Event Description
This event will describe an international project to undertake an inventory and comparative analysis of science from the vast GEF International Waters portfolio (over USD 4 billion invested to date). A newly planned Science Learning Network for sharing integrated International Waters knowledge will also be discussed.

Science in GEF's International Water Projects


Event Summary and Conclusions
The GEF is the largest funder of projects to improve the global environment today with GEF International Waters (IW) projects focused on the sustainable management of global transboundary water systems. With over 4 billion $US invested in the IW portfolio to date, this significant investment includes a large and valuable resource of scientific knowledge covering an exceptionally broad spectrum of systems – from lake and river basins to groundwater aquifers to coastal and open ocean ecosystems.

The GEF IW:Science project aims to recognize, capture, analyze and integrate the scientific findings from these projects and to disseminate them across the IW portfolio and beyond. To achieve this a specifically-constructed knowledge management model is being developed, the concept, approach and progress-to-date of which was presented at the World Water Week. Comprising both database and interactive networking tool components, the knowledge management model is known as the GEF IW Scientific Learning Network.

The side event presentation was followed by time for questions and discussion with the audience. Interest was shown in the progress that had been achieved so far, the approach being used and some valuable insights and suggestions were shared. It is anticipated that a larger event demonstrating matured outputs and progress towards project outcomes will be submitted for the Stockholm World Water Week 2010.