CARA

(Central American Water Resource Management Network)

Member countries:
Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Bolivia.   Support from Canada and Mexico.

Objectives: 
The Central American Water Resource Management Network (CARA) was initiated in 1999 to build capacity in hydrogeology and water resource management throughout the Central America region.  The emphasis on groundwater reflects the greater than 80% dependence on groundwater for water supply throughout the Central American region.  CARA’s approach is to strengthen national universities to deliver applied two-year M.Sc. programs.  The first CARA M.Sc. program began in 1995 at the University of Costa Rica.  Two additional programs were added in 2000 at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua and the University of San Carlos, Guatemala.   The fourth CARA M.Sc. program began in 2007 at the University of El Salvador and the fifth program began in 2008 at the University of San Francisco Xavier (Sucre, Bolivia).  The sixth program will begin in 2009 at the National Autonomous University of Honduras.  Each M.Sc. program includes a core water science curricula complimented by curricula covering community water management, integrated water resource management, watershed management, economic and legal instruments and water policy.  Financial support is primarily from the Canadian International Development Agency and technical support is primarily provided by the University of Calgary and the University of Waterloo  The specific objectives of the CARA Network are:

• To create high quality MSc programs in the field of integrated water resource management emphasizing hydrogeology at Central American universities.
• Link all the above academic programs to each other and other regional organizations.
• Influence policy/management of Central American water resources through training, workshops, conferences and other national and international level activities.

Outputs:

• Five two-year M.Sc. programs up-and-running (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Bolivia).  One program to start in 2009 (Honduras).
• Over 100 students trained (or in training at present) at M.Sc. level (about 40% female)
• Over 1800 students trained through short courses.
• Each M.Sc. students has conducted an applied “community-based” thesis project.
• First CARA Congress held in Managua, 2005.
• 20 professors trained and working on M.Sc. programs with improved infrastructure, libraries, laboratories and equipment.
• Each M.Sc. program is linked to each other, to provide regional support, and to each country’s water sector including government programs, international agencies, NGO’s and municipalities.

Documents:

Final Report 2005 (Click to download)
CARA Network activities 1999-2005

Bolivia Project Report 2007-08 (Click to download)
CARA Network activities in Bolivia

El Salvador-Honduras Project Report 2007-08 (Click to download)
CARA Network activities in El Salvador and Honduras