Manuals & Methodologies

This welcome guide serves as your introduction to GEF IW:LEARN and highlight the range of services available to support GEF IW projects. It outlines the IW:LEARN's mission, vision and main lines of service. It also explains how to actively engage with IW:LEARN, contribute to knowledge exchange, and replicate successful approaches across the portfolio and beyond.

How 26 countries teamed up to save the Caribbean Sea — and why you’re in the story.

In this document the IW:LEARN team has assembled a comprehensive brand toolkit to help participating projects, speakers, and partners deliver unified, professional, and high-impact communications across all channels.

Download the file to access the official design assets, documentation guidelines, and ready-to-use social media media templates.

Visit the IWC11 website here.

(2026 Edition) The Project Management Manual focuses on GEF IW specific project requirements. It covers key elements such as monitoring and evaluation (including the adaptation of log frames and reporting against indicators), mainstreaming climate and gender within projects, and ensuring adequate recording of co-finances. The manual does not deal with issues specific to individual Implementing or Executing Agencies, such as procurement or recruitment policies, but does provide links to Agency websites and encourages Project Managers to develop close working relationships with Agency staff.

Key Resources

Examples from IW projects.

IRBM in ASEAN Project (GEF ID: 9654) – Guide on reporting 

Glofouling Partnerships (GEF ID: 9605) – Guide to assist governments and interested stakeholders

International Nutrient Management System (INMS) Project (GEF ID: 5400) – Technical guidance document

A GEF IW Results Note is a 1-2 page summary sheet of results from a GEF IW Project (at any given phase of the project). Results notes link closely to the GEF IW Tracking Tool, which remains the principle direct monitoring and evaluation tool for the GEF Secretariat to monitor project progress. The Results Notes provide an important basis for portfolio learning and preparing the International Waters Conferences (IWCs), the signature events for the IW portfolio.

An Experience Note is a case study of a given project experience or innovation. Experiences include successful practices, approaches, strategies, lessons, and methodologies, that emerge in the context of transboundary water management (TWM). It includes a brief project description, the issue faced, a description of how it was addressed (including challenges faced), the results of the intervention, how the intervention can be replicated by other projects and finally what is significant about it.

This publication provides practical guidance to support project teams in translating GEF gender policy into impactful action. Building on WWAP’s expertise in developing methodologies and tools for integrating gender equality into water management and policy, and drawing on analysis of GEF IW projects, stakeholder consultations and real-world case studies, this publication offers step-by-step guidance for integrating gender equality, women’s empowerment and inclusion throughout the project life cycle, from concept development and design to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. By helping project teams address gender gaps and social inequalities, this guide supports more inclusive participation, stronger governance and more equitable benefit-sharing, contributing to more resilient ecosystems and communities.

Concise checklist for projects which have been selected to go on the Twinning Exchange Programme. Both compulsory and nice-to-have items are listed.

This document describes a Methodological Approach (MA) for the establishment and sustaining of a Regional Dialogue and Community of Practice on TWRM, and informal and formal cooperation on the basin level. The document aims to present process and experiences, linkages with the theory at hand and partners involved and to analyse if the experience from of conducting a successful process in SEE and other regions provides the basis for a replicable “Regional Dialogue” model.

The Public-Private Partnerships Guidebook is a reference source and a guide for GEF IW projects. It contains information on the engaging the private sector both generally and in the context for a GEF IW project. This tool contains step by step guidance from the stage of determining whether and what kind of private sector relationship fits for the project to facilitating the conversations, and case studies of GEF IW projects experiences with engaging the private sector.

GEF IW Freshwater Climate Manual assists GEF IW projects with climate change and variability during implementation. The manual explains how to mainstream climate concerns, identifies key information resources, and outlines necessary discussions for project inception, implementation, and closure. Rather than dictating specific actions, the guidance encourages consultation with regional experts and offers practical examples from the GEF IW Portfolio. The content focuses specifically on freshwater ecosystems (rivers, lakes, groundwaters, and wetlands), providing targeted, ecosystem-specific knowledge. GEF IW:LEARN continuously welcomes feedback on successful approaches.

For guidance regarding Large Marine Ecosystems and open oceans, please refer to the [GEF IW Marine Climate Manual].

GEF IW Marine Climate Manual assists GEF IW projects with climate change and variability during implementation. The manual explains how to mainstream climate concerns, identifies key information resources, and outlines necessary discussions for project inception, implementation, and closure. Rather than dictating specific actions, the guidance encourages consultation with regional experts and offers practical examples from the GEF IW Portfolio. The content focuses specifically on marine environments (Large Marine Ecosystems and open oceans), providing targeted, ecosystem-specific knowledge. GEF IW:LEARN continuously welcomes feedback on successful approaches.

For guidance regarding rivers, lakes, groundwaters, and wetlands, please refer to the [GEF IW Freshwater Climate Manual].

(2020 Edition) The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis/Strategic Action Programme (TDA/SAP) approach is a highly collaborative process that has proven to be a major strategic planning tool for GEF International Waters Projects over the last 26 years. The TDA/SAP approach was first presented as a guidance document, and was later accompanied by an associated online training course. In 2017, IW:LEARN updated the original guidance document incorporating links and brief summaries of other recent guidance material developed by GEF Projects including IW:LEARN and LME:LEARN. The document looks at the key steps recommended to enable all those involved in the development of the TDA/SAP (project staff, consultants, national experts, civil society, private sector, government representatives, etc.) to have an awareness of the process and the necessary requirements.

(2020 Edition) The Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis/Strategic Action Programme (TDA/SAP) approach is a highly collaborative process that has proven to be a major strategic planning tool for GEF International Waters Projects over the last 26 years. The TDA/SAP approach was first presented as a guidance document, and was later accompanied by an associated online training course. In 2017, IW:LEARN updated the original guidance document incorporating links and brief summaries of other recent guidance material developed by GEF Projects including IW:LEARN and LME:LEARN. The document looks at the key steps recommended to enable all those involved in the development of the TDA/SAP (project staff, consultants, national experts, civil society, private sector, government representatives, etc.) to have an awareness of the process and the necessary requirements.