As 2025 comes to a close, and before we head off on a well-deserved break, we would like to take a moment to reflect on a year of purposeful investment and consolidation for IW:LEARN.
This past year was dedicated to laying strong foundations that will allow IW:LEARN to continue serving the GEF International Waters portfolio effectively in the years to come, while honouring its 25-year legacy, and advancing our work achieving remarkable progress.
In 2025, we invested our efforts on foundational work, that will help IW:LEARN extend its service over the next decade. Building on the revised strategy proposed in 2023, we focused on three key axes:
First, we modernised our look and feel, with a refresh logo and a coherent and distinct visual identity that supports a recognisable IW:LEARN brand across all media channels.
Second, we prioritised the development of new digital infrastructure. The new IW:LEARN website, designed with a niche-specific structure that is intuitive for both new and experienced users, is already live! With the dual objective of preserving IW:LEARN’s 25-year legacy and making it easily accessible, the website is powered by artificial intelligence and features a sleek design and tailored functionalities that allow users to dive deeply into the collective knowledge of the IW portfolio. In parallel, we are developing a dedicated IW:LEARN space within UNESCO-IOC’s Ocean Teacher Global Academy (OTGA) platform, which will host all IW:LEARN online courses and is scheduled to be launched next year. This will ensure that all self-paced courses are freely available to the IW community and beyond.
Third, we focused on our core functions: Knowledge Management and Communication, Capacity Development, and Networking and Partnership Building. In Knowledge Management, we adopted a three-pronged approach: developing new, tailored guidance on how to implement cross-cutting and thematic approaches in GEF IW projects; updating and enhancing existing guidance and methodologies; and documenting the experience of the portfolio.
In this context, we launched two new publication lines: the “How-to” series, which provides practical guidance on applying established methodologies throughout the GEF IW project cycle - from project concept to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation - and the Compendia of Best Practices, which showcase leading cases and lessons learned from across the portfolio. The first Compendium of Tools is already published, while the first two “How to” publications are to be launched early in 2026. At the same time, we advanced the revision of the TDA/SAP methodology by strengthening its Gender Equality dimensions and introducing the Source-to-Sea approach. Work is currently ongoing on Nexus systems thinking and on a new chapter on Marine Spatial Planning. True to our commitment to focusing on the basics and supporting newcomers to the portfolio, we issued a new Welcome Guide, updated the Project Management Manual and are currently developing a new online course, to be launched next year. In addition, 3 new publications were launched this year.
In parallel, we made significant progress in delivering the IW:LEARN 5 workplan, which included a large number of meetings, workshops, trainings, and exchanges. Over the past year, IW:LEARN, together with partners, organised
- 5 thematic and regional workshops,
- contributed to 6 global and regional dialogues,
- organised the LME24 Meeting,
- co-convened 5 sessions and
- 1 side event at global meetings,
- and contributed to an additional 6 global meetings.
From Fiji to Lima, and from Johannesburg to Athens, IW:LEARN was present to convene, support, and facilitate. Alongside us, numerous project representatives had the opportunity to highlight their experiences and showcase their results before global audiences.
Most importantly, we invested in strengthening our engagement with all of you. On a quarterly basis, we come together to discuss past and upcoming activities, invite your contributions to workshops, trainings, and knowledge management products, and exchange news from across the portfolio. Building on the momentum generated at IWC10, we kept the dialogue open, provided space for regular updates, and witnessed engagement continue to grow. Colleagues working across regions were invited to contribute as trainers to webinars and trainings, as speakers in global fora, and as participants in workshops. Our news bulletin received a record number of contributions this year, and, most importantly, we see how relationships forged at IWC10 continue to evolve through peer-to-peer and peer-to-expert exchanges. Several projects submitted Twinning proposals, many of which have already materialised or are under way. Exchanges between the Caribbean and African SIDS, as well as the Pacific SIDS bringing together 14 island countries through a series of workshops in Fiji, are just a few examples of how IW:LEARN actively support knwoledge and experience sharing.
Looking ahead to 2026, we are excited to continue working with all of you to support strong delivery, more impactful results, and vibrant knowledge sharing across the IW portfolio, while further strengthening engagement and partnerships.
And don’t forget, IWC11 is coming in the last quarter of the year! We are especially looking forward to IWC11 in the last quarter of the year - a valued opportunity to reconnect, exchange and celebrate as the GEF International Waters family.
Cheers to an even more glorious 2026!
Until then, the IW:LEARN team will be taking a short break over the holiday season, and we will reconvene on January 5th for an exciting year ahead!
Konstantina Toli, IW:LEARN Coordinator
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