Introduction to GWP Central America: progress and future plans

By Gabriela Grau

Senior Network Officer – Latin America

Content

• Water context in a nutshell • Evolution of GWP in CAm • GWP’s contribution to this region • Progress on “Central American water, climate

and development programme”

WMO: ”CAM has enough water, they use less than 10%”

BUT 41 M people 2/3 in Pacific basin <1/3 of water Water quality is deficient

ES: 2% of water in rivers apt human & agriculture CR: 70% of sewage is released without treatment

W&S high coverage 60% of service is deficient CC and water

1930-2008 248 extreme events (94%)

Poor + economy (11 events13.6 billion USD)

Water context in a nutshell

Nicaragua

GWP Centroamerica(Regional Water Partnership)*

2006

Belice

El Salvador

Costa Rica

Panama

GWP Secretariat

Guatemala

Honduras

Belice

=CATAC (Central America Technical Advisory Committee) 2000

GWP El Salvador (’06)

GWP Honduras (’06)

GWP Guatemala (’06)

GWP Costa Rica (’06)

GWP Panama (’07)

mission

Evolution of GWP in Central America

GWP Nicaragua (’07)

*Secretariat based in Honduras

Type of organisation Central America

Government 28 (18 %)

Municipalities, public service providers 24 (15 %)

ONG 65 (40 %)

Education and research 24 (15 %)

Professional associations

4

Private enterprises 9

Other (Int. & donors) 7

Total 161

Partners by type of organisation

Country /CWP # of Partners

Belize 4

GWP Costa Rica 25

GWP El Salvador 39

GWP Guatemala 28

GWP Honduras 21

GWP Nicaragua 27

GWP Panama 17

Total

AVG = 26

161

Number of Partners by country…

Country Highest Government water/env. authorities

Belize (Hydrology Unit National Meteorological Service)

Costa RicaMinisterio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones

(MINAET)Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG)

El SalvadorServicios Nacional de Estudios Territoriales (SNET/MARN)

Comisión Ejecutiva Hidroeléctrica del río LempaComisión Trinacional del Plan Trifinio

Guatemala Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MARN)Secretaría General de Planificación (SEGEPLAN)

Honduras Dirección de Recursos Hídricos (SERNA)

Nicaragua Ministerio de Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (MARENA)

Panama Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente (ANAM)

Partners by country… not only numbers!

Country Main water supply and sanitation agencies

Belize (Public Utilities Commission)

Costa RicaInstituto Costarricence de Acueductos y Alcantarillados

(AyA)

El Salvador (WS&S at local government level)

Guatemala Red de Agua y Saneamiento de Guatemala (RASGUA)

HondurasServicio Nacional de Acueductos y Alcantarillados

(SANAA)

NicaraguaEmpresa Nicaragüense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados

Sanitarios (ENACAL)

PanamaInstituto de Acueductos y Alcantarrillados Nacionales

(IDAAN)

Partners by country… not only numbers!

Country Top national universities and research centres

Belize  

Costa RicaUniversidad Nacional de Costa Rica

Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE)

El Salvador Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas

Guatemala Esc. de Ingenieria Santitaria, Universidad de San Carlos

Instituto Nacional de BosquesCentro de Estudios Ambientales, Univ del Valle

Honduras Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras

NicaraguaCentro para la investigación en Recursos Acuáticos de

Nicaragua (CIRA-UNAM)

PanamaCentro de Investigaciones Hidráulicas e Hidrotécnicas de la

Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá

Partners by country… not only numbers!

GWP CAm’s contribution to the region

Triggered the preparation of water bills in the region + improved their quality + contributed to two Water Acts (Nic ’07 & Hon ’09) 7 Conferences for Legislators, followed by technical advice and consultation processes

Reactivation of Reg. IWRM strategy (ECAGIRH) + content of ECAGIRH & PACAGIRH (reg. IWRM plan) expected to be approved by Ministers of Env. (CCAD)

Some examples of achievements at CWP level…

Panama: methodology to ensure broader participation in implementation of Panama Canal Basin mgt plan + preparation of IWRM National Plan

El Salvador: increased budget for W&S by USD 30M + AECID&IADB through study on public spending + media

Costa Rica: establishment of National Water Policy (2005) basis for: Plan Nacional de Aguas & Pollution and consumption levies (9M USD/’10 + reduced pollution)

Honduras: Water Act + regulatory framework Ministers’ Council

Nicaragua: Water Act led to the creation of ANA guidelines for IWRM/basin planning

Guatemala: Government established the Gabinete Específico del Agua (vice-President + 10 ministers + SEGEPLAN) & GWP advisor to the governmenton water related dialogues

Some examples of achievements at CWP level

Central American Water, Climate and Development Programme

Key Programme components: (LL from Africa)

1. To incorporate CC adaptation and IWRM as a high priority and mainstreaming issue in the national development of CAM countries.

2. To build institutional capacity to reduce vulnerability and for CC adaptation through sustainable WM.

3. To diffuse and support the implementation of successful adaptation strategies and develop sustainable funding strategies for water security and climate resilience.

Aligned to the Reg. CC Strategy (approved by Ministers of Env.) Inception phase under discussion part of ERCC implementation

plan for approval by all CAM Presidents (Dec ´11).

Main Programme partners and progress:• Central American Commission of Environment and

Development (CCAD)– Strategic/planning framework: ERCC + ECAGIRH + PACAGIRH

• Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) – Baseline study on financial mechanisms (LL + KM + pilot)

• UN-Economic Commission for LAC – The Economics of Climate Change in Central America (DFID-funded)– Baseline study on fiscal situation (threats to income and demands on

expenditures within CC) (finance sector) fiscal incentives to adaptation and sustainability

• GWP Partners

Central American Water, Climate and Development Programme

Political will

Strategic framework

Planning framework

Key Partners and stakeholders

Credibility and technical capacity

Financial resources ?

THANKS !