World Vision inaugurated the Regional Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Forum in Comayagua, Honduras, bringing together government representatives, cooperation agencies, private sector partners, and civil society organizations to tackle pressing issues related to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The forum emphasized the urgency of accelerating efforts, as Joao H. Diniz, World Vision’s Regional Leader for LAC, highlighted that 1,000 children still die daily worldwide from diseases linked to inadequate WASH services.
Despite holding significant freshwater reserves, LAC faces stark inequalities in access to safe water and sanitation. Diniz noted that 166 million people in the region still lack dignified and safe water access, which contributes to humanitarian crises, migration pressures, and economic disruptions, particularly in vulnerable areas such as the Dry Corridor, the Amazon, Haiti, and Andean regions. He stressed that with less than four years remaining until 2030, action must accelerate significantly to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6, which aims to ensure universal access to water and sanitation.
World Vision presented its regional strategy, “The Blue Thread / El Hilo Azul,” which frames access to water, sanitation, and hygiene as a foundation for essential rights, including nutrition, health, child protection, environmental sustainability, and resilient livelihoods. Diniz explained that safe water goes beyond drinking needs—it encompasses ecosystem restoration, watershed protection, sustainable livelihoods, menstrual hygiene, and dignity for women, boys, and girls. Reports indicate that achieving SDG 6 at the current pace is insufficient, and substantial acceleration is needed to reach safely managed water and sanitation services across the region.
The forum highlighted the importance of multisector coordination, involving governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector, international partners, communities, and faith-based organizations. Diniz emphasized that collaborative action is essential to ensure water justice and holistic well-being for every child.
During the event, World Vision also launched AQUA Nexus, a platform designed to mobilize investments, innovative solutions, and strategic partnerships to strengthen water resilience in vulnerable communities. The platform aims to deliver tailored support based on donor priorities and community needs, fostering long-term, sustainable WASH solutions.
The Regional WASH Forum will include three strategic panels examining the current state of water, sanitation, and hygiene in LAC; mapping the ecosystem of sector stakeholders; and exploring trends, challenges, and financing opportunities. Stakeholders were invited to commit to joint and sustainable action to secure water justice and enhance well-being across the region.
