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(UN DESD); physical aspects of hydrology; training of media profes-

sionals on water issues; water-related cultural and natural heritage and

the cultural aspects of water.

In each axis, specific attention will be given to UNESCO’s global

priorities of Africa and gender equality, and to youth and small island

development states, South-South, North-South, North-North and

triangular cooperation at the regional and global levels. UNESCO

fosters existing partnerships with public and private partners and

builds strategic partnerships to successfully address the complex

challenges related to water security. UNESCO centres and chairs

play an important role in this process, and IHP currently pursues the

improvement of their geographical and thematic scope, also in the

light of UNESCO’s global priorities of Africa and gender equality.

Due to global changes, high demographic pressure and the lack

of effective governance and management of surface and groundwa-

ter resources, many regions in Africa are particularly vulnerable to

droughts and floods. It is crucial to continue supporting African

countries in the domain of water sciences and cooperation, because

developing the scientific understanding of hydrological processes

and phenomena constitutes a source of socioeconomic development

and regional and international solidarity. UNESCO gives special

attention to water, peace and security; building up resilience to

water-related disasters; capacity building; and the role that ground-

water resources play in rural areas for agriculture and in

urban areas for regional development, notably in water-

scarce areas and in the context of climate change.

Equality between women and men exists when both

genders are able to share equally in the distribution of

power and knowledge and have equal opportunities,

rights and obligations. Gender equality is an essential

component of human rights, and a key to development.

Yet, of the world’s 1 billion poorest people, three fifths

are women and girls. At the same time, women make up

only one quarter of the world’s researchers.

Access to freshwater resources directly influences

women’s lives. Women represent the majority of people

affected by unsafe water and sanitation; they are most

often the collectors, users and managers of water in

households and are heavily engaged in agricultural

activities for food production. Their responsibility in

using, providing and managing water for household and

livelihoods means that women play a crucial role in the

sustainable use and management of water resources.

UNESCO’s gender mainstreaming approach ensures

that women and men benefit equally from programme

and policy support. It aims at achieving all international

The UNESCO Water Family

Since its early focus on water, initiated in 1956, UNESCO has developed

a comprehensive water family, comprising IHP and its 168 National

Committees, UNESCO-IHE, the network of water-related centres under the

auspices of UNESCO, UNESCO Chairs and WWAP. These structures involve

a global workforce of approximately 1,000 water experts and graduate

researchers at the service of Member States. This UNESCO network

is regarded as the leading agency for freshwater sciences and policy,

governance, and management advice.

IHP is the intergovernmental cooperation programme on water sciences,

research, governance, management and education. It was created in 1975

as a follow-up to the International Hydrological Decade, and is governed by an

Intergovernmental Council and implemented by 168 IHP National Committees.

The UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in Delft, the Netherlands,

formally became part of UNESCO in 2003. UNESCO-IHE is the largest

postgraduate water education facility in the world. It confers fully

accredited Masters degrees and promotes PhDs. It has enhanced the

capacities of 14,500 water professionals from over 160 countries.

WWAP, in Perugia, Italy, is a flagship programme of UN-Water, which

brings together 30 United Nations agencies. It is housed, administered

and led by UNESCO. Starting in 2014, WWAP will produce the periodic

World Water Development Reports on an annual basis and on specific

topics (such as water and energy), with a five-year global synthesis report.

The network of 18 established water-related centres under the auspices of

UNESCO (category 2 institutes and centres) contributes to the implementation

of IHP at the international and regional level. Eight additional centres were

approved by the General Conference and are currently being established.

The 29 water-related UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN networks

promote intellectual cooperation through twinning and other linking

arrangements among institutions and academics, to foster access to

and sharing of knowledge.

The UNESCO water family worldwide