On November 17, FONPLATA took part in a high-level roundtable discussion on financing and promoting sustainable and climate-resilient water and energy infrastructures.

The event Financing for Development and the Water-Energy Nexus: Financing Resilient Infrastructure and Promoting Climate Adaptation was organized by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) and the D20 Long-Term Investors Club (D20-LTIC), in collaboration with the Italian Ministries of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE) and of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).

The meeting brought together leading international financial institutions and strategic partnerships, such as the Mediterranean Blue Alliance and the FiCS PDBs for Water Initiative. Discussions highlighted how blended finance, project finance, and climate risk insurance can mobilize capital for sustainable water and energy infrastructure.

The panel featured Eliana Dam, FONPLATA’s Vice President of Operations and Countries; Cristina Morelli, CDP’s Head of Sovereign Financing, Financial Institutions, and Corporate Financing; Jahan Chowdhury, IFAD’s Senior Technical Specialist in Environment and Climate; and Pierfrancesco Latini, Acea’s Director of Risk, Compliance, and Sustainability. The session was moderated by Enrico Petrocelli, D20-LTIC Secretary General and CDP's Head of International Institutional Relations.

FONPLATA presented some practical examples of integrated water and energy initiatives that enhance climate resilience and strengthen water security in vulnerable regions.

Eliana Dam stated: “At FONPLATA, we have found that when water and energy are connected, the results are stronger: you cannot have resilient communities without both. Every dollar must work twice; every project must solve multiple problems. That is why we finance solutions that combine infrastructure and nature: from a substation in Paraguay that connects thousands of people with clean hydroelectric power, to the Harvesting Water, Sowing Light project in Bolivia, which transforms 1,500 vulnerable homes by providing rainwater collectors and solar panels.”

She also highlighted an initiative in Cascavel, Brazil, where a macro-drainage project integrates green parks to control flooding and create community spaces: “This integrated approach is no longer optional; it is critical for building a resilient and inclusive Latin America,” concluded the Vice President of Operations.

11/19/2025