Latin America; in English (pdf) - Transboundary Freshwater Dispute ...

Mansion with private lake and manicured grounds, Chile. Photo credit: Keith M. Davis.
in Latin America as well. Through the efforts of
the Global Water Partnership (GWP), the South
American Technical Advisory Committee
(SAMTAC), an organization made up of ten
countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia,
Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Perú, Uruguay, and
Venezuela), was formed in 2000 with the objective
of promoting Integrated Water Resources
Management (IWRM) in order to “maximize the
economic results and social well-being in an equal
way without compromising the sustainability of
ecosystems” (GWP-SAMTAC 2003).
The committee began by organizing highlevel
meetings in each of the member countries
in order to communicate the goals and objectives
of the GWP and to familiarize stakeholders with
its purpose. The next step, which SAMTAC is
currently involved in, is to create partnerships
through a lead organization within each of the
countries to promote cooperation among all
parties (GWP-SAMTAC 2003).
As of 2005, the members of SAMTAC
decided to consolidate and formalize what was
before an ad hoc committee of representatives
from each country on the continent, acting as
advisors, to become an institutionalized entity with
members elected democratically from each
country. This, in effect, transformed SAMTAC into
a different entity, now known as the South
American Water Partnership (CEPAL 2005).
SAMTAC and now the South American
Water Partnership have only been in existence for
five years; as this is a new experience for all
involved, there will be a period of development
and evolution before its presence is felt
throughout the continent. And time was lost
during the transition from SAMTAC to the
Partnership and activities have not yet begun
since the change. What is important to realize is
that an institution is making significant efforts to
address the regional situation in South America
and move forward with integrated management
of water resources, attempting to include all
stakeholders and promote public participation.
The lack of a regional management body may
not hinder strategies of multinational institutions
confronting international water basins, but with
an umbrella entity guiding the way, this can help
the management process immensely and prevent
conflicts from arising.
3.2.2.4 Public Participation
One of the newest elements of the management
of international water resources is the inclusion of
60 — Hydropolitical Vulnerability and Resilience along International Waters: Latin America and the Caribbean