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The voices of water
Women at the Heart of Transformation in Integrated Water Resource Management
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In Olopa, Guatemala, Modesta Desdicho, an Indigenous woman and mother of four, has transformed her family’s life by gaining access to safe, filtered water. For years, she relied on a nearby well, but the poor water quality led to recurring illnesses and significant expenses for bottled water—a luxury that many rural families cannot afford.
"Water means everything to me. I’m learning that as a woman, I have the power to protect it,"
says Modesta as she cleans the water filter in her home.
Transformation in Vulnerable Communities
Through this project, over 1,500 water filters have been distributed, benefiting more than 10,000 people, about 50% of whom are women and youth. In Olopa, 160 families now enjoy access to filtered water. Communities have reported a 26% reduction in gastrointestinal illnesses, and the filter adoption rate has reached 99%, demonstrating their effectiveness and acceptance.
The impact of water filters extends beyond individual households. In Concepción Las Minas, Guatemala, filtered water has improved artisanal cheese production, ensuring safer products for producers and consumers. This change has generated income and strengthened local economic activities.
"Now I know the water we use is clean and safe. It’s a peace of mind we’ve never had before,"
Modesta explains.
Women Leading the Change
In the Trifinio region, access to filtered water improves health, strengthens social cohesion, and fosters resilience. The project promotes Integrated Water Resource Management by empowering communities and placing women at the center of sustainable actions.
Through training on water care and natural resource protection, women have gained the tools to lead local initiatives that improve the quality of life in their communities.
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"The filter is not just a tool; it’s an opportunity to teach others to value water,"
says Modesta. These training sessions enable women not only to protect water but also to take on leading roles as guardians of water resources and agents of change in their households and communities.
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Similarly, in El Salvador, Mirna Ramos has experienced economic relief. "Thanks to the filter, I’ve saved about $40 a month that I used to spend on bottled water. That money now goes toward other important family needs. Having a filter not only provides us with water we can safely drink but also brings a sense of economic stability," she shares.
These stories reflect how access to essential resources, like filtered water, improves health, reduces economic burdens, and allows women to focus on other critical aspects of their lives and families.
Empowering Women and Building Resilience
These actions strengthen women’s leadership and promote gender equity, enabling them to become powerful voices within their communities. Additionally, they contribute to a more inclusive and resilient water management system in the upper Lempa River basin, creating a sustainable and lasting impact for present and future generations.
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For Modesta and her community, access to filtered water represents an immediate improvement in quality of life and a transformative opportunity to redefine their future.
"Caring for water means caring for our families,"
Modesta affirms, encapsulating these actions' deep and lasting impact.
The success of the GEF-Trifinio project lies in the promotion and facilitation of tri-national cooperation, ensuring the success and sustainability of its initiative.
Private companies such as Sawyer and PepsiCo have also contributed key resources, which have been integrated and enhanced through the coordinated efforts of the GEF – Trifinio project and the CTPT. The distribution of filters and the promotion of sustainable practices have been made possible through the project’s leadership, channeling these contributions into concrete actions.
These public-private partnerships complement the project’s efforts, demonstrating the power of collaboration when framed within a clear and well-managed strategy.
A Transformative Model
The Fostering Water Security in the Trifinio Region project exemplifies how international cooperation and community empowerment can drive profound and lasting change. With an innovative, inclusive, and sustainable approach, it is creating a replicable model for water resource management in other regions.
In Trifinio, the voices of water resonate as a powerful call for sustainability. Thanks to a union of efforts, solutions that transcend borders and generations are being built, ensuring a resilient and sustainable future.
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About the project
The project “Fostering Water Security in the Trifinio Region: Formulating a TDA/SAP for the Transboundary Lempa River Basin” is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It is executed by the Organization of American States (OAS) in coordination with the Trinational Commission of the Trifinio Plan (CTPT) across El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
The project spans 48 months and aims to foster water security in the upper Lempa River basin while increasing the resilience of its ecosystems to climate variability and change.
Key objectives include:
- Strengthening environmental governance frameworks and transboundary cooperation for the shared natural resources of the Lempa River Basin.
- Identifying sustainable financing mechanisms to address the basin's priority environmental issues.
- Engaging communities and the private sector through demonstrative projects that enhance their capacity to apply ecosystem-based management approaches for activities supporting human health and livelihoods.
- Raising awareness about the benefits of integrated water resource management approaches for both human communities and the environment.
Together, these activities aim to initiate transformative changes that will guide the Lempa River Basin toward greater water security and developing climate-resilient ecosystems.
For more information on the project ‘Fostering Water Security in the Trifinio Region’, contact:
- Andrés Sánchez (asanchez@oas.org), Manager of the Water for the Americas Programme at the Organization of American States.
- Misael León (maleon@oas.org), Regional Coordinator of the GEF-Trifinio Project.
- Emmanuel Fontalvo (efontalvo@oas.org), Knowledge Management and Communications Specialist, GEF-Trifinio Project.
or visit the dedicated page on iwlearn.net.