To strengthen global portfolio experience sharing and learning, dialogue facilitation, targeted knowledge sharing and replication in order to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of GEF IW projects to deliver tangible results in partnership with other IW initiatives.

Project Results

The GEF increment will support a community of practice (CoP) to convene both groundwater and land managers to foster an integrated approach to land, agriculture and groundwater management. The CoP will focus on regional land/groundwater learning, linking projects in the MENARID region (Jordan, Iran, Yemen, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria) with other IW groundwater projects elsewhere in the world. It will also support the development of more capacitation materials and targeted workshops to support IFAD- and IBRD-implemented projects. The Mediterranean, including the Southeastern Europe region, also features innovative approaches to fostering regional cooperation over transboundary waters. KEY PROJECT COMPONENTS AND EXPECT OUTCOMES: 1. MENARID Support via Land/Ground Water Integrated Management through Regional Portfolio Learning & Dialogue. Expected Outcomes: 1) Improved effectiveness in combating Land Degradation in MENARID through an enhanced role of groundwater and improved subsurface space management. 2) Enabling Mediterranean regional inter-basin coordination. 3) Enhanced management capacity of institutions and projects partners. 2. Accelerated Learning and Replication of Good Practices in Transboundary Surface & Groundwater Management. Expected Outcomes: 1) Increased capacity of GEF groundwater and freshwater basin projects to exchange experiences and replicate successful groundwater management approaches and practices to address adaptive management. 2) Lessons of GEF GW portfolio incorporated into and disseminated through networks, partners, and processes, including Experience notes and Bridges Newsletter. 3) Synergies among GEF surface – groundwater, and LME projects enhance achievement of GEF strategic objectives. 4) Strengthened policy/legislation/institutional/ technical mechanisms for river basins and groundwater, integrated in GEF project portfolio and in dialogue processes for Parliamentarians testing national mainstreaming. 5) Science based understanding of groundwater resources and issues strengthened in GEF portfolio. 3. Global and GEF IW Portfolio Learning and Dialogue to Enhance Project Delivery and Impact. Expected Outcomes: 1) Global GEF IW portfolio performance and capacities strengthened. 2) Enhanced targeted knowledge-sharing between projects. 3) Increased interaction and experience sharing among managers of GEF IW projects. 4) Increased awareness of GEF IW experiences and achievements and partnership with non-GEF supported interventions. 4. Information Management and Communications Platform to Support GEF IW Projects Learning and Dialogue. Expected Outcomes: 1) Improved web-based information and knowledge management and utilization of the IW resource center and project communication platforms. 2) Enhanced visibility and visualization of project activities and results facilitates cooperation and replication. 3) Enhanced stakeholder access to data and information from IW projects. 5. Programmatic Tools to Enhance GEF IW Portfolio Project Performance. Expected Outcomes: 1) Improved standardization and harmonization of new GEF methodological approaches in IW projects to help address new global issues. 2) Strengthened results-based and adaptive management, improved performance and cost effectiveness of IW projects. 3) Enhanced project capacity for the application and replication of good practices and greater participation in experience sharing and learning processes. 6. Demonstrating Innovative Approaches related to Climate/water and private sector participation. Expected Outcomes: 1) IW projects become aware and acquire skills to address vulnerability to climate change in transboundary basins. 2) Public-private partnerships promoted and facilitate sustainability of GEF IW interventions. 3) GEF IW project stakeholders fully aware of climate change issues and ready to mainstream into strategic adaptive management.