Because information is not enough

Originally posted on IWLEARN.net.

The Ninth Global Environment Facility Biennial International Waters Conference (IWC9), hosted by the Government of Morocco, will take place from 5-8 November 2018 in Marrakesh. This event of the GEF International Waters (IW) Portfolio strives to solicit advice from existing GEF IW Projects on burning issues affecting shared river basins, lakes, groundwater, coastal and marine ecosystems, fisheries, and areas beyond national jurisdiction. The theme of this year’s conference is Sustaining International Waters Cooperation.

The GEF International Waters Learning Exchange and Resource Network (IW:LEARN) is a global project that promotes experience sharing, learning, information management and partnership-building among projects in the GEF International Waters focal area.

IWC9 will bring together project managers, international and local project staff, government officials, implementing agency staff, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders to share experience and learn new ways to promote their initiatives. GRID-Arendal is an IW:LEARN partner and will be there to provide training sessions on communication and visualization.

GRID-Arendal will set up shop for the week at the IW:LEARN booth in the conference venue foyer and will offer on the spot guidance to support the communications efforts of anyone who needs help. 

• Need project support? The IW:LEARN project team will be on hand at the booth to walk you through the services available to support your project implementation. The team will also be conducting short video interviews to help you highlight your project achievements. These videos will be uploaded to the IW:LEARN website and shared through the IW:LEARN social media channels.

• Need a project website? Have spatial data and don’t know what to do with it? Join us for a practice session and tools clinic on the IW:LEARN web and visualisation toolkits. This clinic will be part of the “IWC9 Practices and Tools Clinic Carousel” on Wednesday 7th November. It will introduce you to a custom toolkit for building project websites that adhere to the IW:LEARN website guidelines. The clinic will also cover the IW:LEARN visualisation toolkit for storing, finding and visualising spatial data. 

• Telling your story – clearly. GRID-Arendal offers a workshop to participants who are writing about their IW:Learn projects. This workshop will focus on storytelling and how to write in a way that holds a reader’s attention. The session will be held on Wednesday, 7thNovember, from 16:00-17:30 and will include a presentation on how to use social media to promote your story.

The IW:LEARN Booth at IWC9 – a place to catch-up with the IW:LEARN team and find out what can be done to support your project!