Third coordination event of Latin America Network of Knowledge centres in the Water Sector, RALCEA 2013

The third coordination event of Latin America Network of Knowledge centres in the Water Sector, RALCEA took place  17-22 March 2013 in Viña del Mar, Chile.   

The RALCEA events brought together more than 40 experts in water resources management and governmental Focal Points (FP) from 18 Latin American and European countries and from other institutions such as La Wet-Net, UNESCO-PHI, AECID, CIIFEN and UPC. Likewise, representatives of DG DEVCO/G2, DG JRC, and the Delegation of the EU in Chile and in El Salvador and from two ALFA projects (CapWEM and Paraguas-RAPGIRH) also attended.

The workshops were carried out according to the plan and in an efficient and effective way, attaining very successful results. The workshops allowed an integrated and synergistic work between the government and the scientific sectors where participants aligned their visions and expectations in order to establish common goals, requests and offers regarding water issues. During the sessions a larger number of activities and of a broader scope than foreseen to be implemented in 2013 were agreed. Some of these activities will be co-funded by the centres of knowledge (CdE), governments and by other donors; some of them have already been identified. The new funding will be sought throughout 2013. The Focal Points are in charge of selecting the people to be trained.

 The sessions in the Water Quality and Sanitation workshop were organized in three geographic groups: Southern Cone, Andean region and Central America, and around a previously jointly agreed classification of thematic activities carried out in 2012. After selecting the activities, the execution and delivery deadlines were set. Among the main results of the workshop the definition of the three capacity building activities should be emphasized:

1. Sampling and analysis techniques; 
2. Monitoring of water quality and quantity; and,
3. Treatment technologies and water reuse.

These capacities activities, which will be financed by the RALCEA project, seek to enhance the technical capabilities of decision-makers, local managers and CdE to improve the management water resources.

Likewise, the following three project initiatives were identified:

1. Watershed observatory;
2. Indicators and methodologies for water resources; and, 
3. Strategies for prevention and rehabilitation of eutrophic water bodies.

During this workshop the Sustainable Water Management Initiatives Guide in Latin America, manual of good practices and technologies, which include 29 cases studies given by the CdE and government FP was also presented. This tool is one of the first RALCEA tools aimed to show governmental, social, technical and research actors the synergies existing in the region and contribute to South-South cooperation that should always exist in a strategic sector like water.

 Regarding the Stakeholders mapping and capacities development 14 activities, among those identified in a first phase carried out during 2012, were selected and prioritized around three thematic areas:

1. Integrated management of water resources and governance, awareness and participation, conflict resolution;
2. Watershed management and land use; and,
3. Specific issues (flood management, groundwater monitoring and sanitation). A commitment was reached among the participants to present the budget for the activities and give support to seek for additional funding.

During the sessions the progress of the project and the high commitment of its participants by continuing to strengthen the network in order to achieve decisive results in view of network sustainability were highlighted. The need to continue working so that the network would be able to respond to the requests and provide the specific tools was emphasized.

The Agenda of the event  is also available for consultation.

 See also the conclusions of the seminar in Spanish  

For more information / Para mayor información, contactar a:

Susana Campoy Folgoso, Dirección General de Desarrollo y Cooperación – EuropeAid, Comisión Europea
Teléfono +(32) 2 2968451 Susana.CAMPOY-FOLGOSO@ec.europa.eu

Cesar Carmona Moreno, Centro Común de Investigación de la Comisión Europea

Teléfono +39 03 3278 96 54  Cesar.carmona-moreno@jrc.ec.europa.eu

 http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/latin-america/regional-cooperation/ralcea/index_es.htm

 http://www.aquaknow.net/en/ralcea-centros-de-excelencia-en-america-latina/