Portfolio Bulletin 2025 June Edition

June 2025 

Welcome to the June 2025 edition of the GEF International Waters Portfolio Bulletin!

This month, in honour of World Environment Day, we put a spotlight on the environment. As always, we received inspiring stories and updates that highlight the incredible work you’re doing around the world, and we’re proud to share them with you.

	An Intercultural Water Plan GEF/UNDP/MINAMBIENTE/MAATE IWRM Mira-Mataje and Carchi-Guáitara
	Strengthening Local Governance and Management GEF/IDB/UNEP CAR/RCU GEF CReW+
	Eco-stoves that improve living conditions for community families and contribute to the preservation of water sources in eastern Guatemala GEF/UNEP/GS/OAS GEF-Trifinio

Boosting Lebanon’s food security under Phase II of the WEFE Nexus Assessment for Lebanon GEF/UNEP/EBRD MedProgramme	Unlocking the potential of the Limpopo River Basin GEF/UNDP/GWP-SA LIMCOM
Protecting Leatherback Turtles GEF/WWF/CI/KKP CFI Indonesia	Advancing groundwater monitoring & GESI in the Shire River Basin Aquifer System GEF/FAO/AMCOW/IWMI/IIASA G4DR

More news of the GEF IW projects here 

	IW:LEARN is delighted to announce the release of the latest publication on Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs), highlighting over eight years of scientific literature and practical experience behind one of the most effective approaches for ocean and coastal management and governance. Check out the publication here.
	On 26 June 2025, IW:LEARN convened the first meeting of the newly launched Data and Information Management (DIM) Taskforce to foster a more coordinated and sustainable approach to managing data and information. Take a look at what we discussed, and join us in making long-lasting impact.
	On 26 June 2025, IW:LEARN hosted its first portfolio-wide online consultation to inform the development of the upcoming Guidance on Integrating Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in GEF International Waters Projects. Read more here.

In Mozambique, a quiet revolution is taking root. Discover how a project backed by UNEP and funded by the GEF is helping communities fight climate change by restoring salt-loving mangroves. Led by local women, the project revives coastal forests to protect against floods, store carbon, and build resilience.
Learn more here. 

	World Water Week: We'll be attending World Water Week in Stockholm on 24-28 August. IW:LEARN will co-lead five sessions about groundwater, transboundary cooperation, source-to-sea, droughts and shared ecosystems. Will you join us? Read more about the event here.
	Call for Contributions: IW:LEARN asks all IW project portfolio to contribute to Tools and Guidance on Source-2-Sea practical examples.  Read more here. Deadline: 4 July
	Twinning Exchange Programme: A new Twinning call wil be announced in September, so be prepared! If interested, start looking into what the Twinning Programme entails,here .

Join the River Revolution to Protect Our Rivers
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	GEF IW:LEARN, UNESCO-IOC and IMO host a side event at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice to strengthen private sector partnerships for ocean sustainability and to celebrate 30 years of LME cooperation Read more here.
	IW:LEARN presented at the twenty-fifth meeting of the United Nations open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (ICP25; 16 - 20 June 2025) Read more here.
	IW:LEARN contributes to 9th Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems (WFEE) Nexus meeting in Geneva Read more here.

Join our LinkedIn group, and connect with the IW:LEARN community. This group is a space for all GEF International Waters (IW) project teams to connect, collaborate, and support each other.

Visit iwlearn.net for the latest information on GEF IW:LEARN, upcoming events, and the latest news from the GEF IW portfolio.

We are open for submissions! Please visit https://iwlearn.net/news/newsletter/guide-storysubmission
for guidance on how to prepare and send a GEF IW:LEARN News story.

The GEF International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network (GEF IW:LEARN) collects and shares best practices, lessons learned and innovative solutions to common problems across the GEF International Waters portfolio to strengthen transboundary water management around the globe. IW:LEARN is financed by the GEF, jointly implemented by UNDP and UNEP, and executed by IOC-UNESCO.

Copyright © 2025 Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, All rights reserved.


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