Authorities, experts and representatives of international organizations met at ECLAC headquarters in Santiago, Chile to strengthen water management in the region within the framework of the 2025 Regional Water Week.

Santiago, Chile, October 6-8, 2025 – The  2025 Regional Water Week , organized by the  Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) together with the  Conference of Ibero-American Water Directors (CODIA) and the  Government of Chile , brought together key stakeholders in the region's water sector from  October 6-8, 2025. The event, held in a hybrid format at ECLAC headquarters, was part of efforts to  promote cooperation, financing, and innovation in sustainable water management in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Week, supported by the  General Directorate of Water of Chile in its capacity as pro tempore presidency of CODIA and by the  Secretariat of the Water Convention (UNECE) , offered a high-level technical and political space to advance towards the commitments of the  Regional Action Agenda for Water and  Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) .

Monday, October 6: Inauguration and commemoration of Inter-American Water Day

The opening day included sessions of the  XXVI Conference of Ibero-American Water Directors (CODIA) and the  Meeting of the Latin American Water Council , both held behind closed doors.

In the afternoon, the official opening ceremony of the 2025 Regional Water Week took place  , with messages from  Mr. Martín Abeles , Director of the Natural Resources Division of ECLAC; Mr.  Rodrigo Sanhueza Bravo , Director General of Water of the Ministry of Public Works of Chile; and Ms.  Meike van Ginneken , Water Envoy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (you can see her speech here).

The day concluded with the Commemoration of Inter-American Water Day, a public forum that brought together representatives from international organizations, networks of young professionals, academia, and civil society organizations. This event featured reflections on the progress and challenges in regional water management, highlighting the role of cooperation, education, and citizen participation in promoting a sustainable water culture.

During the session, ECLAC presented the main findings of the ECLACSTAT Regional Water Profile, which provides an updated overview of water resources in Latin America and the Caribbean, including indicators on availability, access, governance, and financing of the sector. These figures are a key tool for decision-making and monitoring commitments related to Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) on water and sanitation.

You can view the regional water profile here , and the national water profiles here . 

Tuesday, October 7: Scientific cooperation and protection of river headwaters

The second day was marked by the  High-Level Seminar of the XXVI CODIA and UNESCO , dedicated to the protection of headwaters, mountains and glaciers as pillars of  water security in Ibero-America .

The sessions included the participation of experts from international organizations and governments in the region, who addressed water governance in fragile ecosystems and strategies to strengthen technical cooperation.

In the afternoon, the 50th anniversary of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) was celebrated  with a retrospective exhibition on the programme's achievements and its impact in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Wednesday, October 8: Solutions and funding to close the implementation gap

The third day of the Week was dedicated to the  Conversation “Rain of Solutions for Water Management” , an open space with civil society and the productive sector that addressed two main themes:

1. Water and agriculture in transition: towards sustainable and resilient management in the EU and LAC.
    
2. Closing the implementation gap for water security in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The first section highlighted regional cooperation between Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union to promote sustainable agriculture and the efficient use of water.

The second block, coordinated by  ECLAC's Natural Resources Division , brought together authorities, experts and representatives of the private sector to discuss  climate finance mechanisms and impact investment that contribute to accelerating the implementation of innovative water solutions in the region.

More information in the session notes:

• The Caribbean strategy to close the water implementation gap – Regional Water Week 2025
• Session: Closing the implementation and financing gap for water security in Latin America

The Fifth Regional Water Dialogues

On  October 9 and 10 , the Week culminated with the  V Regional Water Dialogues of Latin America and the Caribbean , organized by ECLAC. The opening ceremony included remarks by Mr. Pedro Pablo Silva, Director of Borders, National Directorate of Borders and State Boundaries (DIFROL); Mr. Martín Abeles, Director of the Natural Resources Division of ECLAC; and Ms. Retno Marsudi, UN Special Envoy for Water (you can see her speech here). 

The meeting brought together representatives from governments, financial institutions and international organizations to discuss  water valuation, cooperation in transboundary waters and the relationship between water and agriculture .

More information in the press release:

V Regional Water Dialogues of Latin America and the Caribbean - Regional Water Week 2025 

The event consolidated ECLAC as a regional meeting point for cooperation on water issues and a key platform for  monitoring the commitments of SDG 6 and the Regional Action Agenda for Water within the framework of the  Decade of Action for Water 2018–2028 .