Mercedes Castro is an economist and MBA working exclusively in the water sector since 2007. She has previously directed private international corporations in South and North America. She is currently Director and CEO at NGO Agualimpia in Peru, leading projects financed by international cooperation as IDB, WB, CAF, EU, SDC and the private sector, generating public private alliances to benefit vulnerable rural and urban population, seeking to influence public policy. She is also CEO at HIDRIKA since 2013, an international consultancy specialized in water issues. Mercedes has developed programs to access to W&S through microfinance in periurban peruvian sectors. She developed projects to accelerate water public infrastructure through private investment (Shared Value), applying a Peruvian law Works for Taxes. She also promotes the assessment and management of the water footprint in the private sector at national and international level in cooperation with Peru´s National Water Authority. Mercedes is former Sherpa of Peru for the High Level Panel on Water 2016-2018. She is Chair of the Steering Committee of the 2030 Water Resources Group in Peru since 2016, a multi stakeholder platform. She is also Member of International Advisory Committee to the Dushanbe Process to promote the implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028.