Water resource management in Paraguay faces significant risks and challenges derived from climate change, which are further exacerbated by limited inter-institutional and intersectoral coordination and the absence of a comprehensive public policy that explicitly incorporates climate change adaptation. Changes in precipitation patterns, the increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves), and rising temperatures are contributing to reduced water availability, increased water stress in ecosystems, and a higher frequency and intensity of water-related disasters. 

To address these challenges, the water sector faces five priority barriers identified by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADES): i) Insufficient integration of climate change considerations into water resource management at the national and basin levels; ii) Limited coordination among public sector institutions for water management with an adaptation approach, both nationally and locally; ii) Limited participation of key stakeholders in decision-making processes, including vulnerable communities, women, Indigenous Peoples, the private sector, and civil society; iv) Lack of consolidation and availability of key, standardized, and updated information on water resources to support decision-making; v) Limited investments in climate resilience in the water sector, due to the lack of prioritization of climate change adaptation in resource allocation. These structural barriers hinder the resilience of the water sector and reduce the country's ability to address climate change risks, highlighting the need to develop a National Adaptation Plan on Water Resources (NAP WR). 

The goal of this proposal is to enhance the resilience of the water sector in Paraguay, through timely planning and management of both public and private actions. This proposal will develop a comprehensive National Adaptation Plan on Water Resources (NAP WR) to enhance interinstitutional coordination, articulation, and regulations for adaptive water management. This includes capacity building, the generation of information, data, and studies, fostering active stakeholder engagement throughout the process, and formulating a robust financing strategy for the successful implementation of the NAP WR.