16 November 2012: A workshop organized by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) International Waters Learning Exchange and Resources Network (IW:LEARN) and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) recently discussed GEF International Waters (IW) projects in Africa.

The workshop aimed to build capacity on economic valuation, payment for ecosystem services (PES) and ecosystem-based approaches (EBA) and their application in large marine ecosystems (LMEs) and freshwater ecosystems, including rivers, lakes and aquifers. The workshop also presented lessons learned from the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention of the Protection and Use of Transboundary Rivers and International Lakes (Water Convention) and discussed the relevance of the Convention for transboundary rivers and lakes in Africa in light of its expected globalization with the entry into force of an amendment opening the Convention to non-UNECE member States.

The 2nd Targeted Workshop for GEF IW Projects took place from 12-14 November 2012, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The workshop included sessions on: recognizing and reconciling multiple uses of ecosystem services – ecosystem approaches to management of aquatic resources; economic valuation of ecosystems; PES; applications of economic valuation and PES; the road ahead – personal action plans and communities of practice; and the UNECE Water Convention. [Workshop Agenda and Concept Note] [UNECE Press Release]