GEF CReW+ Guatemala: Watershed Management Guide

Interview with Uver Villalobos, civil engineer and technical specialist at GIZ during the implementation of GEF CReW+, with contributions from Neftalí Calel, GIZ specialist in Guatemala.

Living in community means coexisting with people, animals, and nature; each plays a fundamental role in ecological balance. It is a setting where not only ecosystem services are obtained, making communities healthier and more resilient—but also one where various threats must be considered. These include water scarcity, loss of animal and plant species, deforestation, and different types of pollution that negatively affect natural resources and human life.

The communities around the Motagua River in Guatemala are not exempt from these conditions, which has driven them to protect and conserve water, as it is an essential part of their lives. As the river travels its 486 kilometers, they see it as the lifeblood that runs through the veins of Mother Earth, enabling life to flourish.

This awareness has motivated decision-makers, private sector stakeholders, and cooperation agencies to come together to discuss, coordinate, and plan development processes. It has also encouraged the continued strengthening of capacities and the implementation of actions to maintain ecological balance; resulting in social, economic, and environmental benefits from strategic watershed planning. This will help ensure a prosperous and sustainable future.

What was the existing problem, and how does the project address these challenges?

“The situation in the Motagua River watershed revolves around water and how it's managed. The GEF CReW+ project came with the goal of updating the ‘Guide for Developing a Watershed Management Plan’, modernizing its methods and integrating approaches like Integrated Water Resources Management, ecosystem-based adaptation, and climate change resilience.”

“The guide encourages active participation from local stakeholders, promoting collaboration between experts and communities through watershed technical committees and community boards so they can together transform management into something more organized, sustainable, and, above all, inclusive for all.”

How are the project’s objectives reflected in the Watershed Guide?

“The new guide is like an instruction manual: clear, practical, and complete with everything needed for integrated water management. It reflects teamwork, adaptation to current challenges like climate change, and the smart use of water. It’s an excellent tool for bringing order to watersheds and helping everyone understand how to effectively protect water resources.”

What contributions does this make toward a cleaner, healthier Caribbean—and specifically toward Guatemala’s challenges?

“The guide can be applied to 38 watersheds across the country, helping improve water quality and reduce pollution—not only protecting sources but also those beautiful rivers that make the Caribbean such a special place. In Guatemala, this tool acts like a ‘secret weapon’: it empowers communities, organizes information, and proposes smart solutions. In this way, vital ecosystems can gradually be restored and protected—making the Caribbean cleaner, healthier, and ultimately, happier.”

What was the process like to develop the guide and make it available to water and sanitation specialists?

“Developing the guide was a full-on collaboration. First, we did a ‘general check-up’ to identify what needed to be updated or improved. Then, we organized workshops and meetings with a lot of knowledge exchange among experts to produce a first draft. Finally, a consultation process was opened so that all potential users could provide input.”

“The result: an updated, practical guide, ready for water and sanitation specialists to use as their secret tool for making water management more efficient.”