The hard work of progressive public lending: FONPLATA and financing the Sustainable Development Goals in Buenos Aires

This paper explores the innovative financing model between the regional public development bank FONPLATA and the Argentinian water operator Agua y Saneamientos Argentinos S.A. (AySA) aimed at supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area. In 2019, FONPLATA approved a loan to finance the Water + Work and Sewage + Work (W/S+W) programs, which enhance water and sanitation services while creating local employment by hiring cooperative members. This results-based loan ties disbursements to specific targets such as water and sewage connections, job creation and gender equity. The study highlights the collaborative efforts between FONPLATA and AySA, illustrating how public–public partnerships can effectively address socio-economic goals. The paper also examines the challenges and successes of implementing this financing model, which has set a precedent for similar and subsequent loans for this kind of programs, historically financed by the national treasury. By detailing the development and impact of the FONPLATA–AySA partnership, the study contributes to the discourse on financing sustainable public services and the role of public development banks in achieving the SDGs. Fil: Tobias, Melina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Instituto de Investigaciones "Gino Germani"; Argentina Fil: Case Ruchala, Devin. University of North Carolina; Estados Unidos