Bolivia, last place of the most important conference on water in Latin America
The XVI Conference of Iberoamerican Water Directors (CODIA), the main forum on the subject of Latin America, which was held in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia), has adopted a series of agreements to strengthen the strategic role of CODIA as a platform for training and improving the management of water resources in the region. The next conference will be held in Campeche (Mexico), in the second half of 2016.
In this edition of the CODIA has strengthened the partnership with UNESCO, the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID) and the Network of Centres of Excellence Water in Latin America (RALCEA) in training.
It has also approved the institutionalization of the strategic partnership with UNESCO-IHP and CAF. In particular, the Water Directors of the member countries have agreed to incorporate the Annual Operating Plan 2016 lines of work adopted in agreements with UNESCO and CAF for the STP-CODIA and Spain, respectively.
These agreements not only increase considerably the framework of education and training by 2016, but also represent a new element strengthening the institutional architecture of the CODIA, which also benefits from the recent partnership with the European Union and the Economic Commission for Amércia America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
New funding system
Another agreement has been reached to establish a new system of financing CODIA to give it sustainability and budgetary stability to run training programs and organize their annual meetings and its technical advisory panel.
The CODIA, moreover, reaffirmed their willingness to boost the Water Agenda and to collaborate in the development and implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (ODS) related to the management of water resources, from a Latin American regional perspective as well as its willingness to join the efforts of countries to adapt to climate change.
Spain-Latin America dialogue
This meeting has opened a new road in the exchange of experiences in the management of water resources in its area of influence. So, we have agreed to strengthen, for next year, the technical dialogue. As first measures will be incorporated into the operational plan of the initiative CODIA “Spain-Latin America Dialogue on Water”, whose second edition will be held in 2016.
In addition, it was agreed that the next meeting of the CODIA continuity give technical discussions after the warm welcome they have had discussions on irrigation and drought management driven this year by Spain in which the Spanish delegation has to know the experience of our country in both fields.
World Water Forum & next CODIA
The directors have also confirmed their commitment to engage in the preparation of the regional process of the Americas next World Water Forum to be held in Brazil in 2018. It was agreed to hold the next meeting of the Conference in Campeche (Mexico), in the second half of 2016.
The CODIA is an initiative of cooperation and technical cooperation in water resources management who was born in 2000 by order of the Ibero-American Forum of Environment Ministers. To date it has held 16 conferences, is today one of the main platforms for training in water resources management in the region.
Source: MAGRAMA
