In 2010 the Central American Bank of Economic Integration (CABEI) and GWP Central America decided to draw up a formal agreement to advance IWRM as a fundamental approach to dealing with water security, climate change and achieving the Millennium Development Goals nationally and regionally.

In order to increase awareness among key stakeholder groups, GWP Panama presented its work to the Consultative Board on January 21.

Costa Rica officially launched an IWRM plan in November 2009, the first country in Central America to do so and the result of six years of work.

GWP Central America has had a major input into the Central America IWRM strategy and action plan.

GWP Central America and other organisations have contributed to reactivating Central America’s IWRM Strategy (ECAGIRH), which had been lying fallow since 2006 due to lack of finances.

Three El Salvadoran water networks, GWP El Salvador, the Network of Water and Sanitation of El Salvador (RASES) and Foro del Agua, worked together to produce a research study showing that spending on water and sanitation in the country had been steadily decreasing.

GWP Guatemala was invited to participate in the Water Cabinet created by the President of Guatemala in August 2008. The Cabinet represents a national effort to promote IWRM at the highest levels and is coordinated by the country’s vice-president and made up of ten ministers.