Cooperative Agreement # 72052718CA00002: Natural Infrastructure for Water Security Project

The project is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Canada. In the second quarter of FY2020, NIWS deepened its collaboration with priority clients, supporting the development of over $20 million in investments that are expected to mobilize funds from these actors in the next 3 to 18 months. On the shorter-term horizon, NIWS has a portfolio of 6 additional projects in the final stages of design and approval, representing over $10 million that is expected to be mobilized by the end of the fiscal year. NIWS is developing these portfolios by engaging and building the capacity of project developers, including engineering firms and NGOs, who will be the ecosystem service providers in a future Peruvian ecosystem services market. This quarter, NIWS marked a key milestone in building broad capacities for designing effective natural infrastructure investments with the publication of the first set of CUBHIC methodologies. CUBHIC fill a critical gap in Peru, offering simple, site-level methods for generating quantified estimates of benefits in terms of dry season flow and reduced sedimentation for the most common natural infrastructure interventions. As the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 forced NIWS to pause and shift its approach, the project has continued to work from home, as have a number of its contractors and counterparts. As a result of current restrictions, NIWS has reviewed and proposed an adjusted work plan to USAID to protect its community, support public health efforts, and minimize continued disruption to its strategy. The project is working to build a common vision on natural infrastructure for water security through the Water Governance and Policy Dialogues, and is also developing a roadmap for understanding the requirements for archeological certifications for natural infrastructure investments. NIWS has also facilitated exchange and learning on natural infrastructure advances and solutions among public counterparts through the NIWS Technical Platform, with presentations ranging from IOARR guidelines to CUBHIC methodologies to the gender gaps publication. Additionally, the project has worked to strengthen institutional capacity with SUNASS, ANA, and SEDAPAL, including through an exchange with SEDAPAL and Latin America's leading water utility investing in natural infrastructure.