Dialogue highlights keys to achieving SDG 6 and the Water Action Decade

On March 30th, the webinar "Alliances and Cooperation to Achieve SDG 6, Contribute to the Water Action Decade and Ensure Water Resources" was held in Costa Rica. The event was held in the context of the launch of the 2023 World Water Report, which addresses alliances and cooperation in the context of the 2023 World Water Conference.

The importance of cooperation and alliances to achieve the goals of Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water security was emphasized, as well as promoting dialogue and sharing messages from different stakeholders responsible for contributing to the achievement of SDG 6 goals.

The need to include indigenous visions and rights in public policies, strategies, and legislation, as well as the full and effective participation of women and youth in decision-making about water and sanitation management, was also highlighted.

The dialogue began with words of welcome from Alexander Leicht, Director of UNESCO San Jose, Berta Olmedo, Presidential Advisor for Panama as the pro tempore presidency of the Central American Integration System (SICA), and Jose Miguel Zeledon, Director of Waters of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE). Next, Juan Criado, UNESCO Natural Sciences Specialist, presented the United Nations World Water Development Report.

Criado highlighted cooperation as a key element to achieve objectives and goals related to water and inclusive participation of stakeholders as fundamental to promote acceptance and ownership of actions to reduce gaps in the sector. In addition, he stated that collective action is important to create additional financing opportunities.

The event included a series of talks and presentations on prioritized topics leading up to the United Nations Water Conference held from March 22 to 25, including water for health, water for climate, and water for cooperation.

Guillermo Barrantes, prosecutor for CONAFLU and representative of the community water management sector of the country, and Maria Celeste Lopez, coordinator of the project "Connecting Communities and Ecosystems" of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), spoke about the role of water in health and the importance of connecting communities and ecosystems, protecting water sources, and coordinating efforts with local entities.

For their part, Rodney Martinez, representative of the World Meteorological Organization for North America, Central America and the Caribbean (WMO), and Carlos Picado, of the National Emergency Commission (CNE), spoke about the importance of water for facing climate change and emergencies, taking into account the knowledge of communities about the resources that surround them, as well as the delicate situation facing the region.

Regarding water for cooperation, it had the participation of Kenneth Alfaro, regional coordinator of the Youth Network for Central American Water, Gloriana Turcios, of UN-Women, Ovidio Lopez Julian, of the National Indigenous Council of Costa Rica, and Jose Miguel Zeledon, Director of Waters of MINAE.

Turcios, in this segment, emphasized the need to "promote both women's leadership and their full, effective and equal participation in decision-making on water and sanitation management." The role of youth in decision-making was mentioned by Alfaro as a key point to accelerate the reduction of gaps.

Jose Miguel Zeledon, focal point of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Program in Costa Rica and Director of Waters at MINAE, mentioned the importance of data and information to coordinate actions between hydrometeorological services and water user organizations in communities.

Furthermore, the importance of protecting livelihoods, water, and land was highlighted, understanding the impacts of productive uses of water resources and limiting environmental destruction, taking into account indigenous worldviews and community water managers.

Among the conclusions of the event, there is reflection on the need for dialogue, inclusive participation, efficient financing, and the urgent need to accelerate actions to achieve not only the objectives set within the Decade of Action for Water, but also to achieve the Human Right to Water and Sanitation, leaving no one behind, as already reflected in the Constitution of Costa Rica that guarantees the Human Right to Water.