FONPLATA representatives participated in working meetings in the Argentine province of Mendoza to advance the preparation of bidding documents for the implementation of a Gender and Diversity Plan at Aguas Mendocinas (AYSAM), a pioneering initiative in Argentina’s water and sanitation sector.

The meetings brought together the Mendoza Province’s Gender and Diversity Directorate, Aguas y Saneamiento Mendoza (AYSAM), the International Financing Unit (UFI) of the Ministry of Economy, and FONPLATA. The institutions worked jointly on the terms and conditions for the upcoming procurement process, which will guide the implementation of a Gender and Diversity Plan at the provincial water and sanitation utility.

The initiative forms part of the Drinking Water Services Optimization and Expansion Program, financed by FONPLATA, and aims to structurally incorporate a gender and diversity perspective into a historically male-dominated sector. Its goal is to strengthen equal opportunities and promote workplace inclusion.

Carolina Benítez and Agustín Nacinovich represented FONPLATA in meetings with Mendoza’s Director of Gender and Diversity, Fernanda Urquiza; AYSAM’s General Manager, Darío Hernández; Human Resources Manager, Verónica Paoloni; the head of the Procurement Division at the Ministry of Economy, Rosana Dris; and technical teams from the participating institutions.

A Sector-Leading Initiative

The upcoming call for bids—expected in the coming months—will set a national precedent by incorporating, for the first time, gender and diversity clauses into procurement documents in the water and sanitation sector. These provisions will promote equal opportunities, training on gender and diversity issues, and the prevention of workplace violence, contributing to more inclusive and equitable work environments.

The proposal is part of a four-year technical cooperation agreement between the Gender and Diversity Directorate and AYSAM, designed to strengthen gender mainstreaming across the company’s institutional management.

Expanding Inclusion and Opportunities

Planned actions include the development of protocols for preventing and addressing situations of violence, training programs on women’s leadership and new masculinities, and community-based technical courses for women in vulnerable situations, aimed at expanding employment opportunities in a strategic sector for the province’s development.

Development with Social Impact

This initiative demonstrates how investments in infrastructure and basic services can generate broader social benefits—linking access to safe drinking water and sanitation with the promotion of rights, social inclusion, and expanded opportunities for more equitable and resilient communities.