Using policy-based strategic environmental assessments in water supply and sanitation sector reforms: the cases of Argentina and Colombia

Abstract

This paper reviews the strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) that were prepared to incorporate environmental considerations in water supply and sanitation sector (WSS) reforms in Argentina and Colombia. Based on the reviewed cases and on existing literature, the paper proposes a methodology specifically designed to incorporate environmental considerations in the design and implementation of public policies, in this case water supply and sanitation policies. The proposed methodology has the potential to overcome the limitations that arise when traditional SEA methodologies are applied in the policy context. It can be conceptualized as consisting of: identification of sector priorities; incorporation of the perspectives of multiple stakeholders; institutional and political economy analysis; incorporation of environmental considerations in public policies; and social learning for continuous policy improvement.

Keywords:

• strategic environmental assessment
• institutional reforms
• water supply and sanitation sector
• policy-based SEA
• Colombia
• Argentina