The Program Study on International Waters 2005 had three major objectives: an assessment of the impacts and results of the IW Focal Area to the protection of transboundary water ecosystems; an assessment of the approaches, strategies, and tools by which results were achieved; and identification of lessons learned and formulation of recommendations to improve GEF IW operations.
The present study — on international waters — concludes that GEF support has extended to almost every GEF-eligible large catchment and large marine ecosystem. Impressive achievements can be observed on new legal regimes, basin and sea agreements, treaties and conventions.
The IW Focal Area is also contributing to the enhancement of regional security, another role that can only increase in importance with time.