From October 6 to 10, 2025, ECLAC's headquarters in Santiago, Chile, will host Regional Water Week, a new high-level meeting that will bring together authorities, experts, and strategic partners to advance with the region's countries toward a common agenda for water security and the human rights to water and sanitation.

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), together with multiple regional and international partners, is organizing Regional Water Week 2025 with the aim of strengthening governance, cooperation, and financing frameworks for water resources, in a context marked by the triple crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and persistent access gaps in the region.

The event will feature the participation of high-ranking national authorities from countries in the region, namely: the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources of El Salvador, Fernando López; the Minister of Agriculture of Chile, María Ignacia Fernandez; and the Minister of Housing of Peru, Durich Whittembury, who will offer keynote addresses during the Fifth Regional Water Dialogues, the central event of the week, which will take place on October 9 and 10. Highlights of the Dialogues include:

• Economic Valuation of Water: This will address the principles of sustainability, distributive justice, and cost recovery, based on national experiences in the region.
• Transboundary Water Management: A session co-organized with the Chilean Border and Boundary Directorate and the Secretariat of the United Nations Water Convention, which will analyze cooperation and shared governance frameworks in transboundary basins.
• Water and Agriculture: Where the role of water in the transformation of agri-food systems, climate resilience, and regional food security will be discussed, alongside FAO and IICA.

Likewise, during Regional Water Week, the official launch of a new High-Level Initiative for Water Action will take place, in coordination with the Global Water Partnership (GWP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and CAF. This initiative seeks to mobilize political will and financing toward systemic and inclusive solutions in the water sector.

The 26th Meeting of the Ibero-American Conference of Water Directors (CODIA), under the pro tempore presidency of the Chilean Water Directorate, and the Regional Seminar on Transboundary Waters complete this week's technical agenda. This event will be held in hybrid format and will feature the active participation of over 200 government representatives, cooperation agencies, public banks, civil society, and academia, as well as over 1,000 online participants.

ECLAC sees this meeting as a key regional platform to accelerate the implementation and achievement of SDG 6 and promote a new social and environmental pact on water, based on principles of equity, resilience, and sustainability.