UNESCO-IHP releases final report of the expert advisory group on Water and Cultural Diversity
The expert advisory group for the project on Water and Cultural Diversity had its first meeting in Paris, France, in January 2008. The meeting was organized as part of the work of UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP) on “Strengthening Water Governance for Sustainability” for the biennium 2008 – 2009, in the broader context of the seventh phase of the IHP (IHP-VII: 2008 – 2013): “Water Dependencies: Systems under Stress and Societal Responses”.
The advisory group was established in order to provide direction and guidance to the activities implemented under the project, which was launched in summer 2007. The objectives of the meeting were to: (1) finalize the focal areas of the project and set priorities; (2) set the long-term strategy and goals for the project; (3) agree on the next steps, including short-term outputs of the project; and (4) identify core actors, existing projects and initiatives, and additional partners for cooperation.
The meeting was opened by Mr. András Szöllösi-Nagy, Secretary of the IHP, who placed the project in the wider context of global water issues and of the IHP, and reiterated the goal of the project: to mainstream cultural diversity into water resources management. Ms. Fenda Akiwumi (University of South Florida, U.S.A.) chaired the meeting, and Mr. Marcus Barber (James Cook University, Australia) was the rapporteur. Fourteen participants from 12 countries, who represent a variety of backgrounds and disciplines pertaining to water— anthropology, geography, philosophy, ethnobotany, forestry, hydrology, and indigenous knowledge—attended the meeting.
Read the full report [PDF format – 266 KB]
The main topic of the symposium is Transboundary Surface Waters and Shared Aquifers. The aims of the Symposium are:
1. To assess the state of the art and the progress recently made in the sustainable management of transboundary waters by different disciplines such as law, socio-economics and water science;
2. To review current major international programmes concerned with the assessment and management of transboundary water resources; and
3. To promote interdisciplinary approaches for integrated transboundary water resources management.
1) What are IHP’s six-year phases?
Following the International Hydrological Decade (1965-1974), from 1975, six successive phases of IHP have engaged the ‘water constituency’. Such engagement ensures that understanding the scientific and the quantitative basis of hydrology is essential for sound management of scarce water resources in arid zones, and melting freshwaters in the Polar regions, in the context of integrating it into social and economic frameworks with their competing demands. The focus of IHP in the early years was on developing techniques, methodologies and approaches to identify and measure the components of regimes in order to better explore hydrological phenomena. By the early 1990s, sustainability in the development of essential water resources, in the face of rapidly changing natural and built environments became an issue of prime concern. By the mid 1990s, IHP’s focus shifted to improving the management of increasingly scarce water within the planet’s recognizably vulnerable ecosystems, which stretch from the hot arid zones to the frozen landscapes of the polar regions. These transitions can be also noticed in the titles of the IHP themes that have been adopted in the various phases of the programme, as summarized below.
Previous Phases of the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP)
- 1965-1974 IHD: Experimental Basins, World Water Balance and Water Resources of the Earth
- 1975-1980 IHP-I / 1981-1983 IHP-II / 1984-1989 IHP-III
- 1990-1995 IHP- IV Hydrology and Water Resources for Sustainable Development
- 1996-2001 IHP-V Hydrology and Water Resources under Vulnerable Environments
- 2002-2007 IHP-VI Water Interactions: Systems at Risk and Social Challenges
The first three phases of the Programme (IHP-I: 1975-1980; IHP-II: 1981-1983; IHP-III: 1984-1989) implemented over 70 projects of scientific and practical interest, guided by a number of international conferences. The hydrological cycle, water balance, surface and groundwater phenomena remained the main subjects of research, with the emphasis on the impact of people on water resources. In line with the recommendations of the 1977 Mar del Plata UN Conference on Water, the programme continued to evolve in this direction and increasingly directed its activities towards practical solutions of emerging water resources problems.
In 1984, it was decided that each Programme phase would be planned around one general unifying theme. The third phase of IHP focused on ‘Hydrology and the Scientific Bases for the Rational Management of Water Resources for Economic and Social Development,’ and began the process of questioning and analyzing the role of hydrology as a scientific discipline, the potential unions between theoretical and applied aspects of hydrology, and the future interconnectedness of natural processes vis-à-vis human interventions in the field of environmental management.
IHP-IV: 1990-1995 – Hydrology and Water Resources for Sustainable Development in a Changing Environment
In 1991 it was already clear that water would become a critical issue of global importance. Numerous indices of climatic and socio-economic development were complicating the tasks of planning and managing water resources systems: multiple objectives had to be defined, conflicting interests reconciled, and ecological, cultural and other constraints identified in order to attain the sustainable use of water resources.
At this time, the focus at IHP shifted towards environmental evaluation and the interaction of water resources with ecology, society and culture. This led to a close cooperation of hydrology with the earth sciences and the social and human sciences. The former acted as the basis of water resources management, and the latter as tools of water resources management to better support planning and policy formulation.
IHP-V: 1996-2001 – Hydrology and Water Resources Development in a Vulnerable Environment
IHP’s fifth phase set out to stimulate a stronger interrelation between scientific research, application and education, and identified groundwater and arid and semi-arid zone hydrology as priority areas. The emphasis was on environmentally sound integrated water resources management and planning, supported by a scientifically proven methodology within its overall theme. Its results continue to influence research and practice.
IHP-VI: 2002-2007 - Water Interactions: Systems at Risk and Social Challenges
IHP-VI (2002-2007) emphasized the societal aspects of our water resources while also emphasizing the study of the occurrence and distribution of water within the natural environment. The addition of the social dimension underlined the need for an improved, more efficient assessment and management of our water resources, which in turn required a much more accurate knowledge of the hydrological cycle.
As a result, the development of IHP-VI was based on the fundamental principle that freshwater is as essential to sustainable development as it is to life, and that water, beyond its geophysical, chemical and biological functions in the hydrological cycle, has social, economic and environmental values that are inter-linked and mutually supportive. The launching of this effort coincided with what is seen by many water planners and managers to be a genuine shift in society’s approach to water development and management.
2) What are the new themes for IHP-VII?
IHP-VII is entitled: 'Water Dependencies: Systems under Stress and Societal Responses'. The themes are:
Theme 1: Adapting to the Impacts of Global Changes on River Basins and Aquifer Systems
Theme 2: Strengthening Water Governance for Sustainability
Theme 3: Ecohydrology for Sustainability
Theme 4: Water and Life Support Systems
Theme 5: Water Education for Sustainable Development
3) How many National IHP Committees are there and what are their functions?
The National Committees have been set up by the respective governments, taking into account that the IHP is an intergovernmental programme. Where no National Committee has been established, a Focal Point or National Correspondent in the form of an organization or individual has been identified for channeling information about IHP to and from the country.
The composition of a National Committee may vary from country to country; however, the IHP Council recommends that the composition include public agencies in hydrology and water resources, private individuals, relevant university faculties and departments, research institutes, consulting agencies, professional and learned societies.
The National Committees play a critical role in the implementation of the IHP. These roles differ from country to country and depend on the national capabilities and the existing institutional structure for hydrological studies and water resources management.
There are currently 167 IHP National Committees and Focal Points.
4) What is the structure of the Programme?
The Implementation Plan prepared for IHP-VII allows for flexibility and the possibility to introduce new elements to address new situations and emergencies, and take into account the evolving water sector framework and the UNESCO setting. For each Phase VII theme, the Implementation Plan describes and lists methods, partnerships, cooperation possibilities and extrabudgetary fundraising for implementation, in addition to details of execution. The Implementation Plan also indicates the expected results and evaluates if they suit the needs of those who would benefit from the deliverables. The aim is to make it easier to identify, execute and evaluate IHP-VII endorsed research and other programmes. To be successful, governments need to be involved in the implementation process and strong links should be established between governments and the IHP National Committees. To this end, it has been suggested that each country should designate a focal point at ministerial level. IHP National Committees could also establish focal points at technical level if they wish to take responsibility for the execution of specific tasks related to Phase VII themes and focal areas.
Other considerations to be addressed in the Implementation Plan include strengthening the role of the IHP National Committees in implementing IHP activities at regional level during IHP-VII. Considering the magnitude of water-related problems in developing countries, and especially in Africa, a particular effort will be needed to set up north-south and south-south partnerships among IHP National Committees.
In an effort to facilitate monitoring and coordination, efforts have been made to set realistic outputs for the five themes proposed for Phase VII. However, this matter could be given further consideration in light of IHP’s success in leveraging support from cooperating agencies. For example, the partnership established with GEF is proving very effective and could provide real benefits to IHP National Committees in developing countries. More associations of this type could broaden the scope of IHP-VII themes and focal areas.
5) What is the function of the Council and Bureau? How often do they meet and what do they decide upon?
The Intergovernmental Council of the IHP is a subsidiary organ of the UNESCO General Conference. The Statutes of the Council were approved by the General Conference of UNESCO at its 18th session and amended at its 20th, 21st, 23rd, 27th and 28th sessions. Moreover, the Council has adopted its own Rules of Procedure.
The Council has overall governing responsibility for planning, defining priorities and supervising the execution of the IHP. The Council is composed of 36 Member States of UNESCO elected by the General Conference of UNESCO at its ordinary sessions held every two years. Equitable geographical distribution and appropriate rotation of the representatives of the Member States are ensured in the composition of the Council. Each of the six Electoral Regions of UNESCO elects Member States for membership in the Council. The term of office of members of the Council is four years, immediately eligible for re-election. In order to arrive at some continuity only half of the Council members are elected each second year for the four-year period, so that in each biennium half are newcomers and the other half have already acquired experience.
The Council normally meets in plenary session once every two years. Extraordinary sessions may be convened under the conditions specified in the Rules of Procedure.
The Bureau of the Intergovernmental Council of the IHP co-ordinates the work of the Council between sessions. It is composed of a Chairperson, Four Vice-Chairpersons, and the Past Chairperson as ex-officio member.
6) What is the function of the regional hydrologists?
The UNESCO Regional Offices are responsible for implementation of the IHP at regional level. Regional Hydrologists are posted in the field and serve as IHP focal points for all issues relating to the Programme, both at regional and national level. Regional Hydrologist posts have been set up in the following UNESCO Offices: Cairo (for the Arab States), Jakarta (for Southeast Asia and the Pacific), Montevideo (for Latin America and the Caribbean), Nairobi (for Africa), New Delhi (for Central and South Asia) and Venice (for Europe).
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