RALCEA - Latin American network of knowledge centres in the water sector
The specific objective of RALCEA is to foster information based policy and to promote south-south cooperation on capacity development in the water sector by supporting the development of a network of knowledge centres. The project duration is 4 years, starting from the second half of 2010. Its total foreseen budget is € 2.5 million, of which € 2,25 million are granted by the European Commission.
News
• Publication of the call for collaboration in the Project RALCEA of centres of excellence in the water sector.
• The deadline for receipt of applications in the DG Joint Research Centre mailbox is 30/04/2011.
Implementation
• The knowledge centres; which will be members of the network are selected.
o Analyse the institutional set up and select the centres.
• The network of knowledge centres in the water sector is established and presents a plan of activities.
o Define a plan of activities.
o Promote partnerships between the centres.
• The network of knowledge centres supports the policy making level.
o Design and implement a strategy on capacity building in the water sector.
Beneficiaries
The direct beneficiaries are represented:
o at scientific/technical level by the knowledge centres;
o at policy-making level, by practitioners, as well as officials and decision makers at governmental level and basin agencies.
The indirect beneficiary is the population of the Latin American countries as a whole, which would benefit from an increased coordination and capacity in the water sector.
Background
In Latin America there are a number of knowledge institutions with a high level of technical expertise and with a long experience in the water sector. However, these institutions have traditionally worked independently, isolated from each other, and disconnected from the policy level. This project will improve the water management governance beginning on a technical level cooperation in order to impact the decision making at political level.
The EU has acknowledged the significance of assisting Latin American countries in the water sector through partnerships to further strengthen multi-stakeholder policy dialogue and assist in institutional strengthening, in line with its main policy dialogue instrument in the water sector, the EU Water Initiative (EUWI).
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