Volvamos a la fuente

On this International Women's Day, we want to highlight women who work every day in water, sanitation and solid waste projects to improve the quality of life in their communities.

Written by Paul Constance

Laura Guanoluisa starts every day outnumbered by men. She is the only woman in a household with four children and a husband, "my five boys," as she affectionately calls them. But it is this habit of living with her "boys" that allows her to lead in a highly masculine environment as president of the National Network of Recyclers of Ecuador (RENAREC).

*By: Paula Guerra

The world of technology is advancing rapidly, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are at the forefront. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) strongly believes in the advantages of using cutting-edge technologies such as AI, machine learning, deep learning, and transformers to enhance efficiency and productivity, increase inclusivity, and reduce emissions in infrastructure.

*Jihoon Lee and Raul Muñoz

Most of the effects of climate change are felt through water. Disruptive and unpredictable weather patterns cause more droughts and floods, rising sea levels, and environmental contamination. As a result, farmers’ abilities to save their crops, access to clean drinking water, and community protection from extreme weather events are all under stress. We cannot address climate change without considering its effects on water.

*By Raphaëlle Ortiz, María Augusta Olmedo, Anamaría Núñez,

This year’s COP 27 in Egypt is depicted as the “implementation conference” and it focuses on the critical paths, actions, plans, and financing options to counter the effects of climate change. It also grants an opportunity to potentialize a nascent global project to achieve rapid and effective results: methane mitigation.

Marisa (12 years old) lives in a peri-urban community in the outskirts of Kingston, Jamaica. In 2021, her water utility, the National Water Commission (NWC), was severely affected by a hurricane and it took over 3 months to resume service. During that time, this 12-year-old had to walk and wait for the water truck every day to get four gallons of water, barely enough for drinking, cooking and cleaning.

Por: Hila Cohen Mizrav*

World Water Week: Focus on the Americas 2022

*By María Augusta Olmedo, Anamaría Núñez, Raphaëlle Ortiz

Without water, there is no life. Without water, there is no health. Without water, there is no development. The true value of water will be in the spotlight at the Focus on the Americas sessions of World Water Week of the Stockholm International Water Institute, where participants will debate, raise awareness, and take joint action to understand just how precious this resource really is.

*By Maria Perez Urdiales and Jesse Madden Libra.

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is the most water-rich region in the world with an astounding 21,672 m3 per capita in renewable freshwater resources. However, over 60% of its population lives in medium-high to extremely high-water risk areas.