Water Governance in Argentina

Preface
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Acronyms and abbreviations
Executive summary
	Key findings
		Water risks and megatrends
		Water resources management
		Water services provision
	Policy recommendations
		Raise further the profile of water in the national agenda
		Water resources management
		Water services provision
Chapter 1.  Pressing and emerging water risks in Argentina
	Key data
	Water risks hinder inclusive and sustainable development
		Water and the economy
		Water and the environment
		Water and social inclusion
	Exogenous factors affecting water management in Argentina
		Argentina’s federal system
		Macroeconomic environment
		Urbanisation and territorial development
		Climate change
		Digitalisation and technology
	The National Water Plan as a response to water risks
	References
Chapter 2.  Multi-level governance of water management in Argentina
	Water management in Argentina: A multi-level governance approach
		Water services provision
		Water resources management
	Institutional mapping of water roles and responsibilities
		Who does what at the national level
		Who does what at the subnational level
		International co-operation
	Key governance challenges to water security
		Effectiveness of water governance
			Fragmentation
			Scale
			Policy coherence
			Capacity at the subnational level
		Efficiency of water governance
			Data and information
			Investment framework
			Economic regulation
			Innovation
		Trust and engagement
			Integrity and transparency
			Stakeholder engagement
	Policy recommendations
		Securing inter-governmental agreements towards water security
		Strengthening the planning framework to ensure water is managed at the right scale
		Enhancing cross-sector co-ordination through existing federal councils for greater policy coherence and consistency
		Building capacity of responsible authorities at subnational level to adapt their level of expertise to the complexity of the water challenges to be met
		Developing an integrated water information system through sound incentives across levels of government
		Strengthening the enabling environment for water-related investment
		Strengthening economic regulation
		Leveraging innovation and technology  to manage water risks
	Notes
	References
Chapter 3.  Water resources governance in Argentina
	Argentina’s climatic, hydrological and river basin system
	Legal framework for water resources management
		National level
		Provincial level
	Institutional framework
		National level
		Interjurisdictional level
		Provincial level
		Metropolitan level
		International level
	Water resources governance challenges
		Fragmentation of roles and responsibilities
		Weak water planning framework at all levels of government
			National water-related planning focuses on infrastructure delivery
			Interjurisdictional river basin committees are still not equipped to operate as planning agencies
			Provincial water planning varies across jurisdictions
			Challenges to co-ordinate national, provincial and basin planning
		Weak basin management practices
			Insufficient use of economic instruments
			Patchy and insufficient data and information
			Stakeholder engagement
	Policy recommendations
		Rejuvenate the Federal Water Agreement to improve water resources governance
		Establish multi-level water planning framework for Argentina
		Strengthen basin governance arrangements at all levels of government
		Design and implement economic instruments as a key policy tool to increase efficiency in water use
		Develop an integrated water resources information system
	References
		Annex 3.A. Case study: Province of Mendoza
	Key facts and features
	Legal framework
	Institutional framework
	Key water resources governance challenges
		Planning
		Water rights
		Economic instruments
		Information
	Policy recommendations
	References
		Annex 3.B. Case study: Interjurisdictional Authority  of the Limay, Neuquen and Negro River Basin (AIC)
	Key facts and features
	Legal and institutional framework
	Water resources governance challenges
		Planning
		Economic instruments
		Data and information
	Policy recommendations
	References
Chapter 4.  Water services governance in Argentina
	Access to water and sanitation services
	Quality and management of water and sanitation services
		Efficiency of water services providers
		Cost recovery of water services providers
		Data performance of water and sanitation service providers
	Legal and institutional framework for water and sanitation services in Argentina
		The legacy of the privatisation era
		The present legal and institutional setting
		At national level
		At subnational level
	Regulatory functions and processes for water and sanitation services in Argentina
		Quality and reliability standards
		Tariff regulation
		Incentives for an efficient use of resources and spending
		Social obligations
		Participation of users and consumers
		Handling consumer complaints and disputes
		Collection of information
		Performance monitoring of service provision
	Policy recommendations
		Provide a national overarching legal framework to support regulation consistency and set common water supply and sanitation policy criteria across the country
		Align national and provincial water and sanitation services policy objectives through financial incentive mechanisms
		Implement continuous and uniform information collection and performance monitoring
		Strengthen the independence of subnational regulators to lower the risk of political interference
		Strengthen and promote vertical and horizontal co-ordination
			Vertical co-ordination between national and provincial levels
			Horizontal co-ordination at provincial level
		Support autonomous, efficient and financially sustainable water and sanitation services operators
		Corporatisation, organisation and management
		Accountability and stakeholder engagement
		Addressing financial sustainability
	Notes
	References
		Annex 4.A. Case study: Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires
	Key facts and features
	Legal and institutional framework
		Rationale
		Main players and instruments
	Key water and sanitation services challenges
		Service coverage
		Regulatory framework and co-ordination
		Financial and environmental sustainability
		Efficiency
		Stakeholder engagement
	Policy recommendations
	References
		Annex 4.B. Case study: Province of Santa Fe
	Key facts and features
	Legal and institutional framework
		Rationale
		Main players and instruments
	Key water and sanitation services challenges
		Service coverage
		Investment planning
		Financial sustainability
		Independence of the regulator
		Stakeholder engagement
	Policy recommendations
	Notes
	References
Annex A. List of stakeholders consulted during the policy dialogue