The Water and Sanitation Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean (OLAS), a digital platform that collects information on water and sanitation in Latin America and the Caribbean, contributes to the generation and publication of robust data related to Sustainable Development Goal 6. The concept for a water and sanitation data observatory for the region was launched at the LATINOSAN 2013. It materialized from the Declaration of San José at the LATINOSAN 2019, which established the countries’ commitment to create and implement the OLAS.
The second iteration of the OLAS platform, which was launched in late March 2024, incorporates several new features, including data visualization tools, knowledge resources, and functionalities aimed at improving collaboration through sectoral events and opportunities.
New functionalities
- Users can visit the resource repository to search over 200 research papers, national publications, and datasets related to water and sanitation in the region. The repository allows users to search by terms, categories, year of publication and geographic coverage.
The new page offers several new functionalities related to data visualization and management. Users can:
- search by topic or key word and explore associated datasets, methodologies and visualizations on the indicators page;
- explore quick insights using dashboards associated with water and sanitation access, water scarcity, and governance on the visualizations page; and
- cross their own data with OLAS data sets on the OLAS WebMap, a geospatial visualization tool.
The new iteration of the platform seeks to improve available knowledge resources. Users can:
- Use the directory of institutions to locate agencies, companies, and non-governmental organizations associated with service provision, regulation, and water resources management throughout the region;
- Follow the status of the OLAS’s national data diagnostics, which analyze the data ecosystems for countries throughout the region and produce improvement plans to facilitate better data production, transparency, and processing within the sector;
- Access Toolkits, which are groupings of resources focused on specific topics, creating a one-stop-shop for background research on issues related to water and sanitation;
- Access Fact Sheets, which provide short summaries of datasets, projects and publications produced by the OLAS and the IDB’s Water and Sanitation Knowledge team.
The site focuses largely on improving communication with users and promoting collaboration in the region. Users can:
- View upcoming events, register to participate, and view information about past events, including agendas, presentations, and workshop results;
- See the members of the Research and Development Network, apply for research opportunities, register for online classes, and access research produced by RID members, or apply to join the Research and Development network; or
- Contact the OLAS with questions, comments, and suggestions.
The new version of the platform also incorporates an administrator site, which allows members – national policy makers, members of the RID, and strategic partners – to upload data, documents, and other tools to the site, making it a true center for regional collaboration.
The OLAS continues to expand and improve to better serve the region. Currently, the team is planning to incorporate a blog and newsletter, so that interested users can register to receive the region’s latest water and sanitation news.
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