Freshwater Ecosystems

Clean and available freshwater is fundamental for all living systems, connecting people, ecosystems, and countries. Yet, freshwater resources are under increasing pressure from population growth, rising food production demands, pollution, and climate change. The GEF’s international waters focal area plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges by fostering cooperation and sustainable management of freshwater systems.

Water Scarcity and Stress 

Over 2 billion people experience water stress, and 3.6 billion face inadequate access to water for at least one month per year. These pressures disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, including women, children, and marginalized communities.

Pollution & Water Quality

More than 80% of global wastewater is untreated, and agricultural and industrial pollutants degrade water quality, impacting aquatic life. This has led to an 85% decline in freshwater species populations since 1970. Pollutants also leach into groundwater and eventually reach oceans, compounding environmental challenges.

Groundwater Governance

Groundwater accounts for 99% of the Earth’s freshwater, yet it is often neglected in management initiatives. Depletion and degradation are common due to over-abstraction and contamination. There is a significant gap in knowledge regarding groundwater characteristics and its linkage with surface water, making effective management difficult.

Transboundary Water Management

Competing water needs across borders and sectors often lead to tensions, necessitating effective cooperation and dialogue. Transboundary basins are particularly vulnerable to conflict and require robust institutional frameworks for joint management.

The GEF international waters focal area aims to create a common understanding of competing water needs and cooperation gains through sustainable, integrated water management. Its approach includes:

Fostering multi-country cooperation by supporting countries in establishing and strengthening multi-country cooperation in freshwater systems. This includes developing regional frameworks, treaties, and protocols, as well as facilitating data and information sharing. Efforts focus on filling data gaps and strengthening regional legal and institutional frameworks.

Promoting policy coherence across sectors by boosting climate resilience and aligning with national multilateral environmental agreements for sustainable ecosystem management. Innovative financing mechanisms are facilitated to support regional institutions and investments beyond project lifetimes, including leveraging private sector finance.

Enhancing the environment for sustainable groundwater management by supporting legal and institutional frameworks for transboundary aquifer cooperation and integrating groundwater management into river basin strategies. The GEF supports various groundwater-related projects worldwide. In Southern Africa, groundwater is crucial for drinking water, agriculture, energy, and mining. The GEF helped establish the SADC-Groundwater Management Institute, supporting member states through analytics, conferences, workshops, training, and pilot grants.

Promoting river basin organizations by focusing on investments in shared basins where water stress creates challenges and opportunities for cooperation. Preventative actions in transboundary basins help avoid conflicts and enhance regional integration. For example, early GEF support led to the Senegal River Water Charter, strengthening joint institutional structures and promoting participatory basin management. Similar support has been provided to basins like La Plata, Mekong, Amazon, Niger, Danube, and Lake Victoria.

The GEF’s interventions are crucial for protecting biodiversity, maintaining productive freshwater and land systems, and mitigating and adapting to climate change. By promoting dialogue, cooperation, and sustainable management practices, the GEF contributes significantly to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6: ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The GEF’s work in freshwater ecosystems is vital for building resilience, supporting livelihoods, and safeguarding the environment for future generations.