The  GEF IW:LEARN Regional Workshop on Funding and Financing Investments in Transboundary Waters and Ecosystems brought together GEF International Waters projects, national governments, multilateral development banks (IDB and CAF), and regional partners to strengthen collaboration and identify practical financing pathways for sustainable water and ecosystem management in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The workshop was organised by GEF IW:LEARN (UNESCO-IOC) and the Organisation of American States (OAS), in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), with the generous support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Peru.

Over two days, participants:

• Explored MDB instruments and financing mechanisms relevant to transboundary water projects.
• Applied bankability criteria to real GEF IW project cases.
• Developed case-based Funding Option Sheets mapping concrete financing opportunities.
•  Engaged directly with MDB experts to receive feedback and identify next steps.

The discussions underscored the importance of:

• Embedding projects in national policies and budgets to ensure long-term sustainability. 
• Establishing bridging mechanisms between GEF project phases.
• Strengthening institutional coordination and data systems to attract investment.
• Leveraging public–private partnerships and blended finance for scalable impact.
   

Participants highlighted the value of direct interaction with financial institutions, describing the workshop as “enriching, collaborative, and transformative.” They emphasised that such exchanges reduce investment risk, enhance institutional capacity, and build trust between project teams, governments, and banks.

During the workshop, project managers presented concrete cases from the GEF International Waters portfolio in Latin America and the Caribbean, which were discussed in interactive group sessions with experts from multilateral development banks. These exchanges provided participants with tailored guidance on the most suitable financing instruments and the procedural steps required to access them. Receiving simultaneous peer and expert feedback, while sharing experiences on financing pathways, proved to be an invaluable component of the learning process.

🎥 Watch the Reflections Video to hear directly from participants about how this experience has helped shape a stronger understanding of financing pathways for sustainable water and ecosystem management in LAC.