Global Water Partnership - GWP

Catalysing a water governance shift in the private sector 

There is growing recognition of water scarcity in South America, and urgency to implement water management practices that ensure long-term sustainability. In response, GWP South America have led a pilot project for efficient water use in Uruguay called Programa Buenas Prácticas Azules (Blue Good Practices Programme), providing invaluable expertise, technical support, and advocacy for policy changes. This programme has had a profound influence on water governance, including instigating a cultural shift within the private sector to acknowledge water use at the corporate level. 

Launch of the Water Footprint programme. GWP South America’s Regional Coordinator Alejandra Mujica (first to the left)

GWP South America have played a central role in this shift, and in 2023 the project was scaled up regionally to further amplify its impact. This was in part due to GWP South America leveraging their network to convene and foster joint work between business associations in Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Uruguay. The expansion has empowered a greater number of companies to integrate efficient water management into their operational frameworks. 

GWP South America’s collaboration with the Chamber of Industries and the certifier LSQA has already been instrumental in institutionalising water footprint measurement services in Uruguay, alongside certification and verification programmes. The development of a methodological manual and the integration of water footprint measurement services into the Chamber of Industries’ portfolio highlights the commitment of both public and private entities to promote water stewardship.  

Fast-tracking climate Nationally Determined Contributions in Peru 

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) form the basis for countries to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement: reducing emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. The Institutional Strengthening Project is fast-tracking the implementation of Peru’s NDCs. To make this happen, GWP South America supported the country to update its National Climate Change Strategy (ENCC 2050), the main instrument guiding actions against climate change at the national, regional, and local levels. 

GWP South America have played a central role in leading and supervising the Institutional Strengthening Project, supporting Peru’s Ministry of Environment and influencing legal, technical, and planning processes. “The technical assistance provided by GWP and the NDC Partnership has allowed us to make significant progress with the ENCC 2050,” said Jessica Huerta, Coordinator of the CBIT Project, responsible for strengthening the integral management of climate change at the Ministry. 

Along with updating the ENCC 2050, the project has facilitated the Ministry to outline and share a proposal for a National Registry of Mitigation Measures and create a participatory space to collect contributions from various actors. This is crucial for complying with the commitments established in the Paris Agreement and national regulations. Notably, the Ministry received GWP South America’s legal assistance regarding the alignment of the deforestation- and emissions-reducing REDD+ initiative within the framework of the planned National Registry. 

Alignment of climate strategies within national-level natural resource management instruments will contribute to detailed monitoring and enable national climate action.