Regional dialogue in Latin America and the Caribbean addresses water tenure as a key factor for food security and climate resilience
The meeting brought together representatives from governments, international organizations, academia, and civil society to discuss responsible water governance in the region.
February 2026.- Globally, water security is at the center of discussions on sustainable development, agriculture, and climate action. In Latin America and the Caribbean, water management has become a priority issue, which is why regional processes are being promoted to encourage dialogue and cooperation between countries to strengthen governance and its contribution to food security, inclusion, and climate resilience.
In this context, on February 10 and 11, Panama City hosted the Diálogo Regional Regional Dialogue on Water Tenure in Latin America and the Caribbean,a forum aimed at strengthening water governance and developing recommendations that reflect the region's territorial and sectoral diversity. The meeting brought together representatives from governments, international organizations, community organizations, academia, and the private sector.
As part of the Regional Dialogue agenda, a high-level panel was held on regional experiences of States in water governance. During this panel, alongside government representatives and strategic allies, Orlando Chirinos, Deputy Minister of Family Farming Development, Agricultural Infrastructure, and Irrigation of Peru and president of the Platform of Latin America and the Caribbean for Climate Action on Agriculture (PLACA), participated.
The challenges associated with water management are neither isolated nor unique to any one country. Asymmetry in water distribution, conflicts over access, informal rights, and the impacts of climate change at the local level are shared problems throughout the region. Considering that agriculture is the main user of water in the region, advancing clear and equitable tenure frameworks is very important for strengthening governance, food security, and reducing vulnerabilities to climate change. In this context, PLACA is consolidating itself as a space for coordination that contributes to connecting agendas that often advance in parallel: water, agriculture, climate change, territorial equity, and governance.
Participation in this type of regional forum reinforces the importance of maintaining dialogue between countries and various sectors in order to advance common approaches to water management. Initiatives such as this Regional Dialogue contribute to the continuity of ongoing processes and strengthen cooperation on water resource governance in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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