The GEF IW Conference objectives are to facilitate cross-sectoral and portfolio-wide learning and experience sharing. It strives to solicit advice from the existing GEF IW portfolio on burning issues and to assist in building participant capacity in key management and technical areas. Participants summarise progress achieved and look to the future of programming within and beyond the GEF IW focal area.

Recommendations from the 2012 GEF IW Science Conference highlighted a unique opportunity to use the TDA/SAP process to bridge the science-policy gap through scientific panels, science-policy fora, and the dissemination of state-of-the-art methods and tools. One major set of methods and tools highlighted was the use of economic valuation to assess the direct and indirect use values of ecosystems. IWC7, under the theme "Economic Valuation as a Tool to Bridge the Science-Policy Gap," placed special emphasis on reviewing the economic valuation of international waters and the links between economic valuation and science, as well as mechanisms for linking both to policymaking.

The IWC7 convened 208 participants, including GEF IW project managers, representatives of beneficiary countries, non-governmental organisations, transboundary management institutions, UN Agencies, and the private sector. Participants were invited by the GEF Agencies implementing IW projects.

As a Small Island Developing State, Barbados was selected to host IWC7 in part to highlight the threats to SIDS’ water security posed by rising sea levels and saline intrusion into coastal aquifers, rainfall variability and reduced catchment recharge, and increased frequency of natural disasters. Conference participants participated in one of three technical site-visit tours around the island that showcased Barbados’ water management approaches to land-use planning, coastal risk reduction, and groundwater protection.

A conference-targeted workshop aimed to determine how best to incorporate economic valuation into future GEF IW project implementation, such as how to include methodologies in the formulation of a transboundary diagnostic analysis and how to better translate scientific findings into policy development. Results from small-group dialogues among participants indicate that economic valuation is a useful tool that can support improved decision-making and guide institutional framework development; influence the allocation of financial resources and investments; raise awareness of the various impacts on shared water systems; and ultimately lead to better governance of transboundary waters.

The IWC7 featured an innovation marketplace (exhibit area), opportunities for focused learning on scientific and technical innovations, interactive training for IW project managers and country representatives, and opportunities to interact with the GEF Secretariat, GEF agencies, and several partner institutions working on International Waters projects. The IWC7 also featured participant-directed workshops and roundtable discussions.

You can view photos from the event here.

• "Protection of coastal waters ongoing plan,"
  31 October 2013, NationNews.com
• "Best Practices for Coastal Zone Management Lauded,"
  31 October 2013, CTKNetwork.org
• Blog: Learning and sharing at the 7th GEF International Waters Conference,
  4 November 2013, IUCN.org