IWRM in GEF-Supported International Waters and their Transboundary Basins

Dann M. Sklarew, Ph.D dann@iwlearn.org

Director/Chief Technical Advisor

GEF IW:LEARN

Global Environment Facility

• Only new funding source for environment to emerge from the 1992 Earth Summit

• Aim: To forge cooperation and finance actions in the context of sustainable development that address critical threats to the global environment.

• Support country-driven projects, implemented in partnership with UNDP, UNEP and World Bank.

> 1,400 projects implemented in > 140 developing and transitional countries through > $4.5 billion allocated by GEF and > $15 billion leveraged since 1991

GEF Focal Areas

GEF focal areas include:

• Biodiversity Loss (including aquatic)• Climate Change / Climate Adaptation• International Waters (IW) Degradation• Ozone Depletion

+ Persistent Organic Pollution (POPs) & Land Degradation (both added in 2002)

IW Focal Area

Aim: To assist nations in resolving and preventing transboundary surface- or ground-water problems as well as balancing competing uses of water resources by –

(1) learning to work together;

(2) identifying and adopting cross-sectoral policy, legal, and institutional reforms;

(3) testing feasibility and effectiveness of on-the-ground priority investments to address transboundary concerns towards sustainable development.

GEF IW Financing Since 1991

GEF Allocation

Co-Financing

TOTAL 1991-03

>80 projects

>$1.7 Billion, of which $635 million from GEF

in transition to implementation

Why Transboundary Waters?

• River, lake, groundwater basin is the unit of IWRM integration.

• >40% of lands surface is in transboundary river basins, and most of the rest above transboundary groundwater.

• In such basins, ultimate cause of conflict, threat or degradation to water resources often crosses national boundaries.

• International problems require transboundary solutions!

How GEF IW promotes IWRM?

Nations’ adaptive IWRM to balance uses via cycle of –

Basin-wide Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA): What are key usage & sustainability issues?

Basin-wide Strategic Action Programme (SAP): What are priority joint actions needed? Plans?

• National Implementation, with policy, legal and institutional reforms, investments & demonstrations

• Monitoring & Evaluation

TDA/SAP v. IWRM Process

GEF TDA/SAP Cycle GWP IWRM Cycle

TDA Establish Status, Analyze Gaps

SAP Build Goals, Commitment,

Strategy and Action Plan

Implement Implement Frameworks

Monitor & Evaluate M&E for Progress

Key tasks in a GEF TDA/SAP process

1. Developing project idea 2. Joint fact finding

3. Preparing the SAP

Form inter-ministerial committees

Project process initiated. Facilitator identified

Identify/consult with stakeholder groups

Form technical task team (TTT)

Design project concept

Conduct stakeholder analysis/public involvement plan

Project approved by Council

Form Steering Committee (SC)

Identify & locate trans-boundary issues (Scaling Scoping Screening)

Gather and interpret information on environ. and socio-economic consequences of each issue

Complete causal chain analysis

Complete analysis of institutions, laws, policies and projected investments

Integrate draft TDA

Steering Committee appoints additional experts to Technical Task Team

Hold stakeholders meeting to review TDA

TDA adopted by Steering Committee

TTT proposes ‘vision statement’ of LT EcoQOs.

Appoint national and regional SAP formulation teams

Conduct feasibility study of options and social soundness

Political consultation on implementation of selected options (SC, IM Committees)

Agree on national/regional institutional framework

Prepare monitoring/evaluation indicators

Produce draft SAP

Partnership Conference National endorsement

Develop GEF intervention(s)

Ministerial Conference, adopt SAP

Funding

Funding

Set operational objectives

Brainstorming LT EcoQOs and options for achieving them

Recent TDA/SAP Examples

GEF River Basin IWRM

As presented today, GEF river projects are taking lead in IWRM in their regions, e.g.,

• Danube River Basin (Eastern Europe)• Niger River Basin (West Africa)• Sao Francisco Basin (Brazil)

Some focus specifically on environmental flows (e.g., Mekong River and Okavango River) …

+ many other river basins (see www.iwlearn.net).

GEF Groundwater IWRM

“Water is harvested from the land.” (save principal)- Sunita Narain, Center for Science and Environment

Need to integrate entire water cycle (air & land too):

Examples: • Guaraní Aquifer, possibly the largest aquifer

in world, under 4 countries in South America• 3 aquifer systems in Africa

Role of Public Participation

• GEF policy mandates public participation in all projects, critical to effective, multi-sectoral IWRM.

• Participation includes access to information, learning, participatory decision making, and justice

• Participation at 3 institutional levels (international, national inter-ministerial and local)

• Engaging communities through small grants programs, social marketing, demos and NGO forums (e.g., Danube Environment Forum)

GEF IW:LEARN

“We need networks for sharing information (from demonstrations) and dissemination.”

- Margaret Catley-Carlson (GWP)

Overall, the IW:LEARN project aims: • To promote transfer of experiences across projects

experimenting with IWRM• To strengthen IWRM by facilitating structured

learning and information sharing among stakeholders.

IW:LEARN

A. Facilitating access to information about transboundary water resources (iwlearn.net)

B. Structured learning among projects and partners

C. Biennial International Waters ConferencesD. Testing innovative approaches to build

IWRM capacity.E. Inter-project staff exchanges.

For more information

• Please visit…– GEF IW:LEARN Web Site www.iwlearn.org– GEF International Waters Resource Centre

www.iwlearn.net

• Or contact IW:LEARN info@iwlearn.org

Tel: +1 (202) 518-2054