Entries from April 2008
Who Pays for Water? a case study of action learning in the islands of the Caribbean
Sarah McIntosh, Nicole Leotaud, Duncan Macqueen
Knowledge Management for Development Journal, Vol 4, No 1 (2008) p. 42-58
Full article
Abstract
This paper documents a case study of knowledge management and sharing in the Caribbean. The case study documents an action learning project on payments for watershed services (PWS) and their potential to enhance rural livelihoods, which is more fully described in the final project report (McIntosh and Leotaud 2007).
The paper considers how action learning contributed to knowledge sharing about economic instruments for watershed management and their potential to contribute to improved rural livelihoods. It documents the approach taken to action learning in a region comprising many small islands with differing institutions. It also examines the value of the partnership between a southern and a northern non-governmental organisation (respectively the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute and the International Institute for Environment and Development) and compares the Caribbean process with those in the other project countries. Finally, it identifies ways in which the action learning process could be further enhanced and adapted to the region, and how these are being incorporated into a new action learning programme on Forests and Livelihoods.
Categories: Knowledge management · Water resources management
Tagged: action learning, partnerships, watershed management
The Science and Technology Division of the Inter-American Development Bank is pleased to announce the launch of its grants program: Innovation for Inclusive Development.
The objective of the program is to foster the development and dissemination of innovations in products, processes and services and engender solutions with the potential of improving the quality of life of poor and/or excluded people in Latin America and the Caribbean. Up to six grants, ranging from USD 30,000 to 100,000, will be awarded to the selected innovations to develop, test, or pilot these in the region.
The development, piloting, and implementation of the projects to be financed by the grant must take place in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
Eligibility: private companies, academic institutions, research teams, non-governmental organizations, and other entities from all IADB member countries. Individuals, governments, local governments, and government agencies are not eligible applicants for this initiative.
Submission deadline: June 20, 2008 (5pm EST).
Winners will be notified in September, 2008.
Read more
Categories: Financing
Tagged: grants
Since 1998, Brazil’s supreme court has been discussing whether the state or city governments are responsible for urban water and sanitation. The future president of the supreme court, Gilmar Mendes, thinks he has the answer. He proposes that state governments should be given a 24-month deadline to design a joint sanitation plan with city governments. “It will be a system in which the state government will be obligated to receive city government participation in the design of the plan, without any concentration of power,” Mendes said.
Source: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 4 Apr 2008

Gilmar Mendes
Categories: Brazil · Governance · Policy & legislation · Urban WASH
Bolivia’s new water minister René Gonzalo Orellana assumed office with a call for “vigorous” investments to carry out sewerage and potable water projects. Orellana replaces Walter Valda who is running for election in Chuquisaca department. Orellana said that water will be one of the principle issues on the government agenda.
Source: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 3 Apr 2008
Categories: Bolivia · Financing · Policy & legislation
Only 3.5% of Costa Rica’s wastewater is treated before being discharged into the country’s rivers, water utility AyA chairman Ricardo Sancho said. Costa Rica has only five operating wastewater treatment plants, which can only serve one-third of the population. The San Isidro treatment plant, in Choluteca municipality, has collapsed while Limón province only has a sea outfall pipe.
Source: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 7 Apr 2008
Categories: Costa Rica · Wastewater treatment
Mexican authorities are trying to attract foreign investment for their US$14bn national water and sanitation plan. The plan will reduce government spending on health care while upgrading the population’s living standards, said José Ramón Ardavín of the national water authority Conagua.
Source: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 8 Apr 2008
Categories: Financing · Mexico
Almost 80% of Colombia’s municipalities risk losing their participation in the Sistema General de Participaciones (SGP), or general revenue sharing system, according to Colombia’s public services regulator Superservicios. This is because they have either not transferred resources to the solidarity and income redistribution fund (FSRI) or they have failed to submit reports to the national information system (SUI). Superservicios is in charge of certifying that municipalities and districts are adequately managing and investing SGP funds for drinking water and sanitation, and that they comply with regulations for service rates and water quality standards.
Source: BNamericas.com [subscription fund], 8 Apr 2008
Categories: Colombia · Financing
Tagged: public service regulators, revenue sharing systems
Colombian government authorities are promoting investment in infrastructure development projects among local pension funds, national planning department (DNP) head Carolina Rentería told BNamericas. Pension savings have increased tremendously over the last years and authorities see infrastructure initiatives, including drinking water and sanitation services, as attractive due to their long-term sustainability.
Source: Eva Medalla, BNamericas.com [subscription site], 10 Apr 2008
Categories: Brazil · Financing
Brazil’s lower house approved a bill proposal making household water meters obligatory in apartments and condominiums. Up till now water costs were based on total water use and divided equally between households.
A second bill, submitted by the consumer defense committee, stipulating sewage service rates should not be more than half of that for potable water rates, was also approved.
The bills have now been submitted to the senate.
Source: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 11 Apr 2008
Categories: Brazil · Financing · Policy & legislation · Sewerage · Water distribution
Tagged: sewerage charges, water metering
A new study says Brazil needs to invest 11 billion reais (US$ 6.3 billion) in basic water and sanitation services every year for 20 years. Now, 53% of the population does not have access to these services. The study – Saneamento e Saúde – was carried out by the Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) – at the request of the Instituto Trata Brasil. The government plans to invest 10bn reais per year, starting in 2008, but only for the next four years.
For people lacking basic water and sanitation, the survey found that:
- 29.7% more work days are lost due to diarrhoeal diseases
- student absenteeism is up to 2% higher
- only 13% have health insurance, compared to 33% of people with basic services
- school failure levels are nearly twice as high
- children learn 30% less.
Source: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 03 Apr 2008
Categories: Brazil · Financing · Monitoring & evaluation · Sanitation · Water supply
Tagged: health impact, S0803-LAC, schools, socioeconomic impact