As part of the Federal Training Program on Integrated Water Resources Management, ECLAC’s Natural Resources Division delivered a masterclass on water governance. The event, held in a hybrid format, brought together professionals from provincial agencies across Argentina and, for the third consecutive year, contributed to strengthening technical capacities for more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient water management in the face of current challenges.

On April 22, 2025, the Natural Resources Division of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) delivered a masterclass on Water Governance, as part of the Federal Training Program on Integrated Water Resources Management in Argentina.

This activity, organized by the Federal Investment Council (CFI), is part of a national strategy aimed at strengthening the technical capacities of provincial professionals involved in water resource planning and management. The program seeks to provide concrete responses to challenges stemming from climate change, population growth, and land use transformations.

During the session, the team from ECLAC’s Natural Resources Division — including Economic Affairs Officer Silvia Saravia Matus, along with Elizabeth Coble, Lisbeth Naranjo, Alba Llavona, and Natalia Sarmanto of the Water Team — addressed key issues for the region, including:

• Regional overview of water resources and major governance challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) and international frameworks promoting integrated water management.
• Water and gender, analyzing inequalities in access and participation, and their impact on food and educational security.
• The water-energy-food-environment nexus, emphasizing the need for coordinated public policies that maximize synergies and minimize conflicts.
• Economic valuation of water as a fundamental tool for efficient, inclusive, and sustainable governance.

The class highlighted the need for robust institutional frameworks, effective regional cooperation mechanisms, and adequate financing to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda commitments. Best practices and strategies were also shared to strengthen water governance in both national and transboundary contexts, including the integration of a gender-sensitive approach.