Source-to-Sea Cooperation: Practical Guidance for Implementation in Transboundary Basins

How do we bridge the gap between freshwater management and ocean health? As the impacts of climate change and pollution intensify, the Source-to-Sea (S2S) approach has become an essential framework for managing connected systems—from rivers, lakes, and aquifers to deltas, coasts, and the open ocean.

GEF IW:LEARN, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the UN Water Convention at UNECE, invites you to an interactive webinar exploring the practical implementation of S2S management in transboundary contexts.

This webinar marks the launch of two landmark publications designed to provide actionable pathways for practitioners:

• IW:LEARN Guidance: How to Apply the Source-to-Sea Approach in GEF IW Projects.

• UNECE Guidance Note (2025): Implementation of Source-to-Sea Management in Transboundary Basins.

Participants will discover how these documents complement one another to support policy-making and project execution across borders and ecosystems.

• Expert Introduction: A deep dive into the new S2S methodologies and tools.

• Practitioner Panel: Hear from project managers and experts who have successfully applied S2S management in real-world transboundary basins.

• Interactive Q&A: Engage with the authors and panelists to discuss shared challenges and solutions.

Ruth Mathews (Founder & Principal, Currents Converge) A senior water governance expert and thought leader in source-to-sea management. She facilitates cross-sectoral cooperation for sustainable ecosystem management, having previously served as Executive Director of the Water Footprint Network and led the Source-to-Sea Programme at SIWI.

Sheikh Rokon (Founder & Secretary General, Riverine People) A Bangladeshi writer and river researcher with over two decades of experience specializing in ecology, wetlands, and transboundary water issues. He leads a civil society organization dedicated to river advocacy and previously taught journalism at Jahangirnagar University.

Nancy Bermas (Regional Project Manager, PEMSEA) A trained marine biologist with over 20 years of experience in East Asian ocean governance and integrated coastal management. She currently manages the GEF/UNDP/ASEAN Project on Integrated River Basin Management across six ASEAN Member States.

Tassos Krommydas (Senior Programme Officer, GWP-Med) An Athens-based water management expert leading initiatives on the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus across the Mediterranean and Western Balkans. His work focuses on transboundary water resources, climate adaptation, and sustainable financing.

Jared Bosire (UNEP Nairobi Convention) Holds a PhD in Marine Science and brings over 20 years of expertise in coastal and marine research, policy development, and climate change. He is an award-winning scientist who has held multiple senior management roles across governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Harry Liiv (Special Envoy for Transboundary Waters, Estonia) Serves as Estonia's Special Envoy for Transboundary Waters and Chairs the Bureau of the UN Water Convention. He has decades of high-level governmental experience managing water, marine environment, and air policies, including a term as the HELCOM Chairman.

Laverne Walker (UNEP Cartagena Convention) A Saint Lucian marine management professional and certified Project Manager (PMP) with over 25 years of experience in Caribbean coastal governance. Her work uses a source-to-sea approach to integrate watershed, coastal, and marine systems to combat pollution.

Viviane Kinyaga (Transboundary Water Specialist, ORASECOM) A specialist in transboundary water systems who has successfully implemented the GEF International Waters strategy. Her expertise bridges the source-to-sea interface by managing the interconnected freshwater-marine continuum of the Orange-Senqu River Basin and Benguela Current.

Mario Arturo Escobedo López (Coordinator, SICA / CCAD) A Guatemalan natural resources engineer and environmental economist based in El Salvador. He serves as the Coordinator of Seas, Biodiversity, and Forestry for the Central American Commission on Environment and Development, managing regional "Ridge to Reef" and source-to-sea projects.

Lucia de Strasser (Environmental Affairs Officer, UNECE) An energy engineer and policy analyst who coordinates the Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Task Force for the UN Water Convention Secretariat. She has a decade of experience supporting transboundary water cooperation and climate change initiatives across Europe and Latin America.