resources Management Programme (ORASECOM Programme).  The timing is opportune as most of activities under the ORASECOM Programme are starting up in 2008.  The first elaborated, integrated work plan for the ORASECOM Programme is about to be finalized by ORASECOM Secretariat for review by ORASECOM Council.

Learning Objectives

To enhance the understanding of the TDA/SAP process and the multi-donor coordination process among both policy and technical level personnel of the ORASECOM.  Specifically to:
• strategically design the TDA so it informs the SAP formulation process
• develop national capacity among the relevant agencies through the project
• appreciate the necessity for and develop a strategy to ensure broad based stakeholder participation
• develop a strategy to ensure high-level government commitments toward SAP formulation
• develop follow-on projects in SAP implementation

Outputs/Outcomes

• Enhanced capacity amongst both policy and technical level officials of the ORASECOM delegates from the four riparian countries to meaningfully manage and contribute towards the project objectives
• A possible program for continued cooperation between ORASECOM and ICPDR targeting the institutional capacity strengthening essential for, inter alia, the TDA/SAP development process.
• A report submitted to the governments, UNDP, FAO and IW:LEARN documenting outputs and benefits of the technical cooperation

Wetland Restoration and Management (21-23 May 2008)

Participants & Projects Involved (IWL Share: 100%)

Bulgaria Wetland Restoration Project: Tzvetanka Dimitrova, Mihail Mihailov, Stoyan Michov, Veselin Koev, Daniela Karakasheva, Jordan Kutzarov, Anna Georgieva (World Bank), Alexander Zinke (Consultant to project)

Host Institution

Danube River National Park (also a side visit to the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River)

Other Funding Partners

World Bank

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

The Danube River National Park, which consists of wetlands as well as our two project sites – Persina Nature Park and Kalimok-Brushlen Protected Site is designated as a Ramsar site, and one of great importance for the improvement of the Danube River water quality. The global environmental objective of the Bulgarian Wetlands Restoration and Pollution Reduction project is to demonstrate and provide for replication of reduction of  transboundary nutrient loads and other agricultural pollution flowing into the Danube River and Black Sea basins while at the same time conserving key target threatened species in the two protected sites through: (i) wetlands restoration and protected areas management programs, and (ii) support for stakeholders to adopt environmentally-friendly economic activities in the two project areas.

The Danube Auen National Park, lying between Vienna and Bratislava, covers an area of nearly 10,000 hectares along a 36 kilometers stretch of the Danube. It is one of the last large undeveloped wetlands in Central Europe and encompasses an enormous variety of wildlife habitats; the River Danube, canals and tributaries, marshy pools, gravel banks, wetlands, forests and meadows. The Danube National Park is with great importance for improvement of Danube water quality and biodiversity conservation. The Danube National Park Directorate staff is well experienced in wetlands management, and in cooperation with different stakeholders. The park is open to visitors as well as is free for walking and cycling.  There are guided tours, boat excursions, bicycle tours, coach rides and adventure weeks.

The Bulgarian experts will have the opportunity to learn more for all aspects of the wetlands management, environmental monitoring, stakeholder involvement and public participation. They will have the chance to meet the staff of ICPDR Secretariat in Vienna.

Learning Objectives

The specific objectives of the exchange are as follows:

  • Learn about the Danube national park status, operation and floodplain restoration needs;
  • Learn about the 3 different restoration concepts implemented between 1996 and 2007 and experiences gained;
  • Visit of the sites by foot and boat;
  • Learn about the tourism development in the wetlands;
  • Make a comparison with the situation in Bulgaria, meeting with particular stakeholders;
  • Establish cooperation and networking.

Outputs/Outcomes

1.    The capacity of the Persina Nature Park Durectorate’s and Kalimok-Brushlen Protected Site Association’s staff strengthened and the skill for development and management of international projects improved.
2.    Mr. Michov will use the gained experience for the practical development of operational guidance for operation and maintenance of the restored areas.
3.    Mrs. Dimitrova and Mr. Michailov will use the information for the development of other wetlands restoration projects within the Danube River Basin, which will benefit the improvement of the Danube River Water quality and biodiversity conservation.
4.    Ms. Karakasheva will use the experience gained for the improvement of the PNP newsletter and operation of the Visitor Center.    
5. The production of an IW:LEARN Experience Note covering the topic of Wetland Restoration and the Bulgaria project experience.
6. Individual learning objectives and final mission reports for each participant submitted one week after the completion of the exchange.

Understanding the TDA/SAP Process (3-12 May 2008)

Participants & Projects Involved (IWL Share: 67.5%, a bit less of BRazil ANA is included)

Carlos Andrade (Okavango River-Angola), Stefan de Wet (Okavango River-Namibia), Paulo Emilio Mendes (Okavango River-Angola), Tracy Molefi (Okavango-Botswana), Kalaote Kalaote (Okavango-Botswana), Laura Namene (Okavango River-Namibia), Manuel Quintino (Okavango River - FAO), Chaminda Rajapakse (Okavango River - FAO), Portia Segomelo (psegomelo@gov.bw), Joaquim Tavares (Okavango River-Angola)

Host Institution

Brazil National Water Agency (ANA) - Carlos Motta Nunes

Other Funding Partners

EPSMO Project

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

The Okavango River Basin (ORB) remains one of the least human impacted basins on the African continent. Mounting socio-economic pressures in the riparian countries; Angola, Botswana and Namibia, threaten to change its present character. The Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission therefore successfully solicited GEF IW funds and is now initiating the TDA/SAP process through the Environmental Protection and Sustainable Management of the Okavango (EPSMO) Project.
The EPSMO Project requests this exchange to network and benefit from experiential learning with the Agência Nacional de Águas in Brazil. This activity is especially targeted towards developing the functional capacity of the National Coordinating Units.
The following points highlight reasons for this request:
1. this project is one of the first GEF-IW project in any of the three Okavango riparian countries whereas ANA has successfully executed a number of GEF projects and therefore can provide valuable insight
2. The Pantanal and Upper Paraguay River Basin for which a TDA/SAP was developed by a GEF project executed by ANA has strikingly similar ecosystem characteristics to the Okavango River Basin
3. Some of the projects executed by ANA, such as the GEF project for the São Francisco River Basin and its Coastal Zone, have exceptional levels of public participation providing valuable learning opportunities for the Okavango.
4. Angola, contributing more than 95% of the water to the Okavango and just emerging from decades of war, has requested assistance with capacity building. This exchange with a relevant agency in a Lusophone state will allow Angola and the ANA to initiate continued cooperation that will benefit the project into the future.
5. A strong sense of ownership among the three states bodes well for the success of the project but there has been some lack of clarity on the role of the governments’ vis-à-vis the implementing and executing agencies. Cooperation with GEF projects implemented/executed by government agencies would help further clarify issues

Learning Objectives

To enhance the understanding of the TDA/SAP process among the technical level personnel of the National Coordinating Units. Specifically to:

  • strategically design the TDA so it informs the SAP formulation process
  • develop national capacity among the relevant agencies through the project
  • appreciate the necessity for and develop a strategy to ensure broad based stakeholder participation
  • develop a strategy to ensure high-level government commitments toward SAP formulation
  • develop follow-on projects in SAP implementation

Outputs/Outcomes

  • Enhanced capacity amongst technical level officials of the National Coordinating Units (NCUs) of the three riparian countries to meaningfully manage and contribute towards the project objectives
  • A program for continued technical cooperation between ANA and the Project including possible technical assistance for the ongoing TDA and SAP processes.
  • A program for continued technical cooperation between Agência Nacional de Águas in Brazil and Direcção Nacional de Águas in Angola
  • A report submitted to the governments, UNDP, FAO and IW-Learn documenting outputs and benefits of the technical cooperation
  • Updates on the website of the Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM) website
  • Documented specific experiences and learning on implementing GEF IW projects in post-conflict settings
  • Initial steps towards the development of a Lusophone network of GEF IW project stakeholders

Targeted Workshop on Stakeholder Engagement (25-28 March 2007)

Exchange Website: www.watersee.net

Participants & Projects Involved (IWL Share: 50% of first two targeted workshops, leveraged six more)

Participants included stakeholders of three transboundary lakes in the Western Balkans - Prespa, Ohrid and Shkodra/Skadar, including in particular the active GEF projects that exist on the first and latter of those lakes.

Host Institution

Montenegro Ministry of Tourism and Environment with facilitation and adminsitration via the Global Water Partnership - Mediterranean Office

Other Funding Partners

European Commission (via the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture, and Sustainable Development), UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

The exchange of practical experience and knowledge between managers and decision-makers as well as stakeholders in the different shared bodies has been limited. The need to address this challenge has been made also obvious in the activities organized within the Petersberg Phase II / Athens Declaration Process.

Based on this, a series of targeted capacity building workshops will focus on experiences and methodologies for addressing specific issues of transboundary water resource management. They are expected to leverage the varying levels of practical knowledge in the area, facilitiating the cross-fertilization between stakeholders of the different shared basins as well as introduce knowledge and experience from outside the region.

The aim is to enhance the practical capacity of stakeholders on specific issues of integrated management of their shared water bodies.

Learning Objectives

1. To understand the conceptual framework for public participation in shared water
resources management at different levels: international, national, and local
2. To be informed about the legal frameworks for public participation at international level
3. To get familiar with the various involvement strategies and tools that may be used in the
different steps within a stakeholders involvement process
4. To learn the steps of a stakeholders involvement process*
5. To identify ways of integrating the different tools and techniques into IWRM at national
and transboundary level
6. To learn how to prepare a stakeholders involvement plan
7. To identify peers in region who can work with in addressing issues of TWRM in the future
8. To appreciate the importance of public participation and its benefits to the IWRM and to
their work.

Outputs/Outcomes

1. Report from the Targeted Workshop
2. All Presentations and Background Materials at the Transboundary Waters Information Exchange Network for SE Europe

Web 2.0 Technologies & Communities of Practice (22-23 August 2007)

Exchange Website: europeandcis.undp.org/WaterWiki/IT4KM

Participants & Projects Involved

Rean van der Merwe (D-List Benguela)

Host Institution

UN Development Programme: Bratislava Regional Centre (UNDP-BRC)

Other Funding Partners

UNDP-BRC

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

Stemming immediately from informal networking at the 4th Biennial International Waters Conference, this stakeholder exchange offers new promise of developing guidance for GEF International Waters projects (and associated partners and stakeholders) on utilization of a new generation of information technology to manage information and disseminate knowledge. As recently as last year, the IW:LEARN steering committee grappled with challenges faced by the project regarding online structured learning. The intent of this exchange will be in part to address the apparent lack of interest in IW project stakeholders in traditional IT solutions like online discussion forums.

The D-List Benguela GEF IW project has enjoyed considerable success deploying innovative solutions for their stakeholders. This exchange will be in part to introduce D-List’s considerable experience and background to other related stakeholders and produce some basic guidance for other projects attempting to improve their knowledge management, including IW:LEARN itself. As host, the UNDP Regional Office in Bratislava excels in the field of knowledge management, having deployed its own innovative solutions like WaterWiki and the Water Knowledge Fair. As a regional center they are also central to the execution of a few GEF projects and in a key position to disseminate the exchange’s outputs. IW:LEARN itself will also play a role in the exchange and its findings.

Learning Objectives

  • To exchange experiences (at concept level) on existing platforms and approaches to information technology for knowledge management
  • To discuss (potential) use and application of Wikis and other “Web 2.0 technology” for knowledge management, community of practice facilitation, on-line collaboration/communities, etc.
  • To discuss opportunities and constraints in view of linking/integration of different tools and/or platforms (amongst each other and with “conventional” (e.g. UN(DP) or other project websites)

Outputs/Outcomes

  • An understanding of the various discussed platforms and IT-solutions in view of:

(a) the underlying concept (audience(s), aim, basic approach, etc.)
(b) the specific functionalities (services, elements/modules, “exploring mechanisms”, etc. etc.) and
(c) Strengths (potentials) and Weaknesses (constraints) of various approaches

  • New ideas and concrete recommendations for

(a) improvement of existing (WaterWiki, IW:LEARN, DLIST) and/or
(b) creation of new (UNDP, UNSSC-Wiki, ..) platforms for CoP-management, KM, on-line collaboration, etc.
(c) possibly using and integrating different tools and approaches

Groundwater Learning Exchange and Study Tour (16-26 April 2007)

Exchange Website: www.iwlearn.net/groundwater

Participants & Projects Involved (IWL Share: approximately 44%)

Guarani Aquifer: Luiz Amore (project), Jorge Santa Cruz, Roberto Montes (project), Juan Jose Ledesma (Uruguay), Miguel Angel Giraut (Argentina), Elena Benitez (Paraguay), Julio Thadeu Kettelhut (Brazil)
Iullemeden Aquifer: Abdelkader Dodo (Sahara and Sahel Observatory)
NW Sahara Aquifer: Djamel Latrech (Sahara and Sahel Observatory)
Nubian Aquifer (in absentia, participation via the web): Lotfi A. Madi Farag (Libya), Al Mahdi Megrbi (Libya), Ahmed R Khater (Egypt), Sameh Afifi (Egypt), Ismail Musa Mohamed (Chad), Min. Abakar Ramadan Souleymane (Chad)

Host Institution

Ingrid Verstraeten & Colleagues, US Geological Survey (USGS)

Other Funding Partners

Pradeep Aggarwal, Andy Garner - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

  • The Guarani Aquifer System requested this exchange to network & benefit from experiential learning with US groundwater management staff and institutions, and with other GEF groundwater projects.
  • The exchange provides opportunities for GEF IW groundwater project staff and national coordinators to network & exchange practical experience with cognate staff in the USGS – and with other GEF groundwater project participants
  • IAEA will work with USGS to develop a targeted training component of the exchange to address priority learning needs identified by participating projects in depth through workshops and field visits
  • Site visits to the USGS headquarters and 2 major field offices will include opportunities for hands-on interactions with state-level aquifer managers
  • Guarani Aquifer System will invite USGS-IAEA and projects participating in this exchange to a Guarani regional seminar in 2007, affording an opportunity to follow up, strengthen networking among GEF groundwater projects, and evaluate impacts of the exchange.

Learning Objectives

The objectives of this exchange are to improve management of transboundary aquifers in three general areas:

  • Provide overview of technical aspects of water resources in support of management decisions--tools, technology, monitoring networks, characterization, geo-databases, GIS) and aquifer development (recharge, permits, uses)
  • Provide overview of managerial aspects of (ground)water in order to ensure a sustainable water supply through discussion about several aquifers in differing climatic and hydrogeological settings--groundwater management models across governing boundaries, water management indicators, institutional arrangements, legal framework, permits, water uses and tradeoffs, policy directions…;
  • Provide an overview of public participation options-- advocacy and citizenship building strategies, user groups and stakeholder participation in water management and aquifer development.

Outputs/Outcomes

Coastal Zone and Tourism Management (4-6 December 2006)

Participants & Projects Involved

Ruth “Wanjiku” Kiambo (Western Indian Ocean-LaB), Jocelyn Rakotomalala (Western Indian Ocean-LaB), Sunny Ukweh (Guinea Current LME), Stephen Utre (Coastal Tourism)

Host Institution

The Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment (PERSGA) in partnership with the GEF Project DLIST- Benguela ‘Distance Learning and Information Sharing Tool’ (http://www.dlist-benguela.org) and UNEP-ROWA (http://www.unep.org.bh).

Other Funding Partners

UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

PERSGA aims to develop a regional framework for the protection of the environment and the  sustainable development of coastal and marine resources in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Region. In order to achieve this aim, PERSGA is working continuously to strengthen the Region’s capacity in adoption and implantation of integrated coastal zone management plans (ICZM). Tourism in the coastal areas has become a major sector of international economy. As the scale of tourism grows, the recourse use threatens to become unsustainable. Hence, rapidly growing tourism can create pressures on management and can lead to a situation where formerly sustainable tourism becomes unsustainable. Tourisms is often a major beneficiary of effective management of natural resources and processes of ICZM.

Learning Objectives

The purpose of the training is to improve the capacity of environmentalists, NGO’s and individuals, tourism stakeholders in how to plan coastal tourism so it is sustainable, and is a financing option a long term coastal management process. More specifically, the course will discuss:

  • Tourism and sustainability;
  • Tourism as a means of creating development, employment and economic value in coastal and marine environments;
  • Financing options, including user fees, concessions, fees and licenses, to meet the cost of protecting environmental services;
  • In-Kind support of management;
  • Global programs and financing options

Outputs/Outcomes

Nutrient Pollution Reduction (3-6 October 2006)

Exchange Website: http://www.iwlearn.net/abt_iwlearn/pns/partner/nutrientfiles/moldovaconference

Participants & Projects Involved (IWL Share: approximately 60%)

Supported projects: Oumer Ould Aly (Niger River), Kurt Roos (East Asia Livestock), Adrian Ross (Partnership for East Asian Seas)
Other projects in attendance: Turkey, Romania Agricultural Pollution Control Projects, Bulgaria Wetlands, Serbia Danube Enterprise Pollution Reduction, Georgia Agriculture, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and the Danube River Regonal

Host Institution

Alexandru Jolondvischi and Silvia Pana-Carp, Moldova Agricultural Pollution Control Project

Other Funding Partners

Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, R. Moldova, Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the World Bank (IBRD)

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

The purpose of the conference was to examine methodologies to measure results and project potential catalytic effects of nutrient reduction activities. Furthermore, conference organizers intended for the conference to explore how nutrient reduction indicators can be scaled-up from the project level to the national, regional and basin-wide levels. Finally, a more tacit purpose included gathering stakeholders of the UNDP and World Bank’s Danube / Black Sea Strategic Partnership’s GEF project portfolio to share experiences and innovative practices.

Outputs/Outcomes

  • The conference aimed to deliver a set of recommendations on the types of indicators which can be utilized to measure results of the Partnership’s attempt to reduce the impact of nutrient pollution, in particular on the Danube River and Black Sea. [Meeting Report] [Presentations, etc.]
  • Improved networking, coordination and experience sharing among the stakeholders of the Black Sea - Danube strategic partnership.

Project Communications (19-20 January 2006)

Participants & Projects Involved (IWL co-finance: 40%, but actually less than that as all projects self-funded)

Black Sea: Yegor Volovik
Caspian Sea: Hamid Ghaffarzadeh, Melina Seyfollahzadeh, Ardalan Sotudeh
Kura-Aras River: Mary Matthews
REC: Magda Toth Nagy
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden: Khulood Tubaishat
South Pacific Regional Environmental Program: Ritia Bakineti (Kiribati), Deyna Marsh (Cook Islands), Steve Menzies (SPREP), Leah Nimoho (Vanuatu)
UNDP: Vladimir Mamaev, Juerg Staudenmann

Host Institution

Danube Regional Project (hosted by International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR))
Jasmine Bachman (ICPDR), Paul Csagoly (project), Kari Eik (project), Tony Hare (consultant), Sylvia Koch (project)

Introduction, Purpose: Why an Exchange

Around the globe many International Waters Projects are attempting to influence human behaviour in order to protect shared natural resources. These projects are attempting to:

  • raise public awareness of resource management problems;
  • promote public participation in decision-making, and;
  • minimize the harmful impacts of specific human behaviours.

Communications can provide effective tools to:

  • promote voluntary behaviour change within target audiences and;
  • help build public support for the introduction of new rules and regulations to protect shared resources.

Unfortunately there is often there is a poor understanding of how communications activities can help to achieve realistic and measurable outcomes, whether it is a change in awareness, attitudes, behaviours, or a change in specific environmental indicators.

Despite these common objectives and barriers there are currently no clear guidelines, resources, or tools to help communications practitioners in IW projects to improve the effectiveness of their communications programmes and activities.

The purpose of this proposal is to find a cost-effective way to bring together existing examples of best-practice and case studies to show how communications activities can be used to:

  • raise awareness of how our projects are attempting to address key environmental and resource management issues;
  • promote greater public ownership of these problems and their solutions;
  • promote voluntary behaviour change and/or public support for the adoption of new rules and regulations where this is required
  • achieve measurable changes in awareness, attitudes, behaviours and environmental indicators.

The purpose of the proposed stakeholder exchange is to bring together a core group of communications practitioners with a vested interest in improving the effectiveness of their own project communications programmes.

Learning Objectives

The objective of this proposal is to develop a web-based Resource Kit that will provide planning tools and case-studies to assist communications practitioners in all IW projects to improve the effectiveness of their:

  • Communications Strategies
  • Audience Research Programmes
  • Media and Public Outreach Programmes
  • Social Marketing (Behaviour Change & Advocacy) Campaigns
  • Monitoring & Evaluation Programmes

Outputs/Outcomes

 

 

Knowledge Management (22-24 January 2004)

PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS INVOLVED

Mohammed Bila and Mahamane ASSANE, Lake Chad Basin project

HOST INSTITUTION

Lake Peipsi GEF Project/Chudskoye Project

INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE: WHY AN EXCHANGE

The priority of the exchange is to gain technical knowledge of the implementation of Knowledge Management/Knowledge Sharing within the Lake Peipsi/ Chudskoe Basin Management Program as evidenced on its website www.peipsi.org. The exchange addresses Knowledge Management or Knowledge Sharing priority identified at the 2002 GEF International Waters Conference in Dalian, China.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 

OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES

The mission provides me an opportunity to network with colleagues in a project with similar objectives to LCBC GEF Project and exchange ideas. The lessons learned during the mission will enable the LCBC GEF Project to quickly implement a Knowledge Management/Sharing infrastructure at the crucial beginning of the project and avoid costly mistakes. The home institution LCBC will also understand how to collaborate with the LCBC GEF PMU in ensuring effective communication during the execution of the project.

 

Replication Strategy (8-12 December 2003)

PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS INVOLVED

Dr Natasha Stacey, Pacific Fisheries Project (SPREP)

HOST INSTITUTION

GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme on Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA)

INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE: WHY AN EXCHANGE

The exchange (one of the eight inter-project exchanges selected for the pilot program by IW:Learn) was proposed by the South Pacific Regional Environmental Programme (SPREP) with the following specific objectives:

• Exchange project experience and expertise between the Pacific IWP and the PEMSEA personnel;
• Promote project experience and lessons to date from the Pacific IWP at the East Asian Seas Congress;
• Increase capacity for more effective protection of coastal resources and sustainable management of trans-boundary marine systems within the East Asian and Pacific regions; and
• Document and disseminate recommendations and lessons learned from the exchanges.

Of the priority areas identified at the 2002 GEF International Waters Conference in Dalian, China, the following themes provided a broad focus for the exchange: Public Participation; Knowledge Management or Knowledge Sharing; Monitoring and Evaluation; Public/Private Partnerships for Financing and Project Implementation; and Sustaining and Replicating Successful Project Initiatives.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 

OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES

One major benefit of the mission to the Pacific IWP appears to be insight into the replication strategy of PEMSEA, parts of which may be adaptable to the IWP. In addition, the Pacific IWP and other SPREP Programmes may, it appears, benefit from insight into the processes PEMSEA participating countries have followed in ICM initiatives such as developing coastal policies and strategies and their application and potentially adopting some of the processes and approaches in future Pacific initiatives.

Public Participation (1st December 2003 – 21st December 2003)

PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS INVOLVED
Monika Kovacova, Danube Regional Project (Danube Environmental Forum)

 

HOST INSTITUTION

The Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development

INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE: WHY AN EXCHANGE

The exchange facilitated cross-regional knowledge sharing between two networks of environmental non-governmental organizations in two European regions. In particular, the DEF benefited from increased knowledge from the more established and experienced NGO network, the MIO.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Public Participation
2. Knowledge Management or Knowledge Sharing
3. Information Management, Data Management or Databases
4. NGO involvement in EU Water Framework Directive Implementation

OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES

The knowledge gained through experience sharing between the well developed Mediterranean NGO network - MIO (fully operational since 1992) and the Danube Basin NGO network - DEF (established in 1999, fully operational since 2002) made DEF to benefit from the rich MIO networking experiences gained during 11 years of existence. This will enable the DEF to prevent inefficient steps in further network development and will increase the effectiveness of DEF especially in the area of knowledge management and information sharing within but also outside the network. Through this exchange DEF had the opportunity to compare its way of development with one of the well established, well known and successful international NGO networks in another region of Europe. At the same time the representatives of the MIO have obtained the detailed information about the UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project. Special focus was given to the NGO role and involvement in this Danube Basin-wide project.

 

The 3 weeks exchange period provided space for the deep comparison of both networks’ structures, development strategies and the core activities in the selected themes of the exchange (selected Dalian priorities). Each of the topics for discussion and analyses has brought new components into the approaches applied especially by the DEF network.

Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem/Western Central Pacific Inter-Project Exchange (November 2003)

PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS INVOLVED

Joel Opnai, Pacific Fisheries Project

HOST INSTITUTION

The host institution was primarily the BCLME Programme Project Coordination Unit, although the BCLME Activity Centres in Angola, Namibia and South Africa organised the local activities including meetings and the interviews.

INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE: WHY AN EXCHANGE

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

promote the exchange of personals between the LMEs projects to exchange experience and lessons learnt that can be replicated in other projects.

OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES

Three most valuable lesson learnt include:
• effective management measure in recovery and preserving stocks

The right-based management system along with the Namibianisation has no doubt indicated positive impact on the status of all stocks except for pilchard. Indeed control of fishing effort has also resulted in the increase the value of the fishery. The integrated MCS system in place has a major role to protect these fisheries and interests of Namibia.
• public participation

By public engaging public participation means involving fishing industry in the setting up of the IBCC and eventually the Commission.

Information Management (October 20 to 24, 2003)

PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS INVOLVED

Patricia Himschoot, La Plata Project

HOST INSTITUTION

San Juan River Basin project

INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE: WHY AN EXCHANGE

The general purpose of the exchange was to share information management, and databases experience and expertise at the operational level between PROCUENCA and FREPLATA.

FREPLATA was interested in the Institutional Mapping Tool developed by PROCUENCA.  This tool will permit to systematize the role and the relationships among the multiple actors related to the Rio de la Plata and its Maritime Front, and that, besides being a contribution in itself, will support the formulation of the SAP and the following of activities and advances of the Project.

PROCUENCA was interested in getting the application for the Legal Instruments Management Virtual Library (application for the systematisation of bibliographic references), and the Internet Map Management Tool, all developed by FREPLATA.

At the same time, and due to the fact that we are beginning to implement the Management and Decision Making System, the exchange of experiences with PROCUENCA will make this process easier and will also bring issues of common support.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 

OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES

The FREPLATA Project is concluding its Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis and has begun many of the SAP activities. Regarding the Integrated Information System (one of the main products of the Project), the Geographic Information System and the Virtual Centre (web site) has already been implemented, and we are starting to design the Management and Decision Making System. Therefore, at this moment, to count with an institutional mapping tool that permits efficiently systematizing the activities and advances of the Project and of the institutions related to it, will allow the management of this information and will constitute a support tool for the SAP.

Public Participation & Commissions (26 November – 3 December 2003)

PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS INVOLVED

Natalia Alexeeva & Aija Kosk, Lake Peipsi project

HOST INSTITUTION

Danube Regional Project, UNDP/GEF project

INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE: WHY AN EXCHANGE

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

In order to share experiences on such issues between projects, one of the eight inter-project exchanges selected for the pilot program was proposed by the UNDP.GEF Project “Development and Implementation of the Lake Peipsi/Chudskoe Basin Management Programme” with the following specific objectives to learn best practices regarding:

•Organization of cooperation between the UNDP/GEF project and the Danube Water Commission;
•Internal procedures for planning and communication within the UNDP/GEF project and the Water Commission;
•Coordination of preparation of national water management plans and a basin water management program;
•Incorporation of the EU Water Framework Directive requirements in preparation of the Basin Management Program in the situation when not all countries sharing the Danube Basin are member or accession states of the EU; and finally
•Preparation of the Danube Basin wide public participation plan.

OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES

This mission contributed to the improved knowledge in the following fields:

• Roles, responsibilities and activities of the International Commission on the Protection of the Danube River;
• Danube Environmental Form, its position and role in the Danube River Basin as an example of successful NGO network aimed and increased Public Participation;
• Main NGO activities in water protection in individual countries of the Danube River Basin;
• DEF involvement in regional WFD issues in 2004, current hot issues in the Danube River Basin (Bystroe, Drava, D-O-E Canal) and DEF involvement/support;
• Future capacity building needs for NGOs in the Danube Basin, fundraising opportunities/activities, ideas for the International Danube Day;
• Current stage of the UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project, its lessons learned and experience in the management issues;
• Role of DEF within the UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project and the base of their cooperation; 
• UNDP/GEF Danube Regional Project and the International Commission on the Protection of the Danube River interrelations as a sample of fruitful cooperation between GEF project and formal institutions;
• Main procedures to issue small grants in the frame of UNDP/GEF project;

This meeting was very useful in terms of an example how the Commissions on Transboundary Waters could work in the multicultural environment and achieve real outcomes agreed among all parties. This case-study could be used both for arranging a study visit of Intergovernmental Estonian-Russian Commission on Transboundary Waters (which is supported by UNDP/GEF Project on lake Peipsi/Chudskoe) and for updating the program of support measures for this Commission based on Danube experience.

Promoting Partnerships (1-16 September 2003)

PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS INVOLVED

Dr. Huming Yu, East Asian Seas PEMSEA

HOST INSTITUTION

Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Commission

INTRODUCTION, PURPOSE: WHY AN EXCHANGE

  • To learn more about the experience and lessons of the efforts in managing Chesapeake Bay (CB) environment and natural resources;
  • To share PEMSEA experience in the development and application of integrated management approaches in addressing coastal and marine environmental and resource issues; and
  • Based on the above, to explore the possibility of a new project for developing an ecosystem based approach in managing river basins and their associated seas through twinning the concerned initiatives across selected sites (the “Twinning Project”).

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 

OUTPUTS/OUTCOMES

The outputs of the mission include: (1) a cross site analysis of progress made in managing rivers and the associated seas, involving Chesapeake Bay, Manila Bay and Bohai Sea;  (2) a draft project proposal for twinning the potential sites to strengthen knowledge sharing and mutual assistance (the Twinning Project) targeting at new funding sources; and obtaining support from the US stakeholders for the proposed Twinning Project.

 

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