The 26th session of the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) Intergovernmental Council of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was held from 3-7 June, 2024. IHP’s ninth phase (2022-2029) focuses on putting “science to action for a water secure world, in a changing environment”.

Lidia Brito, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO, and Helmut Habersack, Chair of the UNESCO IHP Intergovernmental Council and President of the World Association for Sediment and Erosion Research (WASER), attended the meeting and gave the opening remarks. The meeting was chaired by Abou Amani, Director of UNESCO's Division of Hydrology and Secretary-General of IHP.

A scientific colloquium titled “50 years of Evolution of Science of Hydrology: From science to Application and Way Forward” was held on June 3. The colloquium was dedicated to the 50th anniversary of IHP and 60 years of the Water Programme at UNESCO since the International Hydrological decade (1965-1975). The celebration will take place in 2025.

The UNESCO Water Family meeting was held on 4 June. The meeting focused on three topics including: the contribution of water families to science, the contribution of water families to capacity development, and the contribution of water families to raising awareness. Prof. Jianli Zhang from IRTCES gave a presentation on the background of IRTCES and shared its contributions in five priority areas of IHP-IX.

The 26th Intergovernmental Council meeting was held on 5-6 June. The meeting reported and approved the resolutions and decisions adopted by the 25th session of IHP Council, the implementation of IHP Phase IX, the IHP Regional Perspective, the report on the main achievements of IHP Phase VIII, flagship initiatives and their coordination with the new Framework, etc. The Council meeting commended the lHP Flagship initiative ISI for its efforts developing new strategies that to align to IHP-lX and the new Flagship initiatives Framework.

The Council is composed of 36 UNESCO Member States elected by the UNESCO General Conference at its ordinary sessions, held every two years. Each of UNESCO’s six electoral regions elects Member States for Council membership to ensure equitable geographical distribution. Council members serve for four-year terms and are eligible for re-election.

The WASER president, Prof. Helmut Habersack, was officially appointed as the Chairperson of the 26th IHP Intergovernmental Council. Prof. Jianli Zhang, the Deputy Director of IRTCES and Prof. Hongling Shi, the Division Chief of ITRCES, also attended this meeting.