Operational Policies in International Waters

Operational Strategy/Operational Programs

Waterbody-based Operational Program - OP 8
In the waterbody-based operational program, the GEF helps countries collaboratively address damaged and seriously threatened waterbodies, and the most imminent transboundary threats to their ecosystems. The goal is to modify the ways in which human activities are conducted in different sectors so that the waterbody and its international drainage basin can sustainably support human activities.
OP 8 Document (French, Spanish)

Integrated Land and Water Multiple Focal Area Operational Program - OP 9
Activities under this operational program provide benefits in multiple focal areas, such as international waters, biodiversity or land degradation. These benefits are achieved through integrated approaches that emphasize better land and water resource management practices. The goal of this operational program is to help countries prevent damage to threatened, but not yet highly degraded, transboundary water systems.
OP 9 Document (French, Spanish)

Contaminant-based Operational Program - OP 10
In the contaminant-based operational program, the GEF works with countries to demonstrate ways of overcoming barriers to the adoption of practices that limit contamination of international water systems. Projects under this operational program can also be aimed at deriving and disseminating lessons learned from, and among, international waters projects.
OP 10 Document (French, Spanish)

Strategic Priorities

Catalyze Financial Resources for Implementation of Agreed Actions - SP 1
The first strategic priority is to mobilize financial resources for implementing policy, legal, and institutional reforms and stress-reducing investments agreed upon by the countries sharing a particular waterbody. The countries have typically agreed upon the implementation measures through the development of a transboundary diagnostic analysis (TDA) and development and adoption of a strategic action program (SAP). Strategic partnerships with investment funds are currently being piloted as particularly efficient models for implementation.
SP IW 1 Document (French, Spanish)

Expand Global Coverage of Foundational Capacity Building and Support for Targeted Learning - SP 2
The second strategic priority is to expand capacity building to address transboundary concerns in new geographic areas. The foundational capacity building is often done within the framework of developing a transboundary diagnostic analysis (TDA) and a strategic action program (SAP), which are agreed upon by the involved countries. This strategic priority also supports targeted learning, for example, by having developing countries share their experiences with each other.
SP IW 2 Document (French, Spanish)

Undertake Innovative Demonstrations for Reducing Contaminants and Addressing Water Scarcity and Competing Water Uses- SP 3
The third strategic priority is to use demonstration projects to test the feasibility of innovative technology and methodologies to address such priority transboundary concerns as balancing competing uses of water resources in basins, preventing introduction of alien species, reducing land-based pollution, or preventing contaminant releases from shipping activities. The strategic priority also aims to use demonstrations of innovative finance to harness the private sector and build public-private partnerships.
SP IW 3 Document (French, Spanish)