IDB-Israel Collaboration: Improving Capacities in Water Resource Technologies

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The main objective of this Technical Cooperation (TC) is to assist IDB´s borrowing member countries in improving their knowledge and strengthening their capacity for the development and adoption of innovative technologies and management systems in the water and wastewater treatment/reuse sectors. The TC will address key water and wastewater challenges in the Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC) that include: (i) reduced water availability (surface and groundwater), with extensive area in LAC experiencing high water scarcity due to extreme droughts; (ii) high water losses caused by deteriorating water infrastructure, with up to 50% of water losses in many urban water systems; (iii) insufficient development of alternative sources of water that are ecologically, economically and financially sustainable, including very limited development of desalination plants and high costs; (iv) weak regulatory frameworks and lack of capacities among water authorities, commissions and utilities to promote and adopt technological innovations; and (v) insufficient wastewater treatment and reuse programs (only 18% of wastewater is treated, and a minimal portion of this is reused) thus contributing to the deterioration of environmental conditions in water stream and bodies, and to a sub-utilization of water reuse in agriculture, industry and service sectors. To address these challenges, the IDB and the Ministry of Economic and Trade Affairs of Israel have agreed to engage in a technical collaboration program with IDB funding and Israel's contribution through a Project Specific Grant.