This document discusses observations and ideas about the GEF's work on international waters projects. It addresses whether the TDA/SAP approach can work, if it is working, if it is too early to tell, and what constraints are being ignored. Key points made include that the TDA/SAP process takes a long time but builds ownership, immediate actions may be needed for success, and national commitment is required to implement SAPs. While frameworks for cooperation have been developed, it is still early to see environmental results. Political will for reform and linking projects to development are important overlooked constraints. The implications for the GEF include taking a flexible approach, ensuring riparian ownership, and providing long-term support and learning across projects

2. WB Session and OP 8:WB Session and OP 8:
Observations and tentative ideas of whatObservations and tentative ideas of what
this means for our work on internationalthis means for our work on international
waters (OP 8)waters (OP 8)
GEF IW Conference, BudapestGEF IW Conference, Budapest
14-18 October, 200014-18 October, 2000

3. Organize my comments alongOrganize my comments along
Tony’s questions:Tony’s questions:
• Can the IW approach work?Can the IW approach work?
• Is it working?Is it working?
• Is it too early too tell?Is it too early too tell?
• Are there important constraints we areAre there important constraints we are
ignoring?ignoring?
• What are the implications for the GEF andWhat are the implications for the GEF and
more specifically for OP 8?more specifically for OP 8?
Personal views - food for thought!Personal views - food for thought!

4. OP8 - specific waterbodies with
“chronic” problems:
260+ international river basins
50 large marine ecosystems (LME)
Number of shared groundwater aquifers

5. International Waters Challenge -International Waters Challenge -
Scope & Scale - No blueprints!Scope & Scale - No blueprints!
Poverty ->Development
Insecurity -> Security Degradation -> Sustainability
Political
relations

6. Q1: Can The TDA/SAPQ1: Can The TDA/SAP
Approach Work ?Approach Work ?
• Role of TDA/SAPRole of TDA/SAP
Arrive at consensus on problems, priorities andArrive at consensus on problems, priorities and
actions - common understanding of the problemsactions - common understanding of the problems
Okavango - created harmony between the partiesOkavango - created harmony between the parties
Lengthy, time-consuming process; 2-4 yrs oftenLengthy, time-consuming process; 2-4 yrs often
Benguela CurrentBenguela Current
Process (key outcome) more important than theProcess (key outcome) more important than the
outputoutput
Similar exercises done before - no blueprintsSimilar exercises done before - no blueprints
available - all will to a certain extent be uniqueavailable - all will to a certain extent be unique
Ownership created through the processOwnership created through the process

7. Q1: Can The TDA/SAPQ1: Can The TDA/SAP
Approach Work ?Approach Work ?
• Role of TDA/SAPRole of TDA/SAP
Can we really go the long way as prescribed by theCan we really go the long way as prescribed by the
TDA? Maybe consider to start with smaller,TDA? Maybe consider to start with smaller,
immediate actions - success attracts success!immediate actions - success attracts success!
Format requirements - tedious and often difficult!Format requirements - tedious and often difficult!
Namibia - Benefit proved faster than the GEF routeNamibia - Benefit proved faster than the GEF route
Overall a useful instrument!Overall a useful instrument!
Key questions: How to translate the SAP intoKey questions: How to translate the SAP into
national actions?national actions?
Requires national commitment and national processesRequires national commitment and national processes

8. Q2: Is it working?Q2: Is it working?
• OP 8 Purpose - “remedial actions”OP 8 Purpose - “remedial actions”
• Linkage between water resources reform processLinkage between water resources reform process
and regional environmental management objectivesand regional environmental management objectives
often not addressed as required in OP8often not addressed as required in OP8
• Little emphasis on use of economic incentives andLittle emphasis on use of economic incentives and
instruments, when applicable, as management toolsinstruments, when applicable, as management tools
• Private sector participation limitedPrivate sector participation limited
• Involvement of other ministries/sectors - driven byInvolvement of other ministries/sectors - driven by
environment and water - Danube - Min. of Ag.environment and water - Danube - Min. of Ag.

9. Q2: Is it working (II)?Q2: Is it working (II)?
• Little attention to lake and wetland managementLittle attention to lake and wetland management
and watershed management (WWF, IUCN)and watershed management (WWF, IUCN)
• Transboundary implications of dams - WCD??Transboundary implications of dams - WCD??
• Considerable risks associated with creation ofConsiderable risks associated with creation of
expectations that cannot be realistically achievedexpectations that cannot be realistically achieved
and failure to recognize time frames require forand failure to recognize time frames require for
results - need for an exit strategy?results - need for an exit strategy?
• Dissemination of SAP to the general public, oftenDissemination of SAP to the general public, often
lackinglacking
• When do we start work on the ground? UncertaintyWhen do we start work on the ground? Uncertainty

10. Q3: Is it too early to tell?Q3: Is it too early to tell?
• Yes, little environmental improvement so farYes, little environmental improvement so far
North-American Great Lakes - six years to set upNorth-American Great Lakes - six years to set up
institutional system; 12 years to see environmentalinstitutional system; 12 years to see environmental
improvementsimprovements
Social outcomes as important in the short/medium termSocial outcomes as important in the short/medium term
• Major accomplishments; over 50 projectsMajor accomplishments; over 50 projects
• First generation IW projects under implementationFirst generation IW projects under implementation
- too early to assess results!- too early to assess results!
Developed framework for cooperationDeveloped framework for cooperation
Second generation just startingSecond generation just starting
Monitoring and evaluation built more effectively inMonitoring and evaluation built more effectively in

11. Q4: Are there importantQ4: Are there important
constraints we are ignoring?constraints we are ignoring?
• Link to poverty alleviation,Link to poverty alleviation,
human health, vulnerability andhuman health, vulnerability and
sustainable developmentsustainable development
policies in generalpolicies in general
• Overall need for reforms inOverall need for reforms in
various sectors; e.g. civilvarious sectors; e.g. civil
service reform (Lake Victoria)service reform (Lake Victoria)
• Political climate for reformsPolitical climate for reforms
uncertainuncertain

12. Q5: Strategic Implications forQ5: Strategic Implications for
GEF and IAs?GEF and IAs?
• Rewrite OP? No - negotiated documentRewrite OP? No - negotiated document
• Flexible, pragmatic interpretation/applicationFlexible, pragmatic interpretation/application
• GEF and IAs need to “walk the talk”GEF and IAs need to “walk the talk”
Ownership required by the riparians……. butOwnership required by the riparians……. but
Disbursement schedule has to be followed!Disbursement schedule has to be followed!
Solution - use consultants - local capacity building?Solution - use consultants - local capacity building?
Streamlining of procedures; PDF A/B (350’ too small)/CStreamlining of procedures; PDF A/B (350’ too small)/C
• Riparians in the driving seat! - not consultants or IAsRiparians in the driving seat! - not consultants or IAs
• but clearer demonstration of commitment requiredbut clearer demonstration of commitment required
commitment = ownershipcommitment = ownership

13. Q5: Strategic Implications forQ5: Strategic Implications for
GEF and IAs (ii)?GEF and IAs (ii)?
• SustainabilitySustainability
Key approval criteria?Key approval criteria?
Need to strengthen secretariats; stabilize staffing, setNeed to strengthen secretariats; stabilize staffing, set
realistic budgets - responsibility of the riparians not GEF!realistic budgets - responsibility of the riparians not GEF!
Sustainability of investments - requires policy reformsSustainability of investments - requires policy reforms
• Need to diversify range of national ministries involvedNeed to diversify range of national ministries involved
and increase emphasis on local governmentsand increase emphasis on local governments
• Give more credibility to existing regional institutionsGive more credibility to existing regional institutions
(e.g. West Africa)(e.g. West Africa)

14. Q5: Strategic Implications forQ5: Strategic Implications for
GEF and IAs (iii)?GEF and IAs (iii)?
• Involve NGOs more actively and ensureInvolve NGOs more actively and ensure
accountabilityaccountability
• TDAs and SAPs should be prepared by riparians -TDAs and SAPs should be prepared by riparians -
Facilitators can be provided (Benguela Current)Facilitators can be provided (Benguela Current)
• Cooperation not competition between IAs andCooperation not competition between IAs and
others! NGOs are tired of watching the infightingothers! NGOs are tired of watching the infighting
multiple IAs - creates difficulties!multiple IAs - creates difficulties!
• High transaction costs; delays, funding gaps etc.High transaction costs; delays, funding gaps etc.
• Need for information sharing, transfer of lessons,Need for information sharing, transfer of lessons,
comparison of results between the OPscomparison of results between the OPs

15. Q5: Strategic Implications forQ5: Strategic Implications for
GEF and IAs (iv)?GEF and IAs (iv)?
• Can one SAP lead to several projects?Can one SAP lead to several projects?
• Ability to deal with acute problems?Ability to deal with acute problems?
• Long-term involvement/support required (Niger,Long-term involvement/support required (Niger,
Chad - long-term program providing bridgingChad - long-term program providing bridging
mechanism)mechanism)
• GEF improve its outreach activities - NGOGEF improve its outreach activities - NGO
complaint!complaint!
should be able to provide clear guidance nowshould be able to provide clear guidance now
clear rules required, goal post should not change duringclear rules required, goal post should not change during
the processthe process
GEF vocabularyGEF vocabulary
Qs and comments during this conference reflect thisQs and comments during this conference reflect this

16. Summary of the ChallengesSummary of the Challenges
•Creating and sustaining dialogue at the basin
level - use convening power
•Identifying and supporting initiatives that create
an enabling environment for cooperation
•Creating partnerships through which initiatives
can be supported
•Creating and sharing a global knowledge base to
support collaboration among riparians
•Supporting development investment in projects
that enhance cooperation
Basin Level
The
Riparians
The Transboundary River or Lake Basin
•Promote a new water management and
development policy framework in each
riparian country
•Investment should reward and support
policy and institutional reform -- not
expand or rehabilitate unsustainable
infrastructure, nor reward
unsustainable policy frameworks

17. Concluding ThoughtsConcluding Thoughts (David Grey)(David Grey)
Can pick you friends not your neighbors;Can pick you friends not your neighbors;
international waters challenge is to makeinternational waters challenge is to make
your neighbor your friends;your neighbor your friends;
BUTBUT
good fences can make good neighbors!good fences can make good neighbors!
Lesson: no blueprint, comprise, change courseLesson: no blueprint, comprise, change course
&&
do not let the best be the enemy of the gooddo not let the best be the enemy of the good