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Colombia secures $9 bn CAF financing as water tariffs rise up to 25%
The incoming Colombian government announced a US$9 billion financing agreement with the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) to support infrastructure, health, energy security and territorial development through 2030. At the same time, the national Sistema General de Participaciones (SGP) has disbursed about 95 % of its 2026 allocations, amounting to 88.35 trillion pesos, to fund municipal and departmental services, including water and sanitation projects.
The Caldas Department approved the transfer of 11.444 billion pesos from the SGP to its Departmental Water Plan, earmarked for construction, expansion and rehabilitation of water and sewage infrastructure. The incoming administration also asked the Attorney General to intervene preventively in a $786 billion desalination contract for Santa Marta, citing planning and transparency risks.
Separately, the Metropolitan Water Company of Bucaramanga implemented a new tariff scheme that will raise water charges by up to 25 % and sewerage fees by up to 22 % from July 2026, following a national methodology set by the Water Regulation Commission (CRA).
Entities
Abelardo De La Espriella · Acueducto Metropolitano de Bucaramanga (AMB) · Bucaramanga Metropolitan Water Company (AMB) · CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean) · Caldas Department · Caldas Department · Colombia · Colombian national government · Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) · Santa Marta · Santa Marta desalination project · Sistema General de Participaciones
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The 2024 territorial autonomy reform will raise municipal and departmental shares of national current income from 24% to 39.5% over twelve years starting in 2027. diariodelcauca.com.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Caldas Department approved the transfer of 11.444 billion pesos from the SGP to its Departmental Water Plan for water and sanitation infrastructure. www.eje21.com.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] President‑elect Abelardo De La Espriella’s anti‑corruption transition team requested the Attorney General to intervene preventively in a $786 billion desalination contract for Santa Marta. www.elcallejero.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Santa Marta desalination project was originally planned as two plants, prompting concerns about budget, technical and financial requirements, and contract transparency. www.elcallejero.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] For 2026, Colombia transferred about 88.35 trillion pesos under the SGP, with 95% already disbursed. diariodelcauca.com.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] President‑elect Abelardo De La Espriella's anti‑corruption transition team requested preventive intervention by the Attorney General in a $786 billion desalination contract for Santa Marta. www.elcallejero.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] SGP transferred 95 % of the 2026 budget, amounting to 88.35 trillion pesos, with 4.67 trillion pesos still pending. diariodelcauca.com.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The transferred funds will finance construction, expansion, rehabilitation and optimization of water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Caldas municipalities. www.eje21.com.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The desalination contract aims to provide water supply to Santa Marta via a plant(s) with a budget of $786 billion. www.elcallejero.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Legislative Act 03 of 2024 will increase municipal and departmental shares of national revenue from 24 % to 39.5 % over twelve years starting in 2027. diariodelcauca.com.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Coordinator Germán Calderón España warned of planning, budgeting, technical, financial and transparency risks in the Santa Marta desalination project. www.elcallejero.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] SGP resources are primarily allocated to education, health, drinking water and basic sanitation. diariodelcauca.com.co