Latin America

Latin America is the most water-rich region in the world, with about thirty percent of the planet’s freshwater reserves. Yet, water accessibility remains a challenge for some communities. Water quality is also a pressing issue in Latin America, with less than forty percent of wastewater being treated. Besides managing the freshwater resources, integrated coastal zone management is becoming more important, with challenges such as floods, saltwater intrusion and algae blooms.

The many water management related challenges in the region bring many opportunities for the Dutch water sector. Aware of this, NWP regularly takes an active part in initiatives designed to share knowledge, enrich existing networks, and boost matchmaking. With its broad network and knowledge of the region, NWP can assist water actors seeking options for collaboration and co-development of water-related projects.

Knowledge exchange and market intelligence

The production of webinar series, digital sessions and online workshops has been one of the most demanded activities in recent years. At the request of a consortium of Dutch missions in the region, NWP created the LATAM Webinar Series in 2020, for instance. The series consisted of a set of interactive sessions intended to dive into the most pressing water issues in the region, exchange good practices and innovative solutions, and discuss opportunities for international collaboration. Many regional webinars have followed and can be watched on demand.

The realisation of market studies and country-specific reports is also part of NWP’s offerings. In-depth scans exploring water-related challenges and opportunities are conducted on request and provide concrete information that can be used when looking to expand internationally. Water sectors in Brazil, Panama and the Dominican Republic are just a few of those that have been explored by NWP. These and other publications produced by NWP can be requested through our website.

Live attendance at sector events

Not everything is remote. NWP also brings water parties together at renowned stages. This is also the case in Latin America. Depending on the interests of the Dutch water sector, NWP often leads the joint presence of Dutch parties at water-related fairs. In recent years, NWP has done so by coordinating country pavilions at large industry events such as Fenasan (Brazil) and ACODAL (Colombia).