Knowledge & Learning

What we do

Knowledge is a primary asset of the GEF Partnership, and knowledge generation and sharing are critical for GEF investments to achieve a lasting impact in safeguarding the global environment.

The GEF finances project, programs and initiatives that underpin the generation and exchange of knowledge around global environmental issues, facilitating the capture, synthesis, transfer and uptake of this knowledge within and beyond the GEF Partnership.

Knowledge & Learning Projects

The GEF has been investing in specialized Knowledge and Learning Projects in several focal areas, developing knowledge hubs and platforms, communities of practice, distance learning and information sharing tools to facilitate learning and knowledge uptake globally. Some examples include:

The International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network (IW: LEARN)

The GEF International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network (IW:LEARN) is a knowledge management and learning project that has been supported by the GEF since 2000 in various tranches. It is a community of practice and knowledge platform that promotes experience sharing and learning globally among GEF-financed international waters (IW) projects, country officials, implementing agencies, and other partners.

The overall goal of IW:LEARN is to strengthen transboundary water management around the globe by collecting and sharing good practice approaches, lessons learned, and innovative solutions to common problems. IW:LEARN also aims to strengthen the GEF IW portfolio as a whole by promoting dialogue, knowledge sharing, and replication among projects.

IW:LEARN functions as a knowledge-sharing and exchange hub to facilitate experiential learning and address issues faced by one project that might have been resolved by another GEF project (or outside the GEF IW community). To date, IW:LEARN has supported several regional dialogue processes in Africa, the Caribbean, and Eastern and Southeastern Europe. IW:LEARN also provides travel support to selected GEF IW projects for participation in IW-pertinent global policy dialogues.

The IW:LEARN website serves as the premiere archive and data collection service for the GEF IW focal area. The website hosts targeted knowledge-sharing tools for practitioners and the wider public, including project-related information, contacts, and more than 7,000 documents.

IW:LEARN website
Strengthening Global Capacity to Sustain Transboundary Waters: The International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network (IW:LEARN), Operational Phase
GEF ID 1893 | Status: Completed
GEF International Waters Learning Exchange and Resources Network IW LEARN
GEF ID 5729 | Status:Approved
MENARID: GEF IW LEARN: Strengthening IW Portfolio Delivery and Impact
GEF ID 3900 | Status:Approved
CTI GEF IW: LEARN: Portfolio Learning in International Waters with a Focus on Oceans, Coasts, and Islands and Regional Asia/Pacific and Coral Triangle Learning Processes - under the Coral Triangle Initiative
GEF ID 3639 | Status:Approved
Development and Implementation of Mechanisms to disseminate Lessons Learned and Best Practices in Integrated Transboundary Water Resources Management in Latin America and the Caribbean
GEF ID 1426 | Status:Completed

Adaptation Learning Mechanism: Learning by Doing

This project aimed to maximize adaptation learning through implementation of projects under the GEF’s Strategic Priority on Adaptation (SPA), and to generate knowledge in order to further guide implementation and improve impacts of GEF adaptation projects. The objective of the project was to provide tools and establish a learning platform for mainstreaming adaptation to climate change within the development planning of GEF eligible countries.

GEF ID 2557 | Status: Completed

Knowledge Base for Lessons Learned and Best Practices in the Management of Coral Reefs

The overall goal of this project was to enhance capacity within country institutions to learn from previous experiences of other projects, and to develop and implement coral reef projects which deliver key outcomes effectively and efficiently.

GEF ID 2856 | Status: Completed

Distance Learning and Information Sharing (DLIST) Tool for the Benguela Coastal Areas

The overall aim of DLIST-Benguela was to increase access of local communities to information that is critical to environmental management and the creation of sustainable livelihoods, founded on the Benguela Current’s coastal and marine resources.

GEF ID 2571 | Status: Completed

Development of Best Practices and Dissemination of Lessons Learned for Dealing with the Global Problem of Alien Species that Threaten Biological Diversity

Development of Best Practices and Dissemination of Lessons Learned for dealing with the Global Problem of Alien Species that Threaten Biological Diversity

The objective of this project was to examine current tools and approaches used to recognize, evaluate and mitigate against invasive species in order to determine best practices, and disseminate this information.

GEF ID 465 | Status: Completed

International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD)

International Assessment of Agricultural Science and technology for Development

This project aimed to deliver a global and five sub-global assessments of the role of agricultural science and technology in reducing hunger and poverty, improving rural livelihoods, and facilitating development that is equitable as well as environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. IAASTD’s ultimate goal was provide robust information for decision-makers on how to ensure that policies, practices and institutional arrangements enable knowledge, science and technology to contribute to global environmental and development benefits.

GEF ID 2503 | Status: Completed