The workshop was held with the participation of the different sectors and was carried out with 79 persons distributed: 49 people connected on the ZOOM platform virtually and 30 face-to-face.
Participants were divided into four working groups for the discussion of the 6.5.1 indicator, providing important feedback for the validation of the information presented by the IWRM Commission technical team, as well as contribute their perspective on the status of water resources. Inputs from the workshop discussion will be incorporated to the forthcoming report to be submitted to UN Environment.
Monitoring and reporting on the progress of the implementation of IWRM is carried out through a self-assessment survey that is sent every three years to all UN Member States. In 2017, for the first time and with the support of GWP, 172 countries delivered their first IWRM assessment. Nicaragua participated for the first time in this process, in the second phase of data collection that is taking place this year.
A few results from the workshop:
Participants mentioned that there is a legal framework that supports the implementation of IWRM, however, not all policies, laws, and decrees are directly based on said process. There is an urgency to approve the IWRM National Plan to support the application of IWRM at both national and sub-national levels.
In the case of institutional participation, there is a need to include a mechanism for the inclusion of the private sector in IWRM projects. It was also mentioned that women hold a fundamental role in water management, therefore the legal framework should ensure their participation in decision-making.
Although there are investments in projects that help improve water resource management, there is no clearly defined and allocated budget for IWRM, which is expected to improve with the implementation of the national plan, the importance of the development of capacities in the management of financial resources by basin organisations and the creation of the Canon Law.