Inequality, vast natural resources, social movements and enormous cultural diversity characterise Latin America. DIIS research focuses on mobility, access to natural resources, the environment and human rights.
Competition for water is the cause of innumerable conflicts in developing countries. However, according to research carried out by the Competing for Water programme, coordinated by the Danish Institute for International Studies this does not need to be so. Local water governance works, but is all too often neglected when development funding is being allocated.
When developing countries seek to improve their water supply by constructing piped drinking water schemes and then prohibiting people from using the piped water for bathing, this often creates new problems. People then have to wash themselves in local rivers and streams and these are frequently polluted
