From April 16 to 19, directors and water authorities from the Amazon countries are meeting at the headquarters of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) in Brasilia to take part in three events held as part of the implementation of the Strategic Actions Program (SAP) for Integrated Water Resources Management in the Amazon Basin. The events are organized by the Amazon Basin Project – Implementation of the SAP and by the PPG of the Project Towards a Better Understanding of Amazonian Aquifer Systems (SAA), for their Protection and Sustainable Management.
The program of events includes the III Meeting of the Steering Committee of the Amazon Basin Project – SAP Implementation (SCP), on the first day. On this occasion, the SCP, the Project’s main authority, will analyze the progress of activities and the results achieved in 2023 and will consider the approval of the Annual Work Plan, including the events scheduled for this term, as well as the budget for 2024. In addition to the water authorities who are Focal Points of the Amazon Basin Project in the eight Member Countries, representatives of the UNEP Implementing Agency and the SP/OTCA Executing Agency will be present.
The 17th and 18th are reserved for the 1st Meeting of the Amazon Network of Water Authorities – RADA. On this occasion, the representatives of the countries will approve the internal regulations of the new Network and appoint its President and the Specialized Technical Support Panel. Created during the Amazon Summit – IV Meeting of Presidents of the States Parties to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty and included in the Belém Declaration, RADA aims at cooperation and mutual support in the sustainable management and monitoring of Amazonian water resources, with a view to guaranteeing the human right to water and revitalizing, conserving and protecting water sources.
The third event, which will take place on April 19, will be dedicated to the Regional Workshop for the Presentation of the CEO ‘s Endorsement Document for the Project Towards a Better Understanding of Amazonian Aquifer Systems (AAS), for their Protection and Sustainable Management. The objectives of the workshop are to socialize the first draft of the endorsement request package to the GEF Executive Director, describe the technical studies at the AAS level and at the pilot project level, and present progress on the issues of communication, gender, stakeholder involvement and institutional capacity building.
The Amazon Basin Project supports the ACTO countries in implementing the priority measures contained in the Strategic Action Program (SAP), with the aim of strengthening Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and strengthening the capacity of Amazonian communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change, ensuring compatible information for decision-making in the Amazon Basin.
The Project Towards a Better Understanding of Amazonian Aquifer Systems (SAA) for their Protection and Sustainable Management has the main objective of achieving a common understanding of Amazonian Aquifer Systems (SAA) to strengthen regional governance and groundwater management for their protection and sustainable use, thus improving water security and ecosystem resilience in the Amazon region.
