Technical cooperation in support of programmes

During 2020, six additional technical cooperation (TC) projects were approved with FCAS funds at the IDB, bringing the total number of projects under implementation to eight. COVID-19 has also entailed significant delays in implementation, requiring the re-planning of actions, the modification of contracts and a switch to virtual activities (desk work, virtual workshops, etc.). The main purpose of these collaborations is twofold: on the one hand, to support the sustainability of the actions carried out and, on the other, to take advantage of the knowledge generated during these 10 years and fill in any gaps, so that the lessons learned in different areas can be put to use in future projects.

PR-T1268 - Support to the implementation of reforms and institutional strengthening of the water and sanitation sector in Paraguay - PARAGUAY ($1M).
Objective: support the design of necessary actions to carry out the reforms and strengthening of the sector-specific governing authority, including the implementation of short- and medium-term measures (2019-2023), established in the National Water and Sanitation Plan for the fulfilment of Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Cooperation will also support the strengthening of long-term investment planning and the development of efficient projects for the metropolitan areas of Asunción and Ciudad del Este.

The support provided through technical cooperation was mainly focused on the preparation of preliminary engineering projects and support consultancies for the Drinking Water and Sanitation Programme for the Metropolitan Area of Asunción – Lambaré Basin (PR-L1172 joint operation with FONPRODE and the EU), given the priority of having them in the short term to ensure the quality of the combined operation. A study was also carried out to review and propose regulatory adjustments to the regulatory framework for the sector.
BO-T1353 - Local Strengthening for the use of dry ecological toilets - BOLIVIA ($1M).
Objective: to promote the use of eco-toilets in rural areas of Bolivia through the development of a social strategy. The technical cooperation document was approved by AECID in December 2019. The programme will consolidate a line of work initiated by the IDB with Spanish Cooperation funds, which will also serve for new rural operations being developed in the country.

Work has focused on the review of the planning and terms of reference. Implementation has not yet begun as it requires access to the field.
RG-T3422 - Systematisation of experiences and support for the development of strategies in the rural water and sanitation sector - REGIONAL ($200,000).
Objective: to contribute to promoting access to safe Water and Sanitation (W&S) services in the rural sector in LAC through the development of strategies based on the analysis of experiences and in the framework of the SDGs and the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation (HRWS), with a special emphasis on service sustainability schemes.

Improving services in rural areas is one of the Fund’s priorities. These resources complement $300,000 from the Regional LAIF.

Work has started on a cost analysis of rural projects, on the development and monitoring tools for rural projects and on the design of a sustainability strategy in Honduras.
RG-T3507 - Capacity building of operators as a key aspect for the sustainability of water and sanitation services in the region - REGIONAL ($500,000).

Objective: to promote the sustainability of water and sanitation services through support to operators. This support will be carried out through the development of tools and assistance to specific operators.

The role of operators is essential for the sustainability of services, an aspect that the Fund aims to strengthen in the region. These resources complement $350,000 from the LAIF Regional programme.

Support has been given to the preparation of the MOOC “Water 2.0: efficient companies for the 21st century”, which aims to strengthen knowledge and capacities for the management of water companies, and diagnoses of some small operators have been carried out in order to prepare their improvement plan.
RG-T3489 - Transboundary Water Resources: a water security framework for transboundary basins in LAC - REGIONAL ($500,000).
Objective: support for the development of transboundary water management models in the region through analytical tools that enable diagnoses and scenarios for shared water resource management and water planning that minimise conflicts over the use of the resource and enable resilient and sustainable resource management planning, given the climatic and socio-economic uncertainties. In approach, it has a direct impact on peace building in the region and water security.

Transboundary issues are a key aspect of implementing integrated water resources management (IWRM) in the region, an aspect the Fund aims to particularly focus on. These resources complement $800,000 from the Regional LAIF. To date, work has been done to prepare the analyses to be carried out in the Pantanal, the Amazon and the Trifinio between Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay.
RG-T3596 - Promoting Gender Equality in the Water and Sanitation Sector - REGIONAL ($500,000).
Objective: to define and develop lines of action that promote gender equity in the water and sanitation sector through specific approaches and tools.

In 2020, the focus has been on planning activities. It is also worth highlighting the support given to CONAGUA in Mexico to achieve its certification in labour equality and non-discrimination, which involves a diagnosis of how this institution addresses gender issues. This process was accompanied by a training workshop for operators.
RG-T3711 - Support to actions developed in the field of CODIA - REGIONAL ($100.000).
Objective: to support the Conference of Ibero-American Water Directors (CODIA) in the development of strategic actions for the sector in the field of water planning, integrated water resources management and training.

During 2020, work was done to plan analyses and training workshops, but none could be carried out due to the pandemic. For 2021, a work plan with virtual activities will be initiated.
RG-T3668 -Development of strategies to ensure water, sanitation and hygiene services in informal settlements ($1 M FECASALC and $250,000 Aquafund).
Objective: the proposal integrates the COVID-19 perspective and represents an important area of work for this context. This cooperation will strengthen the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation.

The objective of this technical cooperation is to support countries in defining strategies at national, regional and local levels to guarantee essential services in informal urban areas of high vulnerability in terms of health. To this end, diagnoses will be prepared that will take into account urban conditions, alternatives for providing drinking water and sanitation services, the legal and regulatory framework and successful experiences that have been carried out. These guidelines will be used to define policies and programmes that will serve to guarantee water and sanitation services in these areas in the short and long term, and thus close the gaps in coverage.

Ongoing approvals

In addition, it has been agreed to include the following technical cooperations within the FECASALC Action Plan:

Regional programme to support the development of joint collaboration schemes for the water and sanitation sector on the Island of Hispaniola. Regional (Haiti and Dominican Republic - $150,000).
Objective: The operation aims to strengthen the two countries’ cooperation for the development of IWRM and the provision of water and sanitation services.
Desalination as a water resource alternative in the LAC region ($300,000).
Objective: this cooperation will strengthen the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) theme and will have an impact on an area of great development potential where Spain can have an important added value.
Support to the elaboration of the National Drinking Water and Rainwater Drainage Plans in Uruguay ($200,000).
Objective: to reinforce the integrated water resources management plan. The IWRM theme will be reinforced. The TC arises from the need to bring continuity to the programme “PLAN FOR ADAPTATION OF INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IWRM)” implemented by the Fund together with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Promotion of policies and mechanisms for the promotion of innovation in the water, sanitation and solid waste sector in LAC ($125,000).
Objective: this initiative will reinforce the theme of institutional strengthening and focus on a key aspect for the development of the sector – innovation – from a public policy perspective, an area of great interest to the Spanish Cooperation.
Workplace Safety ($150,000).
Objective: to systematise and reinforce practices in order to have an impact on occupational safety in future work, also taking into consideration the measures that have been carried out during COVID-19.