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IW:LEARN is the Global Environment Facility's (GEF) International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network. http://iwlearn.net

19/06/2026

Next week, the global water community gathers in Budapest, Hungary for the 2026 Global Workshop on Developing, Revising and Revitalizing Agreements for Transboundary Water Cooperation (22–23 June).

As climate change, environmental pressures, and political landscapes shift, agreements can no longer be static legal texts. They must be dynamic, ongoing processes built for resilience.

From our side, our project coordinator, Konstantina Toli, will be attending and moderating Session 3: Ensuring Adaptability of Agreements for Resilience and Addressing Emerging Challenges.

This strategic session will dive deep into how transboundary arrangements can:
🔹 absorb environmental and climatic disruptions
🔹 reconcile competing water interests under stress
🔹 adapt to changing conditions while preserving core institutional commitments

This workshop marks a crucial step forward in translating basin-level practice into global progress, especially as we look toward preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference.

Stay tuned for key takeaways from Budapest! 🌊

18/06/2026

📢 Register today for the launch webinars of the new IMO Underwater Radiated Noise (URN) Toolkit, developed under the GEF-UNDP-IMO GloNoise Partnership Project.

Underwater radiated noise from shipping is a significant threat to marine life. This toolkit provides practical, science-based tools and guidance to help maritime administrations, port authorities, researchers, and NGOs understand, assess, and manage URN effectively.

Join the launch for live demonstrations, practical guidance, and real-world examples of how to support informed decision-making for healthier oceans.

Choose your session:
📅 English Session: 23 June 2026 | 10:00 UTC
📅 Spanish Session: 24 June 2026 | 15:00 UTC

👥 Open to all IMO Member States, industry representatives, researchers, universities, NGOs, and students.

📝 Registration is required. Scan the relevant QR code in the flyer below or click on the links in the first commnet to secure your spot!

Global Environment Facility United Nations Development Programme - UNDP

17/06/2026

Protecting what lies in the deep begins with knowing exactly what’s out there. 🦈

Deep-sea sharks are highly vulnerable, and accurate identification is our first line of defense for sustainable fisheries management. Swipe through to discover a new tool developed by FAO: the Deepwater Shark ID Key, developed by Deep-sea Fisheries Project, to improve species ID, data & management designed to help fishers, researchers, and managers protect these vital marine species.

👉 Click the first comment and check out the latest news to read the full news item and access the tool!

15/06/2026

"The sea is too big to control it. So control happens at port." 🚢

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens ocean health, harms coastal economies, and undermines food security. That’s why fisheries inspectors in Dakar, Senegal, are being put through their paces.

From checking vessel documents on the bridge to inspecting gear on deck and verifying catches in the hold, these frontline teams are sharpening their skills to keep illicit fish out of the market.

This hands-on training was made possible by the Common Oceans Tuna Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and delivered by experts working with the FAO and ICCAT.

Link in the comment below to read the full story.

09/06/2026

- English (y en español más abajo)
🔎 Water Resources & Groundwater Management Specialist

ACTO is looking for a PhD-level expert to lead technical & scientific activities for the GEF Amazonian Aquifer Systems project, supported by UNEP and IDB.

📍 Location: Brasília, Brazil (with regional travel)
🔬 Profile: PhD in Water Resources, Geology, or Environmental Sciences + 5 years of research experience in the Amazon region with international publications.
📅 Deadline: June 21, 2026

More info here: https://loom.ly/OdIg440
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Español
🔎Especialista en Recursos Hídricos y Aguas Subterráneas

OTCA busca un experto con doctorado para liderar las actividades técnicas y científicas del proyecto de Sistemas de Acuíferos Amazónicos (GEF / PNUMA / BID).

📍 Sede: Brasilia, Brasil (con viajes regionales)
🔬 Perfil: Doctorado (PhD) en Recursos Hídricos, Geología o Ciencias Ambientales + 5 años de investigación en la región amazónica y publicaciones internacionales.
📅 Plazo: 21 de junio de 2026

Más información aquí: https://loom.ly/DihZk-Q

08/06/2026

This , we are reflecting on a powerful theme: Reimagine.

🌊 Today, June 8, calls on us to step back and recognize a fundamental truth: we are completely inseparable from the ocean. It isn't a distant place - it is in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the climate that makes our lives possible.

⚖️ This year has been uniquely historic, marked by the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement. This legally binding treaty finally extends protection to over two-thirds of the ocean - the vast areas beyond national jurisdiction that hold resources vital to human well-being.

To Reimagine means shifting our mindset from passive beneficiaries of the ocean’s generosity to active guardians of its future.

✨ The ocean knows no borders and no silos. At GEF IW:LEARN, we are committed to fostering the transboundary cooperation and knowledge-sharing needed to bridge international waters and turn this historic treaty into real, on-the-water transformation.

06/06/2026

- Join the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on 8 June for a critical discussion on strengthening ocean protection, resilience, and investment.

The webinar brings together policymakers, financial institutions, Regional Seas, and technical experts to explore practical solutions on:
🔹 Regional cooperation & pollution reduction
🔹 Science, data, and turning commitments into action
🔹 Financing vital coastal ecosystems

📅 Date: Monday, 8 June 2026
⏰ Time: 3:00–4:00 PM
💻 Platform: Online

Don't miss out on shaping the future of our oceans.
👉 Register here: https://loom.ly/hxnV_UE

05/06/2026

Let's celebrate with the power of the community that makes protecting our world possible!

Environmental resilience isn't just about technical solutions - it's about people. Across the international waters portfolio, local communities are driving the long-term governance and protection of our planet's vital ecosystems.

Check out the stories we're highlighting in the carousel:

🌴 In the Amazon, local communities are protecting key species like morete, ungurahua, and açaí palms by building sustainable value chains for chemical-free food products and oils.

🪸 From Fiji to Frankfurt, conservation leader Neelam Bhan is pioneering community-led, eco-friendly nearshore anchored Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) to actively conserve and restore precious coral reefs.

🦀 In Indonesia’s Hoat Sorbay Bay, the GEF-6 Coastal Fisheries Initiative blends community participation, scientific data, and traditional "Sasi" wisdom to combat overfishing and secure wild crab stocks.

💧 In Metapán, an essential truth is being proven: strengthening water systems fundamentally means strengthening local leadership, infrastructure governance, and the climate response capacity of the community.

All full stories can be found here: https://loom.ly/nKVpMtw

Which story inspires you the most? 👇

04/06/2026

Today, 4 June, we had yet another intense, but productive day at the GEF Assembly in Samarkand.

We kicked off the morning at the Plenary in the Grand Hall for the official Opening Ceremony. The session opened with a powerful film highlighting global environmental challenges and Uzbekistan’s vital role in international cooperation with the GEF. Following warm welcoming remarks from our hosts, the Government of Uzbekistan, and an inspiring opening address by the GEF, we were treated to a cultural performance and a moving theatrical piece titled Mother Nature.

Later in the afternoon, the focus shifted to action and regional collaboration during Roundtable 9. We gathered in the Diamond Room for a high-level discussion on nexus approaches to environmental challenges in Central Asia and their global scalability.

The highlight of the session was celebrating the official launch of the GEF-8 Central Asia Water Land Nexus (CAWLN) program’s implementation phase! The high-level panel featured insights from three Ministers representing CAWLN project countries and brought together key environmental leaders, including Claude Gascon (GEF CEO) and moderator Francesca Bernardini (Water Convention, UNECE).

03/06/2026

Another exciting day at the GEF Assembly in Samarkand!

We started the morning strong with our learning station, "Strategies to Successfully Engage the Private Sector at the Global, National, and Local Level." The session delved into a critical question: What drives different stakeholders to engage, and how can we tailor strategies to meet their needs? We were thrilled to ground the discussion in practical, real-world experiences, drawing insights from initiatives like the Plastic Reboot IP (see photo!).

The momentum continued into the afternoon at the GEF Cryosphere project side event. This session was a powerful testament to collaboration, bringing together civil society, Indigenous Peoples, the GEF Secretariat, agencies, donors, and country representatives. It was an inspiring space for meaningful dialogue, knowledge exchange, and building the partnerships necessary to tackle our most urgent global environmental priorities.

Looking forward to what the rest of the Assembly brings!

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