Esquemas de participación público-privada en el sector del agua y saneamiento en Latinoamérica

The present work deals with the need for looking innovative and creative co-financing mechanisms in local public work projects, especially in the water and sanitation sector. Those, generally, are a competence of local governments in Latin America. In a highly marked context in which local governments have to provide resources for public works, since they are not receiving considerable nonrefundable contributions (subventions) from the central government; local authorities are facing a big challenge: "accomplish with their obligation (mandatory) of providing high quality public services to their citizens, in a scarce resources scenario". Under this perspective, the participation of other financial and management schemes for public services, as the public/private participation model (mixed economy companies, concessions), could start gaining more importance. However, these schemes should be framed in a transparent participative model, in which all the beneficiaries have an active participation in the decision making process. This will assure the support for this kind of initiatives, building between all the participants a transparent policy regarding local public expenditure.