The third Cumbre por la Gobernanza del Agua in Neiva, Huila, marked a significant step forward for water governance in Colombia. From 29 to 31 October, regional environmental authorities, national institutions, and international partners came together to strengthen integrated water management.
The summit led to the signing of the Declaration of Neiva – a milestone agreement that ensures regional experiences will be embedded in future national water policy. This commitment aims to make policy not only sound on paper, but effective in practice for communities across Colombia.
The programme was designed to combine strategic dialogue with practical insights:
Day 1 – Updating the National Water Management Plan (PNGIRH)
Discussions focused on revising Colombia’s national water management plan. Ahead of the summit, online sessions with all CARs (regional environmental authorities) prepared joint recommendations for the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. These proposals reflect lessons learned from regional implementation and will guide future policy updates.
Day 2 – Technology, Data, and Information
The second day explored how technological innovation and data-driven decision-making can improve water governance. Experts from InspirAgua contributed their knowledge on monitoring, information management, and smart solutions for sustainable water systems.
Day 3 – Field Visit to Las Ceibas
The final day brought theory into practice with a visit to the Las Ceibas river basin. Participants examined climate adaptation, spatial planning, crisis management, and monitoring in action, concluding with a cultural programme that highlighted the connection between water and community life.
The meeting, co-organised by partners ASOCARS and Corporación Autónoma Regional del Alto Magdalena (CAM) marked an important moment for collaboration between Dutch water authorities and Colombian partners within the InspirAgua programme. Nearly all regional environmental authorities in Colombia participated, sharing insights on how national water policies work in practice. These lessons – including what does not work – are essential for improvement.
Beyond these sessions, the summit featured keynote speeches and thematic panels with CARs, local communities, development partners, and academics. The resulting technical declaration consolidates successful experiences and lessons learned, supporting the update of the PNGIRH and reinforcing Colombia’s commitment to integrated water governance.
This milestone lays a strong foundation for continued collaboration between Colombian authorities and the InspirAgua partnership. The shared ambition is clear: improved water quality, reduced flood risks, and access to safe and sufficient water for all.
In the video below, listen to InspirAgua’s Ellen Bollen as she explains the significance of this collaboration and the impact of the Declaration of Neiva.