UNESCO-IHP in East Asia
R. Jayakumar1, Liu Ke1, Duan Xiaoli1 & Eunah Kim1
1 Natural Science Sector, UNESCO Office Beijing, 15-5-3- Waijiagongyue, Jianguomenwai,
Beijing-100600, P. R. China
r.jayakumar@unesco.org

Abstract For over 30 years, IHP has been actively operating as an UNESCO’s international
scientific cooperative programme in water research, water resources management, education
and capacity-building, and the only broadly-based science programme of the UN system in this
area. By a number of initiatives and networks, IHP has progressively carried out activities on
the quantity and quality of global/regional water resources, transboundary water resources
management, mitigation of water related hazard, water education. While addressing
comprehensive areas over water challenges, greater emphasis has been placed on the role of
water resources management for sustainable development and with respect to the expected
changes in climate and environmental conditions. WWAP (World Water Assessment
Programme) and its major product WWDR (World Water Development Report) in East Asia
are under the framework of IHP which supports field oriented activities on monitoring
freshwater, developing case studies, enhancing national assessment capacity, and facilitating
decision making processes. In light of transboundary water in IHP, Regional Steering
Committee (RSC) plays a focal role for facilitating regional cooperation in the Southeast and
East Asia and Pacific States. Furthermore, International Sediment Initiative (ISI) and
International Flood Initiative (IFI) have significant roles, respectively, for the management of
erosion and sedimentation in line with river system or reservoir management, and for the flood
management focusing on capacity building of each country in East Asia. Mitigating water
conflicts on transboundary aquifers (ISARM), water management of arid areas (Asian GWADI),
sustainable management of groundwater by UNESCO Water Chair, and water
education (SWIM-EDU) are also major areas of concern under UNESCO’s IHP Programme in
East Asia.

Key Words: UNESCO-IHP, East Asia, water resources


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