United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

Mission: Provides substantive secretariat services and documentation for the Commission and its subsidiary bodies; undertakes studies, research and other support activities within the terms of reference of the Commission; promotes economic and social development through regional and subregional cooperation and integration; gathers, organizes, interprets and disseminates information and data relating to the economic and social development of the region; provides advisory services to governments at their request and plans, organizes and executes programmes of technical cooperation; formulates and promotes development cooperation activities and projects of regional and subregional scope commensurate with the needs and priorities of the region and acts as an executing agency for such projects; organizes conferences and intergovernmental and expert group meetings and sponsors training workshops, symposia and seminars; assists in bringing a regional perspective to global problems and forums and introduces global concerns at the regional and subregional levels; coordinates ECLAC activities with those of the major departments and offices at United Nations Headquarters, specialized agencies and intergovernmental organizations with a view to avoiding duplication and ensuring complementarity in the exchange of information.

Description: ECLAC is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. It was founded with the purpose of contributing to the economic development of Latin America, coordinating actions directed towards this end, and reinforcing economic ties among countries and with other nations of the world. The promotion of the region's social development was later included among its primary objectives.

More information on water-related activities: here

ECLAC's Homepage: here