FANCA - FAN Central America

Latest News

Reform to Ensure Public Water Domain - Costa Rica

The debate over reform of the subparagraph 14, Article 121, of the Constitution started on June 11. The reform seeks to ensure the public nature of water and the benefits to be derived from them in the national territory. This reform is contained in the record 14,757 and has been widely supported by all the popular sectors that are working on water resources in Costa Rica.

FANCA and its members in this country are working to support this reform because state recognition of water as a public domain at the constitutional level is an important guarantee to prevent the privatization of this indispensable resource,  ensure access to sufficient quantity and quality for communities and protect water resources against past and future free trade agreements.

               

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Discussions on CAPS law continue - Nicaragua

On June 12^th, the Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources launched the debate on the Bill of Special Committees Water Supply and Sanitation (CAPS), which aims to provide the legal framework to community organizations which operate and manage the water and sanitation services in their communities.

The bill, introduced by deputies from the Sandinista bench, aims to grant legal status to the CAPS so that they can effectively management funds from national and international financial agencies for maintaining or expanding their operations.

Under the proposed law for the improvement and sustainability of the service, Committees on Water and Sanitation would be assisted with technical training programs by the operator of the Nicaraguan Aqueduct and Sewage Authority (ENACAL) nearest to the territory.

Stakeholders will shortly be consulted on the issues surrounding CAPS.

More info.

               

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First Meeting for Water in Panama - Panama

“The First Meeting for Water in Panama” brought together experts in the field of environmental sanitation. The event, held to review progress of the Sanitation Project of the Bay of Panama, was held on Thursday, May 28 at the Marriott Hotel. This innovative project seeks to reduce river pollution and improve the health status of households in the city of Panama. The current situation of water, sanitation of the city water treatment plant, wastewater interceptor tunnel project and the remediation of the Bay of Panama were the main topics discussed in this activity.

More info

               

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Forum "Water for the capital, a decision we cannot delay" – Honduras

On June 12th, The College of Civil Engineers of Honduras (CICH) held a forum called "Water for the city; a decision we cannot delay", involving the five presidential candidates in Honduras. The purpose of the event was to expose the "state of emergency" of the capital’s water system and lobby for immediate action to be taken.

According to the study of CICH, Honduras requires a supply of 3600 liters per second, twice the current availability in the country. Representatives of water boards spoke about the problems of low income families, who have to pay $ 38 a month, almost six times more than higher income families, for a supply of poor quality. The availability in Tegucigalpa has been the same for the past 19 years but demand has increased and now there is a shortfall of 52%.

More info [.doc].

               

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Proposal for Fair Water Tariff Policy - El Salvador

On June 17, the Environmental Unit of El Salvador (UNES) presented a proposal for a tariff policy for a fair, equitable and sustainable sanitation and water supply for the entire population of El Salvador. The chairman of UNES, Angel Ibarra, said that "ANDA tariff policy should be consistent with the priority of water use, and consider within its core a subsidy to ensure universal access to ensure enough water to country's poorest people, a charging structure that promotes savings and efficient use." The proposal was submitted to the authorities of the Water Supply and Sewerage Association (ANDA).

More info

               

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First Central American Communal Water Management Fair

FANCA and ACICAFOC with the support of AECID, GWP, CCAD and UICN are organizing the First Central American Communal Water Management Fair,
to be be held from the 19th through the 23th of March 2010, in CENAC, San Jose.

Water boards from all countries of the region, NGOs, government institutions and entrepreneurs, are all expected to take part. The fair will involve workshops and a forum of international experts and regional authorities, as well as an exhibition area, and water games for children, sales of food, crafts, traditional products of different countries and concerts.

This will be the first fair of its type in Central America and will be an excellent platform for water boards to make themselves visible, make new contacts and exchange experiences as well as for families to have fun while learning about this important resource.

More information about the fair and participation possibilities will be made available soon.

               

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FANCA develops capacity building programme on communal water management

FANCA and Asociacion Coordinadora Indigena y Campesina de Agroforesteria Comunitaria Centroamericana (ACICAFOC) have been running a series of national workshops to identify capacity around integrated, democratic, participative and inclusive management of water resources and to develop processes for monitoring and knowledge management.  This exciting project, supported by the Central American Water Alliance, has linked directly to 21 communities in 6 Central American countries.