Progress of the ROSA Project: Network and Observatory for Water Sustainability – Year 2: February 2024 – December 2024

Between April 2024 and January 2025, the ROSA project has specifically focused on strengthening sustainable water management in Latin America and the Caribbean through various training and technical assistance activities detailed below.

Technical assistance and capacity building of project countries:

Plurinational State of Bolivia:

As part of the ROSA project, six virtual training sessions were held for the Plurinational State of Bolivia between February and November 2024. These sessions addressed topics tailored to the country’s needs, including water governance and sustainability, international resource management water, circular economy in water and sanitation, the Water-Energy-Food-Environment nexus, hydrological monitoring networks and the Water Convention.

• August, 2024. ECLAC organizes the second virtual training session within the framework of the technical assistance of the ROSA project to the Plurinational State of Bolivia: “International processes around water resources”: This second virtual training session organized by ECLAC In Bolivia, it addressed international processes related to the management of water resources. Regulatory frameworks, agreements and global mechanisms that can serve as a reference to strengthen water governance in the country were analyzed, identifying opportunities for cooperation and alignment with international standards.
• September, 2024. Third Virtual Training within the Framework of the ROSA Project for the Plurinational State of Bolivia: “Application of the principles of circular economy in the drinking water and sanitation sector”: This third virtual training session organized by ECLAC in Bolivia focused on the application of circular economy principles in the drinking water and sanitation sector. Strategies and good practices were explored to promote the circularity and sustainability of these essential services, seeking to reduce resource waste and close water cycles.
• October, 2024. ROSA: Online Training: Water, Energy, Food, Environment Nexus in the Plurinational State of Bolivia (Session 4): This fourth virtual training session organized by ECLAC in Bolivia addressed the nexus between water, energy, food and environment. The interrelationship between these sectors and the importance of integrated approaches for sustainable resource management were analyzed, identifying opportunities for synergy and development of holistic solutions.
• November, 2024. ROSA Online Training: “Water monitoring networks and water-ecological flow” in the Plurinational State of Bolivia (Session 5): This fifth virtual training session organized by ECLAC in Bolivia focused on water monitoring networks and the determination of the water-ecological flow. Tools and methodologies were analyzed to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of water resources, key elements for sustainable management that allows informed decisions to be made and balance the multiple uses of water.
• December, 2024. ROSA Online Training: “The Water Convention – a tool to improve the management of transboundary waters” in the Plurinational State of Bolivia (Session 6): In this sixth virtual session for Bolivia, ECLAC addressed the Water Convention. Water as a tool to improve the management of shared water resources at a transboundary level. The principles, mechanisms and good practices of this international instrument were explored, in order to strengthen cooperation and governance of shared basins between countries, contributing to integrated and sustainable management of water resources.

El Salvador:

A series of ROSA Project webinars focused on water regulation were held between May and June 2024, with the aim of providing tools to improve regulatory and tariff systems in El Salvador, addressing the country’s specific challenges in this area. . Throughout four sessions, both the theoretical and practical aspects of water rate regulation in the country were analyzed, complemented with interactive exercises to deepen the participants’ understanding.

Panama:

Between September and October, five virtual training sessions on “Water Tariff Application” were successfully held between September and October 2024. These sessions offered detailed technical guidance on tariff strategies and energy efficiency for water sustainability in Panama , addressing key aspects of sustainable water management:

• September, 2024. Tariff and Energy Efficiency Strategies for Water Sustainability in Panama: First Seminar: This first virtual seminar organized by ECLAC in Panama addressed the topic of tariff and energy efficiency strategies to achieve the sustainability of water services. water and sanitation. Innovative tariff models were analyzed that seek to balance the financial viability of the providing companies with affordability for users, as well as energy efficiency solutions that can contribute to the operational and environmental sustainability of these services.
• September, 2024. ROSA: Rate and Energy Efficiency Strategies for Water Sustainability in Panama (Session 2): This second virtual session organized by ECLAC in Panama delved into the analysis of rate and energy efficiency strategies for the sustainability of water. water and sanitation services in the country. Successful models implemented in other contexts were explored and the main considerations and challenges for their adaptation and implementation in Panama were discussed.
• September, 2024. ROSA: Tariff and Energy Efficiency Strategies for Water Sustainability in Panama (Session 3): The third session of this ECLAC virtual seminar in Panama continued addressing the topic of tariff and energy efficiency strategies in the water and sanitation sector. The challenges and opportunities to achieve the financial and operational sustainability of these services were analyzed in greater detail, seeking to identify solutions adapted to the national context.
• October, 2024. ROSA: Tariff and Energy Efficiency Strategies for Water Sustainability in Panama (Session 4): This fourth virtual session organized by ECLAC in Panama delved even further into tariff and energy efficiency strategies for the sustainability of water. water and sanitation services in the country. Success stories and international good practices that could be replicated in the Panamanian context were discussed, analyzing the main success factors and the necessary conditions for their implementation.

Likewise, in October 2024, a session titled “Practical Options for Energy Efficiency in the Water and Sanitation Sector in Panama” was held: This fifth virtual session organized by ECLAC in Panama focused specifically on practical energy efficiency options that can be implemented in the water and sanitation sector. Success stories and technological solutions that contribute to the operational sustainability of these services were analyzed, seeking to reduce energy costs and environmental impact.

Dominican Republic:

Three virtual training sessions were held for the Dominican Republic in October 2024. These sessions focused on topics requested by the country to address national needs. Topics covered included the circular economy in the water and sanitation sector, international mechanisms on water resources, and water governance in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Exchange of good practices and strengthening of capacities thanks to the Regional Network for Water Sustainability:

May, 2024. Seminar on Nature-Based Solutions to increase water availability in agriculture: The second joint seminar of the ROSA Project, organized by the Regional Water Network, was held in hybrid format. During the event, participating countries analyzed opportunities to implement Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) with the aim of improving water availability in the agricultural sector. Success stories and lessons learned on the use of ecosystem approaches to improve the sustainability of food production, water management and adaptation to climate change were analyzed. ECLAC sought to promote the exchange of knowledge and best practices among participants from various countries in the region. Furthermore, through this seminar it was possible to disseminate the study that ECLAC is developing on NbS, as well as promote the exchange of experiences between the attending countries.

December, 2024. Fifth Meeting of the Regional Group of Experts on Water Resources in Latin America and the Caribbean: Focused on collaborative efforts in water resources management. Key topics included the upcoming 2025 Regional Water Dialogues and the ROSA project.

Additionally, during 2024, various activities were carried out to disseminate the activities of the ROSA project and strengthen the Regional Network for Water Sustainability, within the framework of different events:

• April, 2024. World Bank and AIDIS Discussion Panel: Challenges and Guidance to Meet SDG 6 of Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation for All.
• May, 2024: Federal Training Program on Integrated Water Resources Management, organized by the Federal Investment Council of Argentina.
• July, 2024. Seminar “Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Water Transition in Latin America and the Caribbean: Challenges and Opportunities to Achieve SDG 6”, at the Latin American School of Development Studies (ELADES).
• August, 2024. CRHIAM Seminar on Sustainable and Inclusive Water Transition.
• September, 2024. Water Governance Congress: “Access to water, a human right.”
• September, 2024. Event “Café del Mundo: The role of women in comprehensive water management in international settings” organized by the Water and Sanitation Regulation Commission of Colombia (CRA).
• October, 2024. 10th Spain LAC Water Dialogues.
• November, 2024. Conference of Ibero-American Water Directors (CODIA) and PHI UNESCO meeting.
• November, 2024. PAHO and AIDIS Symposium: “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Health and Equity: Key elements for the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda.”
• December, 2024. Seminar “Water security: governance, economic development and finance,” organized by the International Water Association (IWA).

In 2025, the ROSA project will continue to strengthen national technical capacities and promote the exchange of best practices through seminars, trainings and the ROSA Observatory, consolidating its impact on water management in the region.