The International Sediment Initiative (ISI) Advisory Board Meeting on the ISI Strategy for IHP-IX (2022-2029) was held at UNESCO headquarters, Paris, France during April 22-23, 2024. The main objective of the meeting was to discuss and finalize the new ISI strategy and its workplan for the implementation of ISI during IHP-IX. Over 20 participants attended the meeting, both in person and on-line, including: Mr. Abou Amani, Director of the Division of Water Science and Secretary of the IHP, UNESCO; Dr. Anil Mishra and Dr. Koen Verbist, Chief and Programme Specialist of the Hydrological Systems, Climate Change and Adaptation Section, UNESCO; Prof. Manfred Spreafico, Prof. Des. E. Walling, and Prof. Cheng Liu, retiring members of the ISI Advisory Group; Prof. Hongling Shi, Secretary of the ISI Global Secretariat; and members of the new ISI Advisory Board to be approved.

During the opening session chaired by Dr. Anil Mishra, Mr. Abou Amani highly praised the achievements of ISI and the outstanding contributions of the retiring members of the ISI Advisory Group and Experts Group during IHP-VIII. He thanked the International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES) for its contributions to scientific research, international technical exchange and training activities as the ISI Technical Secretariat, as well as its support for other ISI activities. ISI is expected to make an important contribution to the strategy of IHP-IX. Dr. Koen Verbist gave a brief introduction to IHP-IX, highlighting that this phase puts science into action for a Water Secure World in a Changing Environment.

Dr. Koen Verbist chaired the following sessions including: (1) A Review of the achievements of ISI work in IHP-VIII and an Introduction to Erosion and Sediment Transport and Management in river systems (ISI Thematic Priority 1); (2) Presentations from different Regional Groups (Group I Western European and North American States; Group III Latin American and Caribbean States; Group IV Asian and Pacific States; and Group Va Africa and Vb Arab States): Current Activities, Needs and Challenges of Sediments and Erosion; (3) An Introduction to Sediment-related Disaster Risk Reduction (Current Activities, Needs and Challenges); (4) An Introduction to Glacier-related sediment and erosion hazard management (Current Activities, Needs and Challenges); (5) Presentation of the draft new ISI Strategy (2022 to 2028), and brainstorming of overall objectives and the new ISI Strategy; (6) Brainstorming of the draft workplan for the ISI thematic priorities (1 - Erosion and Sediment Transport and Management in river systems; 2 - Sediment-related Disaster Risk Reduction; and 3: Glacier-related sediment and erosion hazard management); and (7) Brainstorming of the ISI governance structure.

During the meeting, Prof. Hongling Shi and Prof. Cheng Liu briefly introduced IRTCES and its activities, reviewed the history of ISI and its achievements and the contributions of IRTCES acting as the ISI Technical Secretariat, presented the relevant activities of IRTCES planned for the coming 2 years, and proposed potential future new case studies and training workshops for discussion. Prof. Manfred Spreafico and Prof. Des Walling presented and commented on the success, experiences and lessons learned from previous ISI activities and their implications for the future.

At the meeting, the Regional Coordinators and Thematic Coordinators were nominated, and the responsible focal points for the activities of the workplan for the implementation of the new ISI strategy during IHP-IX were decided.

Established in 2002, the ISI is a global initiative to assess erosion and sediment transport to marine, lake or reservoir environments, aimed at the creation of a comprehensive approach for the remediation and conservation of surface waters, intricately linking science with policy and management needs. ISI is one of the fifteen Flagship Initiatives approved by the Intergovernmental Council of the IHP, and an evaluation process finalized in 2022 concerning all Flagship Initiatives, highlighted ISI as one of the initiatives with the best governance and management during IHP-VIII. This meeting marks the launching of the new ISI strategy and its workplan for the IHP-IX and the creation of a new ISI Advisory Board with the ISI Global Secretariat located in IRTCES.