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Launch of the IHP anniversary year celebration

Organizer: The IHP Secretariat 
Location: UNESCO Headquarters, Paris 
Date: 22 January 2025 

The launch of IHP's 50th anniversary celebration at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris marked an important moment in the organization's history. The information session drew significant participation, with 54 Member States represented by 60 delegates and a total of 102 in-person attendees, demonstrating the global recognition of IHP's importance in addressing water challenges. Director Abou Amani's presentation highlighted six critical global water challenges and emphasized IHP's transdisciplinary approach to water management, incorporating environmental, economic, social, and cultural aspects. The session not only commemorated past achievements but also set the stage for future initiatives, including the upcoming pivot celebration event on June 11, 2025, and the launch of a webinar series focusing on critical water issues.

“Water can't wait: Accelerating the adoption of innovations in water, energy, and food security nexus” International webinar

Organizer: The Centre for Hydrology and Water Environment, Ministry of Public Works, Indonesia  
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia  
Date: 30 January 2025 

The event produced several significant outcomes, including comprehensive recommendations for integrated water management between ministries and stakeholders, strategies for agricultural water efficiency through precision irrigation technologies, and frameworks for enhanced data infrastructure in risk management. Particular emphasis was placed on emerging technologies, with detailed discussions of cloud seeding applications and AI-driven monitoring systems for water resource management.  

The webinar also generated policy recommendations for sustainable industrial growth and established frameworks for accelerating renewable energy development through multi-stakeholder collaboration. These outcomes will guide government institutions in managing the complex interplay between water resources, energy generation, and food production. 

The collaboration between the Centre of Excellence for Water and Climate Resilience and the Indonesian National Committee for UNESCO IHP was notably strengthened, reinforcing their joint commitment their joint commitment to building a resilient future through evidence-based science, policy development and technological innovation. 

“Water quality and the global goals for sustainability” Frontiers of global water science webinar - UNESCO water series

Organizer: IHP Secretariat 
Location: On-line
Date: 30 January 2025 

The inaugural webinar of the “Frontiers of Global Water Science” series examined critical water quality challenges and their implications for sustainable development objectives. Analysis conducted utilizing the WorldQual modelling framework revealed significant contamination metrics across developing regions: bacterial pollution affects approximately one-third of river-kilometres throughout Latin America, Africa, and Asia, while severe organic pollution impacts approximately one-seventh of river-kilometres in these regions. The session facilitated comprehensive discourse on implementation strategies, encompassing ecological and nature-based wastewater treatment methodologies, advanced water conservation protocols, and integrated watershed management frameworks optimized for developing nations.

Rivers around the world seminar: The youth perspective on implementing ecohydrology

Organizer: University of Łó��ź and Ecohydrology Youth Network (EHYN)  
Location: Łó��ź, Poland  
Date: 7 February 2025 

The seminar organized by the Ecohydrology Youth Network made significant contributions to water management through the introduction of the Water, Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services, Resilience, Culture (WBSRC) framework. This innovative concept provides a comprehensive approach to sustainable water management, particularly through nature-based and ecohydrological solutions at the catchment scale. The framework fundamentally shifts the perspective on water ecosystems, recognizing them as both recipients and producers of water resources. Young researchers presented case studies in a geographical sequence, covering rivers from the Thames in England, across Europe, Asia, and Australia, to North and South America.  

The scientific impact was substantial, revealing the complex interplay between human activity and the biosphere. The seminar demonstrated water's vital role in maintaining bioproductivity, biodiversity, and nutrient cycles.  

It identified effective methods for enhancing water quantity, quality, and biodiversity while improving ecosystem services. Notably, the findings emphasized how cultural factors and societal behaviours directly influence the success of water management initiatives.  

“A big thank you to those who organized and attended the event. It was a great morning! The huge range of case studies presented provided valuable insights into different approaches to water management.” — Sophie Mulligan, EHYN member, Erasmus Mundus MAEH Programme student. 

International colloquium on Lake Basin Management

Organizers: Perbadanan Putrajaya, in collaboration with International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC), the National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), Alam Sekitar Malaysia Sdn Bhd, and Gamuda Parks 
Location: Putrajaya, Malaysia  
Date: 18-20 February 2025 

The International colloquium on sustainable lake basin management demonstrated substantial efficacy in advancing knowledge transfer and institutional capacity development, providing participants with comprehensive scientific frameworks and governance methodologies. The initiative facilitated enhanced cross-sectoral synergies among governmental entities, private sector stakeholders, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations, convening 170 delegates representing in excess of 30 distinct organizational bodies.  

Through a systematically structured program comprising expert presentations, focused group deliberations, and technical symposia, participants systematically identified critical priority areas encompassing water quality parameters, recreational utilization protocols, biodiversity preservation initiatives, flood mitigation strategies, and eco-tourism development frameworks. The symposium's academic component featured 15 oral presentations and 35 research expositions addressing lake and wetland governance mechanisms, aquatic ecosystem vitality assessment protocols, and sustainable management paradigms.  

Notable case studies included the strategic transformation of the Wetland Arboretum Centre from agricultural utilization to a biodiversity-rich ecosystem. The proceedings culminated in the formulation of comprehensive policy recommendations emphasizing enhanced governance architectures, expanded stakeholder engagement protocols, and evidence-based decision-making frameworks for sustainable aquatic resource management. These strategic outcomes are anticipated to inform the operational protocols for both the Putrajaya Lake and Wetland complex and the Langat River Basin management systems. 

Water4Future 2025 hackathon: Fostering innovation

Organizer: International Centre for Interdisciplinary Research on Water Systems Dynamics France (ICIReWaRD) under the auspices of UNESCO  
Location: Montpellier, France
Date: 20-21 February 2025 

The Water4Future 2025 Hackathon, brought together 450 participants from 16 nations in Europe, Africa, and North America to develop transformative projects under the theme “Water and transitions”. As jury president Geneviève Marais of AquaTech Innovation noted, “The agents of change are live here now to preserve water resources through their projects, which they are presenting to the jury. What energy!”  

The initiative highlighted five exceptional projects that exemplify excellence in water security innovation:  

• First prize: Project Sherbr'eau (Canada): a system for collecting salinated water, based on the circular economy, to purify the water while recovering the salt, thus offering a sustainable solution for reducing the de-icing salt pollution.
• Second, third and Crush prize (France):
• L'Eaucalise: A device for detecting wastewater leaks: this device uses radar sensors to detect wastewater leaks in pipe networks prior to wastewater treatment plants.
• Eaugelis: A circular irrigation solution using hydrogel made from organic waste to enhance soil water retention by 400%, optimizing agriculture while reducing water consumption.
• Agua Nova: A portable atmospheric water generator integrated into a bottle, providing clean water anywhere while supporting vulnerable communities through a buy-to-give model.
• ICIREWARD's favourite project: Solar-Powered Rainwater System (Togo): An AI-controlled, solar-powered filtration and disinfection system that collects, purifies, and redistributes rainwater for community use.  

Reflecting on the experience, Priscille M. BLALOGOE, a student from Togo University of Lome, shared: “It was an experience full of learning, strategic thinking, and pressure—but above all, of sharing and innovation.”  

Beyond technological breakthroughs, Water4Future has created lasting value through its mentorship program, connecting emerging innovators with seasoned experts in the water sector. The initiative achieved its core objectives of sparking innovation and building a global network to tackle water challenges. Participants have now returned to their institutions equipped with new knowledge, connections, and inspiration to drive positive change in their communities.  

ICIReWaRD invites participation in Water4Future 2026, building upon this year's successful outcomes, to further advance water innovation through international collaboration.  

“Land subsidence: Latest advances in science and best practices” Frontiers of global water science webinar - UNESCO water series

Organizer: IHP Secretariat  
Location: On-line  
Date: 6 March 2025  

The second instalment of the “Frontiers of Global Water Science” series presented comprehensive analyses of land subsidence challenges, addressing both delta ecosystem preservation and urban groundwater management strategies. The session highlighted state-of-the-art methodologies for monitoring and mitigating subsidence impacts and provided insights into the irreversible process where reduced aquifer pressures lead to soil compaction and loss of porosity. Through the UNESCO Land Subsidence Flagship Initiative, the organization continues to advance scientific understanding while facilitating international collaboration and institutional capacity development. It further supports the development of robust policy frameworks designed to counter this emergent global challenge. 

“Frontiers in hydrology and their contributions to water security in a changing world” Symposium 

Organizer: The University of Tokyo  
Location: Sanjo Conference Hall of the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan  
Date: 26 March 2025  

The symposium brought together leading experts to examine the relationship between hydrology and global water security challenges. The event featured distinguished speakers from academia, government, and international organizations, exploring themes ranging from flood risk mitigation to international water management practices.  

Key discussions centred on strengthening the integration between academic research and societal needs, particularly through collaborative approaches in water management and disaster risk reduction. The symposium highlighted innovations in hydrological research, including advances in satellite data integration and real-time predictive computing, while emphasizing the continued importance of traditional ground-based observations.  

A significant outcome of the symposium was the development of the “Water Cycle Intelligence across Boundaries” statement, which outlines a comprehensive framework for future hydrological research and practice. This statement, which will serve as Japan's input for the upcoming IHD60/IHP50 anniversary events, emphasizes the importance of transboundary observation and investigation across geographic, climatic, ecological, and social boundaries.  

“Can hydrology be a torch that guides sustainable human life?” — This powerful question posed during the symposium encapsulates the event's forward-looking approach to water science and its critical role in sustainable development.  

The symposium concluded with proposed actions for future hydrology initiatives, focusing on comprehensive data integration strategies and the development of next-generation water science leaders, with particular emphasis on gender inclusion and youth involvement.