Training Module: Water Integrity in Latin America and the Caribbean

Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) face a potential water governance crisis. Most current practices in water management and use, need both change and improvement. Millions of people still lack access to safe water and sanitation. The impact of climate change e.g. floods, droughts and increasing extreme weather events, are causing death, damage to housing, infrastructure, cities and agriculture. This is resulting in huge economic losses. Medium to long term planning is the exception rather than the rule and stakeholder participation to ensure transparency and accountability is currently not much more than a promise.

The causes for this situation can be traced back many decades in various dimensions i.e. political, cultural and economic. In addition to the historical precedents, the current absence of vital governance practices such as ‘water integrity’ mechanisms, reduces the possibility of much needed reform.