This brief, based on the STAP Information Note Fostering Cooperation and Managing Conflict in GEF Transboundary Water Projects, highlights why cooperation over shared waters is critical for achieving Global Environmental Benefits and preventing ecological decline. It outlines four key dimensions linking water, cooperation, and conflict, and provides practical recommendations for GEF projects: strengthen cooperative mechanisms, leverage cross-sectoral co-benefits, assess conflict risks proactively, and embed adaptive management in fragile contexts. By advancing inclusive governance and conflict-sensitive design, GEF initiatives can help transform shared waters into drivers of peace, resilience, and sustainability.
The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel provides independent advice to the Global Environment Facility