Project Overview for IW:LEARN

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Project Overview for IWLEARN

• The GEF International Waters Learning Exchange
  and Resource Network
• Dann Sklarew, Ph.D.Chief Technical Advisor

December 5, 2002
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Presentation Outline

• 1. IWLEARN Rationale
• 2. GEF Pilot Phase (2000-2003)
• Objectives, Activities and Progress
• Partnerships and Collaboration
• 3. GEF Operational Phase (2003-2007)
• Objectives, Activities
• Partnership Opportunities
• 4. Discuss World Bank-IWLEARN Partnership

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The GEFs Challenge

• On-the-Job Learning
• How stakeholders learn the basics to effectively
  manage IW locally, nationally, regionally, and
  globally?
• Community Knowledge Sharing
• How can experiences and innovations be
  efficiently transferred between physically
  separated IW managers?

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The IWLEARN Solution

• Foster a global knowledge community to protect
  and restore transboundary waters by
• Providing IW community-building, real-time
  learning and knowledge sharing opportunities
• Promoting development of technical and ICT
  capacity among projects and partners

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Pilot Phase Objectives

• International Waters Conferences
• Internet-mediated ICT Training and Interaction
  across GEF IW portfolio
• IW-related Knowledge Products
• Web sites and services for distance learning and
  knowledge sharing
• Demonstration and replication of successful
  practices

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Successful Activities

• 1. Two International Waters Conferences
  (www.iwlearn.org/iwc)
• 2. International Waters Resource Centre (IWRC)
  (http//www.iwlearn.net)
• portfolio-wide electronic community resource
  centre for one-stop access to GEF IW projects
  information and resources
• 3. DLIST-Benguela (www.dlist.org )
• community-based distance learning demonstration
  project to build transboundary coastal management
  capacity

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Activities in Progress

• 4. ICT Training (www.iwlearn.org/train)
• 5. IW best practices database (http//www.eco-ins
  ight.org)
• 6. Technical assistance to GEF and its projects
• 7. Regional technical support facilities

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Pilot Phase Partnerships
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Collaborative Analysis

• IWLEARN Strengths
• Integrating participation and technology for
  knowledge sharing and distance learning
• Specific focus International Waters community
• Skills and tools for appropriate-level ICT use
• The GEF mandate, sponsorship and support

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Operational Phase Goal

• Improved global management of transboundary water
  systems through increased capacity to replicate
  best practices and transfer lessons learned among
  stakeholders participating in GEF International
  Waters projects.
• Projects stakeholders include managers,
  governments, partners, implementing and executing
  agencies as well as NGOs (civil society and
  private sector) participating in GEF IW projects.

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Operational Phase Components

• Structured Learning for GEF IW Projects,
  including GEF IW Conferences
• Targeted Capacity Building for GEF IW Projects
  and Dissemination of Lessons-Learned
• Technical Assistance to Countries Cooperating In
  GEF IW Projects
• Testing Innovative Approaches to Meet TWM Needs
• Investigation of Long-Term Sustainability of
  Project Benefits

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Operational Components

•  1. Structured Learning for GEF IW Projects,
  including GEF IW Conferences
• Facilitate sharing of experiences and
  learning among stakeholders in GEF IW projects in
  order to enhance replication of positive
  experiences and to avoid repetition of negative
  experiences.

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2. Targeted Capacity Building for GEF IW
Projects and Dissemination of Lessons-Learned

• Build capacity and awareness among GEF IW
  project participants to access and utilize
  pre-existing information in their projects and to
  benefit from services and expertise from across
  GEF partner organizations.

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3. Technical Assistance to Countries Cooperating
In GEF IW Projects

• Assist projects in meeting their identified
  technical assistance needs, providing relevant
  services to GEF IW projects, including those
  related to ICT.

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4. Testing Innovative Approaches to Meet TWM
Needs

• Test novel approaches to meeting GEF IW
  stakeholders TWM needs through several
  demonstration activities.
•  

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5. Investigation of Long-Term Sustainability of
Project Benefits

• Investigate partnerships to sustain IWLEARN
  benefits, to sustain capacity-building for the IW
  focal area and to incorporate GEF TWM issues into
  the mainstream activities of other
  organizations and networks.

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IWLEARN Contacts

• http//www.iwlearn.org
• Tel/Fax [phone]
• Dann Sklarew (dann_at_iwlearn.org)
• IWLEARN Project Director
• Janot Mendler (janot_at_iwlearn.org)
• Distance Education, IW Fellowships and
  Team-Building
• Jerod Clabaugh (jerod_at_iwlearn.org)
• ICT Development, Training and Technical
  Assistance