The Regional Workshop for Latin America and the Caribbean, "Investing in Sustainable Subnational Solutions for Climate, Nature and People" will be held in Quito city-Ecuador, between September 6 and 8, 2022. The objective of the event is to gather in one place for 3 days, the key actors of the SCF initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean. Subnational governments, project developers, and financial institutions will share the focus and priorities of sustainable finance for investments with impact on climate change; they will know the particularities of the SCF initiative first-hand from the partners of the initiative; and they will strengthen their capacities for the development of bankable and high-impact projects. The SCF is an equity financing opportunity for subnational projects that seek results in mitigating and adapting to climate change and the SDGs, while promoting nature-based solutions.
It is of particular interest to have experts, professionals and investors related to the water and sanitation sector within the SCF regional workshop. As one of the initiative's key areas of investment, your presence will not only enhance the event, but also help shape the solutions and projects that can be funded. Likewise, it supports the achievement of SDG 6 thanks to the important boost that this initiative can give to projects at the subnational level.
You can register in the Regional Workshop at this link
You can consult more information about SCF in the following link
OTCA launches the first "Hydroclimatic Vulnerability Atlas of the Amazon Region"
Within the framework of regional action for IWRM in the Amazon Basin, the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization – ACTO launches the Atlas of Hydroclimatic Vulnerability of the Amazon, which analyzes the sensitivity levels of populations and the ecosystem to extreme hydroclimatic events and its ability to adapt to climate change. The Atlas makes it possible to generate new knowledge for regional territorial planning, IWRM, and disaster risk management.
The publication is the result of a joint effort of the 8 Member Countries executed by ACTO, developed by the International Center for the Investigation of the El Niño Phenomenon (CIIFEN), with the support of the United Nations Environment Program. Environment (UNEP) and financing from the Global Environment Facility – GEF.
Consult the complete publication in this link
Introductory video available at this link
CODIA organized the V Conference of Ibero-American Water Directors InterCODIA
On July 27, 28 and 29, the 5th InterCODIA was held in Cartagena de Indias, a meeting that has made it possible to resume presential attendance and strengthen relationships between the members of CODIA, thus giving a new impetus to its activities and its presence in the region and internationally.
The meeting included the celebration of the High-Level Seminar "Water and post-COVID recovery", which was broadcast on YouTube and can be seen at this link. During this seminar, topics related to the recovery and resilience plans put in place by the countries for recovery after the pandemic, the implications, challenges and lessons learned in the water sector during this health emergency, and new monitoring techniques were addressed in wastewater to facilitate the control of epidemics.
The sessions of July 28 and 29 were dedicated to CODIA, and the administrative documents and lines of work were reviewed, such as the SDG 6 indicator analysis project and the sanitation and purification roadmap. In addition, reflections were made on regional cooperation and CODIA's participation in international forums was reported.
Finally, the members of CODIA were invited to the next CODIA XXIII meeting, which will take place from October 24 to 26 in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic).
You can consult all the documentation of the V InterCODIA at this link
The meeting, organized by the Central American and Dominican Republic Forum on Drinking Water and Sanitation (FOCARD-APS) on July 29, aimed to coordinate intersectoral actions necessary to advance the 2030 Agenda. ECLAC participated through its Water and Energy Unit, together with members of the Central American and Dominican Republic Council for Potable Water and Sanitation (CONCARD-APS), cooperation agencies and regional organizations.
Dr. Silvia Saravia Matus, from the Natural Resources Division of ECLAC, was in charge of the presentation “WATER AS A VECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT: Transformative Recovery Proposal within the framework of the UNPDF Capacity Building Project”. Saravia Matus presented ECLAC's vision of water as the central vector of sustainable development, the current challenges in the provision of drinking water and sanitation, and some proposals to move towards a transformative recovery of the sector. Likewise, the official provided information on the training project recently initiated in some countries and highlighted the delay in investment to cover the gaps in water coverage and affordability in the region, despite the existing evidence on the profitability and benefits of investments in water and sanitation.
During this meeting, the transfer of the Pro Tempore Presidency for the second semester of 2022 from the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) of Guatemala to the National Administration of Aqueducts and Sewers (ANDA) of El Salvador for the second semester of 2022 was announced.
You can consult the presentation of Dr. Saravia Matus at this link
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report entitled The State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean 2021 highlights its profound repercussions on ecosystems, food and water security, people's health and the fight against poverty. The report was presented on July 22, 2022, within the framework of a regional technical conference for South American countries organized by the WMO in Cartagena (Colombia).
“The report shows that unfortunately hydrometeorological hazards - such as droughts, heat waves, cold waves, tropical cyclones and floods - have caused the loss of hundreds of lives, caused serious damage to agricultural production and infrastructure, and have caused population displacement. ”, said WMO Secretary-General, Professor Petteri Taalas.
“Sea level rise and continued warming of the oceans are projected to continue to affect livelihoods, tourism, health, food, energy, and water security in coastal areas, particularly in coastal areas of small islands and the countries of Central America. For many Andean cities, the melting of glaciers represents the loss of an important source of freshwater currently used for domestic use, irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation. In South America, the continued degradation of the Amazon rainforest remains a major concern for both the region and the global climate, given the role that this type of forest plays in the carbon cycle," explained Professor Taalas.
You can consult the report at this link
Following is a summary of the progress:
• The global and multi-institutional initiative "Call to Action to accelerate gender equality in the field of water" coordinated by the WWAP since 2021, has continued its expansion, integrating to date around 150 members from the Member States, water agencies, United Nations, regional organizations, NGOs, academia, private sector and civil society; a significant number of members belong to the LAC region.
• The UNESCO WWAP-led Call to Action received significant recognition in the Dushanbe Final Declaration on the occasion of the Second High-Level International Conference on the International Decade of Action for Water 2018-2028 (6-9 July). The document highlights the importance of the Initiative and the need to strengthen the collection of data disaggregated by sex in the field of water.
• WWAP participated in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York (July 14), where its Director, Michela Miletto, highlighted in the special session - virtual dialogue on SDG 6 the commitments of UNESCO's WWAP with the Action Agenda for Water, with a view to the UN Water Conference in 2023.
• On July 5, UNESCO published the Spanish version of the WWAP Toolkit for the collection and analysis of data related to water resources disaggregated by sex and gender-sensitive indicators (Tool 1, Tool 2, Tool 3, Tool 4). The official launch will take place in Guatemala during the first week of October 2022.
Highlighted activities of AySA
• The President of Aysa, Malena Galmarini, was a keynote speaker at the “Alliance of Subnational Development Banks of Latin America and the Caribbean” forum. You can check more details in this link
• AySA participated for the first time in Turkey's historical commercial export mission. Gonzalo Meschengieser was the representative during the mission. You can check more details at this link
• On September 14, AySA will organize the 3rd edition of the “Water Challenges” Hackathon. More information is in this link
• AySA and SABESP of São Paulo signed a cooperation agreement within the framework of WOP-LAC, in July, the first technical visit was carried out. For more details, follow this link
• Presentation of the International program “AySA University Consulting”: meeting with diplomats from 12 countries to advance the “AySA University Consulting” project, which aims to receive Master's and Doctorate students from the most prestigious universities in the world so that they can contribute with the company through research work. You can check more details at this link
From August 16 to 18, 2022, the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD) and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA) organized the "Regional workshop for the exchange of experiences of basin committees and councils for local governance of water”, with the support of the Global Water Partnership (GWP), the Dipilto River Basin Committee and the Swiss Cooperation in Central America (COSUDE).
The event included discussion panels on the importance of Basin Committees and Councils for the Integrated Water Resources Management, their legal, institutional, and financial framework, and work experiences. In addition, a field visit was made to the Dipilto river basin, where environmental restoration experiences carried out within the framework of the Dipilto River project were disclosed, as well as an experience on the implementation of the water resources management plan.
The inauguration of the regional workshop was in charge of the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of Nicaragua, Sumaya Castillo; Rodolfo Lacayo Ubau, Executive Director of the National Water Authority; Virgilio Bravo, Executive Director of the Emergency Social Investment Fund; Jair Urriola Quiroz, Executive Secretary of the CCAD; Maryury Paguaga, President of the Dipilto River Basin Committee; Luis Moreno, president pro tempore of GWP Central America; and Irene Kränzlin, COSUDE Deputy Director of International Cooperation.
You can find more information at this link.
Press Release
Briefing note
Briefing note
