Water issues to remain high on the Argentinian agenda

Argentina has faced many economic up and downs over the years. Polarisation is currently putting the country in a difficult political position, which is also facing a challenging economic situation caused by crises spurred by recurring high government debt. Yet, at the end of the day, Argentina has always managed to bounce back thanks to its great economic potential, large market and well-educated workforce. 

In the field of water, Argentina covers the whole range of water-related challenges: extreme drought in the northern provinces; lethal floods in northern and coastal provinces; and heavily polluted water in urban areas. In terms of polluted water, the Country Update points out that contamination is a concern in both groundwater and surface water resources. Most of Argentina’s water challenges are being exacerbated by climate change. As  the country’s water challenges differ greatly in each region, a region-specific approach is required.
 
Accepting the nature of these challenges and acknowledging the fact that they will not be solved by themselves lead us to conclude that Argentina needs to retain a water focused agenda regardless of politics, economics, and even the Covid-19 pandemic. This is especially relevant when considering the high economic and social effects that water challenges can have on an agriculture-driven economy such as in Argentina. In this regard, knowledge and information open new means to help solve Argentina’s water challenges. Thus, the Country Update strives to identify the challenges and link them to possible solutions. If we can spark a constructive dialogue between Argentinian and Dutch stakeholders, we can take joint steps towards long-lasting solutions.

The 2021 Argentina Country Update was written by the NWP Americas team after thorough desk research and consultation with Dutch water sector actors in Argentina. The update was published by the Partners for Water (PFW) Programme, an initiative of the Dutch Government designed to support bilateral knowledge exchange and business on international water projects. PFW is coordinated by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and implemented by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and NWP.

For further enquiries about the Argentina Country Update or water-related activities in the country, please contact NWP Regional Manager Americas, Arjan Braamskamp, or NWP Project Officer Argentina, Noortje Pellens.