Eduardo González
This past Tuesday, the Council of Ministers authorized two contributions of more than six million euros for water and sanitation projects in Guatemala and Honduras.
The two programs, for an exact amount of 6,099,694.6 euros, will be carried out by the Cooperation Fund for Water and Sanitation (FCAS), created in 2007 with the objective of financing international cooperation actions for development aimed at promoting and improve the access of citizens of Latin American countries to water and sanitation services. Additionally, the Official Credit Institute (ICO) is designated as the financial agent for the implementation of both operations.
On the one hand, Spain will contribute 1,800,000 euros to the Balam Association to finance the program Strengthening the governance and integrated management of water resources in Guatemala, which was previously approved by the FCAS Executive Committee on July 3, 2023 and whose beneficiary will be the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Guatemala.
The purpose of this program is twofold. On the one hand, strengthen water resource management in Guatemala; and, on the other hand, develop the proposed regulations and techniques for basin management for the country and take as a starting point the establishment of governance and institutional strengthening processes in two prioritized basins. Watershed management in Guatemala presents many challenges, starting with the lack of a robust legal and regulatory framework that regulates their management, in a way that contributes to their protection and the recovery of their degraded environmental areas.
On the other hand, Spain will contribute 4,299,694.60 euros to the Commonwealth of the San Juan River Basin, in Honduras (MANCURISJ), for the financing of the program Improvement of access to drinking water, sanitation and comprehensive conservation of water resources, in the Lenca corridor of Honduras. The amount was also approved by the FCAS Executive Committee on July 3, 2023.
The purpose of the program is to improve the living conditions, health, hygiene and well-being of the MANCURISJ territory, increasing water and sanitation coverage, with sustainability criteria and a comprehensive management approach to water and natural resources, and strengthening local and regional institutions. through public awareness.
