This document summarizes the work of GWP CAM in building legitimacy and mandate through partnerships in Central America to address climate change through integrated water resources management and boost national development. Key points include: 1) GWP CAM has worked closely with regional political bodies like SICA and CCAD since 2000 and signed MoUs to coordinate on issues like climate change adaptation. 2) National partnerships have also been built with water directorates and development banks to mainstream climate adaptation and IWRM. 3) Recent steps include joint work on a program concept note, capacity building, and engaging water and climate change officials to strengthen coordination and policymaking. 4) Lessons indicate that developing

1. Addressing Climate Change through
IWRM to boost national development in
Central America – lessons on how we
built legitimacy and mandate
GWP Regional Days, August 23 – 2012
Fabiola Tábora
GWP CAM – Regional coordinator

2. Content
1. Background on relationships development with strategic
partners
2. Brief description of the Programme
3. Latest steps during past few months
4. Lessons learned on how to build legitimacy and «mandate»

3. Benchmarks on the development of partnerships
Regional Political Bodies
•2000: GWP began to work closely with SICA  preparation of
PACADIRH
•2003-2010: GWP has being a strategic ally to CCAD in the preparation
of the IWRM Central American Strategy
•2009: MoUs signed with CAm Comission of Environment (CCAD) and
CAm Hydraulic Resources Committee (CRRH)  part of SICA
•2010: part of the Regional (LAC) Policy Dialogue for Water and
Climate Change Adaptation

4. Benchmarks on the development of partnerships
Regional Development Bank
•CABEI  SC member was entry point to build the relationshipVice-
President in 2010 CP  Letitia in Honduras and MOU signed.
National Governments
•Work together with GWP all water directorates are GWP partners
and good coordination of ongoing actions… often facilitated by SC
members

5. Brief description of the Programme
General Objective:
Contribute to sustainable economic development through promoting water
security as a strategic element for climate change and variability adaptation
Components:
•To incorporate climate change adaptation and IWRM as high priority
mainstreaming topics in the national development agendas throughout Cam
•To contribute to building institutional capacity to reduce vulnerability and for
climate change adaptation through sustainable water management.
•To promote the design and implementation of sustainable funding strategies
that will allow developing actions geared to sustainable water management,
reducing vulnerability and to climate change adaptation.

6. Some steps forward…
• Joint preparation of the concept note of The Programme (requested by
GWPO)  engagement of CCAD focal point of CC
Definition of process for strenghening the capacities of water directors and
climate change directors (requested by pro-tempore Chair of CCAD) 
submitted to CC Technical Committee of CCAD  the results of the
Regional Policy Dialogue were an important input  part of the Inception
Phase to start implementation of The programme

7. Some steps forward...
• Meeting held with National Negotiators to:
– Identify the level of inclusion of water
– Strengthen the incorporation of water in the international adaptation
agenda.
– Promote IWRM as an adaptation approach
• This group has started talking about water and CC!!!
• Recommendation to Ministers to realize a technical and political
analysis of the convenience of including water as part of the
international negotiations under the climate change convention

8. Some steps forward…
• Meeting with water directors and climate change directors  promoted
dialogue and experience exchange
• Identification of opportunities to strenghten capacities of national institutions
working on policy-making and implementation of CC and water related
initiatives:
– Coordination of institutional strategies on CC and water resources to
improve efficiency.
– The need to build institutional capacities on water management
– Improve the mechanisms for generation of water and climatic
information reduce uncertainty

9. Lessons on how we built legitimacy and mandate:
• Developing trust and credibility takes TIME
• React to needs & build a collaborative relation with national
governments
• Strategic alliances are key to start the process: SICA, RPD, IUCN
• Countries are interested in moving forward but need a facilitator!
• Political buy-in and support is essential  pro-tempore chair
• The existence of a regional political entity facilitates the process
• Support of SC members can catalise processes (i.e. CABEI,
closeness to national govts)
• Is an ongoing process…

10. Muchas gracias