The fifth edition of the Regional Water Dialogues brought together authorities, experts and international organizations within the framework of the 2025 Regional Water Week in Santiago, Chile.

Santiago, Chile, October 9-10, 2025 - The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) held the  V Regional Water Dialogues of Latin America and the Caribbean , a space that brought together high representatives of governments, international organizations, academia and civil society to  exchange experiences and advance towards sustainable and resilient water management in the region .

The event, held  on October 9 and 10, 2025 at ECLAC headquarters in Santiago, Chile , was conducted in a hybrid format as part of the  2025 Regional Water Week , and included three thematic sessions dedicated to  water valuation , cooperation in transboundary waters, water and agriculture .

An action-oriented opening

The inaugural session, chaired by  ECLAC's Natural Resources Division , underscored the urgent need to strengthen investment, governance, and regional cooperation on water resources. In his opening remarks, Mr. Martín Abeles , Director of the Division, emphasized the need to " integrate water at the heart of sustainable development strategies, climate action, and territorial planning ." The opening also included a speech by Mr. Pedro Pablo Silva, Director of Borders, National Directorate of Borders and State Boundaries (DIFROL), and a video message from Ms. Retno Marsudi, UN Special Envoy for Water (you can watch her speech here), who commended ECLAC for organizing the Fifth Regional Water Dialogues for Latin America and the Caribbean as a platform for governments and stakeholders to address, with solidarity and regional cooperation, challenges such as water scarcity, droughts, climate change, disasters, and poverty. and urged turning them into opportunities through innovation, financing and political commitment, taking the Regional Water Action Agenda as a basis and with a view to the 2026 UN Water Conference.

Session 1: Water Assessment

The first day addressed the challenges of recognizing the economic, social and environmental value of water, and the tools available for equitable and sustainable management of the resource.

Authorities from Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and Peru participated  , sharing national progress and water efficiency policies. Ms.  Silvia Saravia Matus , Economic Affairs Officer at ECLAC, presented the technical document  “Water Valuation: Reflections and Recommendations for Latin America and the Caribbean ,” which provides guidelines for implementing integrated policies and sustainable investment mechanisms.

More information:  Session 1 – Water Assessment

During the midday event, the High-Level Regional Initiative on Water Investments was also launched  , jointly promoted by  ECLAC, CAF and GWP , with the aim of mobilizing resources and political leadership around regional water security.

More information:  Session - Launch

Session 2: Cooperation and investment in transboundary waters

On the afternoon of October 9, representatives from Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and Peru, highlighted the progress in strengthening shared water governance, cooperation agreements and institutional mechanisms for joint basin management.

The event was moderated by  Mr. Martín Abeles and included the participation of  Ms. Gloria de la Fuente , Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs of Chile, and representatives of the  UN Water Convention .

The discussions highlighted the key role of trust, dialogue, and cross-border governance arrangements as instruments for consolidating regional cooperation.

More information:  Session 2 – Transboundary Waters

Session 3: Water and agriculture – solutions for water availability

The second day, held on October 10, focused on the interactions between  food security, water management and adaptation to climate change .

During the opening, Ms.  Maya Takagi , FAO Regional Programme Leader, and Mr.  Adrián Rodríguez , Head of the Agricultural Development Unit of ECLAC, highlighted the urgency of promoting sustainable agricultural policies based on efficiency and innovation.

The dialogue included experiences from  Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras and highlighted the role of  Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to improve agricultural water availability.

More information:  Session 3 – Water and Agriculture

Final thoughts and closing

The final reflections were given by:

• Mr. Juan Saldaña , Director of Planning for Institutional Development of INDRHI, Dominican Republic;
• Ms. Marissa Castro Magnani , Director General of Limits, Borders and Transboundary International Waters of the Plurinational State of Bolivia;
• Ms. Ruth Quevedo , Expert Commissioner of the CRA, Colombia;
• Ms. Ethel Cabrera , President of the Salvadoran Water Authority, El Salvador.

Mr.  Pedro Pablo Silva , Director of Borders of the Government of Chile, and Ms.  Concepción Marcuello Olona , ​​Coordinator of the General Directorate of Water of Spain, shared the conclusions of the  Regional Seminar on Transboundary Waters and the  XXVI CODIA , respectively.

Finally,  Mr. Martín Abeles closed the meeting by highlighting the value of regional cooperation and the commitment of the countries to advance a  sustainable, inclusive and resilient water transition .

For more information, visit the ECLAC water resources website:  https://www.cepal.org/es/temas/recursos-hidricos