The IW:LEARN program provides distance learning and knowledge sharing tools to help manage international waters. It fosters a global knowledge community through online courses, conferences, and partnerships. IW:LEARN aims to cost-effectively train the next generation of water managers and leverage GEF investments by sharing lessons. It develops accessible knowledge products and customized ICT tools. Initiatives include online training, regional resource centers, and technical support to better protect transboundary waters.

1. 1
The GEF’s IW:LEARN
a tool for distance learning and
knowledge sharing in real-time
Dann Sklarew, Ph.D.
Chief Technical Advisor
Nov ember 27, 2001

2. 2
IW:LEARN Defined
• The International Waters Learning
Exchange and Resource Network
• The GEF’s global IW project for peer-to-peer
(P2P) capacity building activities

3. 3
The GEF’s Challenge
• Distance Learning:
– Providing cost effective access to
technical training for the next generation
of International Waters managers
• Knowledge Sharing:
– Leveraging GEF investments by
transferring experiences and lessons
within and between IW regions

4. 4
GEF’s IW:LEARN Solution
• Foster a global knowledge community
to better protect and restore Earth’s
transboundary waters through
– distance learning
– knowledge sharing
– team and technical capacity building

5. 5
Distance Learning
• Sustainable Development MSc Pilot
• DLIST Southern Africa ICZM
• Red Sea ICZM and Marine Protected Areas
• TRAIN-SEA-COAST TDA/SAP Course
• Black Sea DL Modules
• Water Management in Middle East

6. 6
Knowledge Sharing
• IWLEARN-EDU
• IW-FORUM
• Biennial GEF International Waters
Conferences
+ GEF-IW-MGRS
• Side Events at Other Waters Conference
+ GEF-IW-LAC
• UNEP “IW BEST PRACTICES”
• International Waters Resource Center

7. 7

8. 8
Our Technical Approach
• Knowledge products should be
accessible across levels of ICT use
• ICT tools should be locally developed
or customized for each community or
region
• Initiatives should be replicable and
scalable across IW management sites

9. 9
Technical Capacity
• Information Communication Technologies (ICT)
Workshops
• IW Fellowships
• IWLEARN-I-TEAM
• Strategic partnerships to develop:
– Regional/Thematic Community Resource
Centres (CRCs)
– Portable Resource Centres (PRCs)
– Network of Regional Support Facilities (SFs)

10. 10
I W : L E A R N
T id e s C e n t e r
I W R e s o u r c e s
O n - lin e D a t a b a s e
G E F C o n fe r e n c e
O n - lin e P r o c e d in g s
G E F S E C - I W : L E A R N
P a r t n e r s h ip
G E F - I W - M G R S
E le c t r o n ic F o r u m
T R A I N - S E A - C O A S T
D is t a n c e C o u r s e
D e v e lo p m e n t
U N D P - I W : L E A R N
P a r t n e r s h ip
I W B e s t P r a c t ic e s
O n - lin e D a t a b a s e
G E F - I W - L A C
R e g io n a l F o r u m s
U N E P - I W : L E A R N
P a r t n e r s h ip
D L I S T
D is t a n c e L e a r n in g
P ilo t
P E R S G A
D is t a n c e L e a r n in g
P ilo t
B L A C K S E A
D is t a n c e L e a r n in g P ilo t
W o r ld B a n k - I W : L E A R N
P a r t n e r s h ip
I s la m ic
F in a n c in g
M o d e l
N a t io n a l
F in a n c in g
M o d e l
C o m m u n it y
F in a n c in g
M o d e l
A fr ic a n D is t a n c e I W
D e g r e e F in a n c in g
P ilo t s
U . L o n d o n
D is t a n c e M S c
P ilo t
W I S - 4
W e b D e v e lo p e r s '
W o r k s h o p
P o r t a b le
R e s o u r c e C e n t e r s
C o m m u n it y
R e s o u r c e C e n t e r s
T e c h n ic a l S u p p o r t
F a c ilit ie s
P a r t n e r s h ip s w it h
I W P r o je c t s
Current Partnerships

11. 11
IW:LEARN and the GPA
• IW:LEARN support for IW projects
extends to partners such as GPA
• Capacity Building
– Distance MSc; TRAIN-SEA-COAST;
GEF-IW-LAC; I-team
• Public Outreach
– IW Resource Center; IW-FORUM
• Action programs; management tools;
ICM courses; financing directories

12. 12
Future of IW:LEARN

13. 13
IW:LEARN Contacts
http://www.iwlearn.org
+1.703.522.2190 (Tel) / 2191 (Fax)
• Dann Sklarew (dann@iwlearn.org)
– IW:LEARN Project Director
• Janot Mendler (janot@iwlearn.org)
– Distance Education, IW Fellowships and Team-Building
• Jerod Clabaugh (jerod@iwlearn.org)
– ICT Development, Training and Technical Assistance