Before I start, I introduce myself.  My name is Takehiro Nakamura.  I am a Senior Programme Officer on International Waters, Division of GEF Coordination of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).  Since 2003, I have been engaged in the development and oversight of GEF International Waters projects, including transboundary groundwater projects, transboundary marine and coastal environment and transboundary river basins.  During and before this period, I have been working on the ecosystem approach to both river basins and coastal environmentl management within UNEP.

Through the experiences of overseeing GEF International Waters projects in UNEP, it is clearly recognised that the capacity of the scientists and technical experts, or their network, in developing countries and countreis with economies in transtion is not as limited as developed countries may estimate.  In many regions, there are networks of experts/scientists existing, bringing the results of scientific work to policy decision makers and having dialogues and communications with cutting-edge research.  I can see that there are a number of GEF International Waters (IW) projects utilising such networks and capacity of scientists and technical experts, so that technically sound policy making or project management can be pursued. 

Many of the GEF IW projects are taking a TDA-SAP approach.  TDAs are developed based on the analysis of current transboundary concerns and their projections for the future, and analyses of causes and effects of these concerns identified by the experts in the region.  These analyses would form a basis for identifying what technical approaches should be taken in addressing the concerns in which part of the causal chains (causes-problems-effects).  Therefore the project management as well as selection of approaches/technologies to be used should be based on the technical analysis of the status of the water systems and causes for the changes in the status.

There are some issues relevant to GEF IW projects from the perspective that a rigid scientific basis is formed for the implemetnation of the projects:

1.  Use of regional technical/scientific network for technically sound project implementation (e.g., use of regional scientific or technical advisory groups existing in the region or established under the projects);

2.  Selection of technology and approached used (constructed wetlands, Ecological Sanitation, fish refugia, bycatch reduction device, cleaner prodcution, etc.) and analysis of actual applicability of those;

3.  Selection and replication of demonstration areas under the project (how to select demo activities and sites, and how to maximise replication potentials);

4.  Introduction of social sciences for better planning and management of transboundary water systems (economic valuation of ecosystem goods and services, involvement of indigenous people in the management, socio-ecnomic analysis and introduction of alternative livelihood); and

5.  Use of technically sound indicators for monitoring and evalaution of project impacts and progress.

Various GEF IW projects may wish to report on interesting practices that are based on a scientific knowledge/analysis on the issues relevant to transwater systems, from other GEF IW projects may want to learn.