IAEA/GEF IW:LEARN/USGS Learning Exchange (study tour) on Good Practices in Ground Water Resources Assessment, Management, and Public Participation

[Agenda] [Logistics] [Participants] [Participant Biographies and Learning Objectives] [Sponsors] [Groundwater Exchange Blog] [Background Documents]

Downloadable Files: [Guidelines for Participants] [Mission Report File]

About the Exchange

Overall Objectives

• Provide overview of technical aspects of water resources in support of management decisions--tools, technology, monitoring networks, characterization, geo-databases, GIS) and aquifer development (recharge, permits, uses)
• Provide overview of managerial aspects of (ground)water in order to ensure a sustainable water supply through discussion about several aquifers in differing climatic and hydrogeological settings--groundwater management models across governing boundaries, water management indicators, institutional arrangements, legal framework, permits, water uses and tradeoffs, policy directions…;
• Provide an overview of public participation options-- advocacy and citizenship building strategies, user groups and stakeholder participation in water management and aquifer development.

(Immediate) Target Audience

Project staff and counterparts (from 15-20 participants) from active GEF supported transboundary aquifer projects including:

1) World Bank/OAS/GEF Guarani Aquifer System in South America  (8 participants)
2) IAEA/UNDP/GEF Nubian Aquifer Project ( 6-7 participants in absentia)
3) 2 reps from Sahel & Sahara Observatory African transboundary aquifer systems: Northwest Sahara and lullemeden
4) 1 IAEA staff and 1 USGS staff will accompany the group

Purpose: Why a Stakeholder Exchange?

• The Guarani Aquifer System requested this exchange to network & benefit from experiential learning with US groundwater management staff and institutions, and with other GEF groundwater projects.
• The exchange provides opportunities for GEF IW groundwater project staff and national coordinators to network & exchange practical experience with cognate staff in the USGS – and with other GEF groundwater project participants
• IAEA will work with USGS to develop a targeted training component of the exchange to address priority learning needs identified by participating projects in depth through workshops and field visits
• Site visits to the USGS headquarters and 2 major field offices will include opportunities for hands-on interactions with state-level aquifer managers
• (proposed) Guarani Aquifer System will invite USGS-IAEA and projects participating in this exchange to a Guarani regional seminar in 2007, affording an opportunity to follow up, strengthen networking among GEF groundwater projects, and evaluate impacts of the exchange.