The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) stands as a cornerstone among the six Intergovernmental Scientific Programmes (ISPs) of UNESCO. Since its establishment in 1975, it has been dedicated to serving as a singular intergovernmental cooperative program under the United Nations, committed to the comprehensive scientific study of freshwater resources. The primary objective of the IHP is to formulate strategies and policies aimed at the sustainable management of water resources on a global scale. Embracing a holistic, interdisciplinary, and sustainable development perspective, the IHP prioritises education, training, and capacity building as fundamental components of its mission, thereby fostering a collaborative approach to address water-related challenges worldwide.es education, training, and capacity building as fundamental components of its mission, thereby fostering a collaborative approach to address water-related challenges worldwide.

IHP envisions a water secure world where people and institutions have adequate capacity and scientifically based knowledge for informed decision-making on water management and governance to attain sustainable development and to build resilient societies.

The mission for the period 2022-2029 is to support the Member States to accelerate the implementation of water-related SDGs and other relevant agendas through water science and education in cooperation with partners and other UN agencies active in the water sector.

The UNESCO Regional Offices are responsible for implementation of the IHP at regional level. UNESCO Regional Hydrologists (coordinators) lead the regional and national implementation support. Each of the 190 member countries has a UNESCO-IHP National Committee or focal point which is set up by their respective governments, considering that the IHP is an intergovernmental programme.