International Waters learning Exchange & Resource Network

Courses

Under its overall capacity development programme, GEF IW: LEARN aims to build cadres of practitioners working on GEF International Waters supported projects around the world. This page contains a collection of courses developed by GEF IW:LEARN, GEF LME:LEARN and/or partners within our extended network.


Large Marine Ecosystems: Assessment and Management
Online course (ongoing)
Focusing on the Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) of the world, this course will introduce the concept and practice of ecosystem-based management. LMEs occupy areas of coastal ocean at least 200 000 km² or greater in size. These coastal waters produce 12.6 trillion USD in ecosystem goods and services annually and are vitally important for billions of people around the globe.

Sustainable Tourism and Stakeholder Networking for SIDS II
Online course (registration required)
Organized by the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with Sustainable Travel International and the Hamburg Open Online University, this course lets you explore and assess the opportunities that sustainable tourism strategies offer for SIDS. This course will help you to think carefully and critically about current tourism policies.


Biodiversity Finance
Self-paced module (registration required)
Do you need to make a stronger business case for biodiversity conservation? Do you want to become more skilled at developing financially sound and politically feasible solutions to conservation and development challenges? Do you need to know how to develop an effective biodiversity finance plan? Do you want access to more tools to assess the policy, institutional, and economic context for biodiversity finance, and to conduct a financial needs assessment to achieve a country’s biodiversity goals?

One Planet One Ocean: From Science to Solutions
Massive Online Course (ongoing)
Is the ocean the real final frontier? Humans have a greater understanding of the surface of the moon than they do of the depths of our ocean. But what we know of the ocean proves it hosts a wealth of opportunity – connecting the world; supporting important and basic economic, cultural and environmental functions – despite being under significant threat. Stressed by unsustainable lifestyles and the increasing demands of a growing global population, how do we become good stewards of this massive natural resource? In the massive open online course One Planet – One Ocean: From Science to Solutions, learn from the world's leading experts on ocean science. They will present the issues and potential solutions – grounded in rigorous scientific research – to fight for our endangered waters.

International Water Law
Available on demand
In recent decades, international law has undergone a series of major developments in order to accommodate the many new facets of freshwater management and protection. The adoption of universal, regional and basin instruments highlights how important it is to study the evolution of international water regulations and to be able to identify the main principles in this field. This course aims to provide the necessary background to understand and examine the regulation applicable to transboundary freshwaters especially to rivers, lakes and aquifers. It presents the principles and legal standards that govern the use, sharing, management and protection of these resources.

GEF LME:LEARN Ocean Governance Course
Online Course (currently closed)
The GEF LME:LEARN Ocean Governance online course provides an introduction into governance concepts relevant for practitioners working within Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) and their Coasts. This course aims to provide project leads, partners, and others with practical approaches, lessons on governance and illustrative case studies. It also serves to promote an integrated, collaborative approach to ocean and coastal management.

GEF LME:LEARN Transboundary Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Sustainable Blue Economy Online Course
Online Course (currently closed)
The GEF LME:LEARN Transboundary Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Sustainable Blue Economy Course provides an introduction into MSP concepts relevant for practitioners working within Large Marine Ecosystems and their Coasts. This course aims to provide project leads, partners, and others with practical approaches, lessons on MSP and illustrative case studies. It also serves to promote an integrated, collaborative approach to ocean and coastal management with a special emphasis on LMEs.

GEF LME:LEARN Planification Spatial Maritime
Online Course (currently closed)
Le cours proposé par GEF LME:LEARN dédié à la Planification Spatiale Maritime Transfrontalière (PSM) et l’Economie Bleue, est une introduction aux concepts de la PSM pour les praticiens et professionnels exerçant au contact des Grands Ecosystèmes Marins et de leurs côtes.

GEF IW:LEARN International Waters Project Management Course
Online course (currently closed)
The course is intended to be a primer for new GEF International Waters project staff and key stakeholders (implementing and executing agency staff, government officials and civil society partners) to understand the processes and approaches used in GEF IW projects.

GEF LME:LEARN Curso de Planificación Espacial Marina Transfronteriza y Economía Azul Sostenible
Online Course (currently closed)
El curso LME: LEARN sobre Planificación Espacial Marina (PEM) y Economía Azul ofrece una introducción de los conceptos de la PEM relevantes para profesionales que trabajan en grandes ecosistemas marinos y sus costas. Este curso tiene como objetivo proporcionar a los jefes de proyecto, socios y otros con lecciones sobre la PEM y estudios de casos ilustrativos. También sirve para promover un enfoque integrado y de colaboración para la gestión oceánica y costera con un énfasis especial en los grandes ecosistemas marinos.