The ALOCAR Project, developed under the Chief Scientist Program – Water Resources and funded by the Ceará Foundation for Scientific and Technological Development Support (FUNCAP) in partnership with the Ceará Water Resources Management Company (COGERH), aims to enhance negotiated water allocation processes in the State of Ceará.

ALOCAR seeks to document the history of negotiated water allocation in Ceará and to assess and analyze its implementation across each river basin. The project maps water-related conflicts and develops region-specific strategies to improve water allocation practices. It also conducts hydrological studies on uncertainties in river flow regimes and supports the operation of hydrosystems through scenario-based analyses to optimize water allocation and system performance.

The project will establish a standardized operational framework for negotiated water allocation, define hydraulic and hydrological operating rules—including automation—for hydrosystems, and incorporate seasonal climate information into allocation processes. ALOCAR also addresses the social dimension of water governance by identifying stakeholder interests and conflicts within river basins and providing institutional mediation training to strengthen public participation and foster greater community engagement.