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 … [Read more...] about Laura Guanoluisa: The advocate for waste workers
Water
Gender equality: a pillar for sustainable infrastructure
Latin America and the Caribbean faces a complex socioeconomic situation: high inflation, increasing poverty and inequality. The context worsens from a gender perspective, as women are often the most affected. In the region, female poverty exceeds their male counterparts by more than three percentage points on average. This is a true reflection of the inequality in our … [Read more...] about Gender equality: a pillar for sustainable infrastructure
The Water vs. Climate Change Paradox
*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 … [Read more...] about The Water vs. Climate Change Paradox
Nature Based Solutions mitigate the effects of climate change
*By Raphaëlle Ortiz, María Augusta Olmedo, Anamaría Núñez, Seminar Session 1: Tools for valuing ecosystems and nature-based solutions The first of three sessions of the seminar of the Focus on the Americas in World Water Week addressed valuing ecosystem services and nature-based solutions (NBS). It introduced NBS and explored several tools that could help governments, … [Read more...] about Nature Based Solutions mitigate the effects of climate change
Resilient infrastructure in the Caribbean
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 … [Read more...] about Resilient infrastructure in the Caribbean