GEF CReW highlights Lessons Learned through the establishment of Sustainable Financial Mechanisms and Capacity Building for better Wastewater Management at the 24th Annual CWWA Conference and Exhibition

25^th August 2015

Miami, Florida, 24 – 28 August 2015

The Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association’s 24^th Annual Conference and Exhibition is being held in Miami, Florida, this week, 24^th – 28^th August 2015.  More than 300 professionals involved in the water, wastewater and solid waste industries are sharing their work, discussing new technological and other developments, and networking towards “Improving the Quality of Life through Water and Waste Management Solutions” - this year’s conference theme.

On Monday 24^th August, GEF CReW wound up one of the pre-Conference meetings - a two-day Regional Workshop on Resource Valuation that shared the results of pilot studies conducted in Panama and Trinidad and Tobago by the World Resources Institute; the full report of which will be released in two weeks.

For the fourth consecutive year, the GEF CReW Project is participating in the Exhibition and the Technical Sessions to share project developments, experiences and lessons learned.  Four technical presentations are being given based upon the Project’s work in the past year:

• “Wastewater Management Plans: Can we improve the sector without them?” – Christopher Corbin, AMEP Programme Officer, UNEP.
• “The Enemy within – Development without Treatment: Making a Case for Improved Wastewater Management in Guyana.” – Rensforde Joseph, Guyana Pilot Project Technical Specialist.
• “Economic Valuation of the Benefits of Improved Wastewater Treatment in the Caribbean”- Lauretta Burke, World Resources Institute.
• “Innovative Financing Mechanisms – Why the CReW is not only about Constructing Wastewater Treatment Plants.” – Marlon Daniels, Guyana Pilot Project Coordinator.

            In addition the following presentation is being made, in association with GEF CReW:

• “Making the Case for Increasing Public and Private Investments in Wastewater Treatment: the Importance of Integrating Effects on Natural Capital.”- Elizabeth Bradford of CH2M Hill.

GEF CReW, along with the United Nations Environment Programme Regional Coordinating Unit for the Caribbean (UNEP CAR/RCU), is also collaborating with CWWA and the Global Water Partnership – Caribbean (GWP-C), to host the 11^th Annual High Level Session (HLS) Ministerial Forum on 27^th and 28^th August under the theme “Connecting Water to Climate, Economic Growth and Development Within the Post-2015 Development Agenda.”  Caribbean Ministers with responsibility for water resources management from more than ten countries are expected to participate in this important meeting which will allow them an opportunity to discuss critical regional water and climate issues, at a time when both water and climate change are among priorities in the soon to be confirmed UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Christopher Corbin, Assessment of Marine Pollution Programme Officer, UNEP, will, on behalf of GEF CReW and UNEP’s Caribbean Environment Programme address Ministers on challenges and opportunities for improving wastewater management in the region.

For more information on the 11^th Annual High Level Session (HLS) Ministerial Forum see: 

Download Press Release – 2015 High Level Forum of Caribbean Water Ministers

Download 2015 High Level Forum Brief

11^th High Level Forum Agenda

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For more information contact:

Donna Sue Spencer
Communications Specialist
Global Environment Facility-funded Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management (GEF CReW)
UNEP Caribbean Regional Coordinating Unit (UNEP CAR/RCU)
14 - 20 Port Royal Street
Kingston, Jamaica
Tel. (876) - 922 - 9267 to 9
Fax: (876) - 922 - 9292
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.