IHP-IX 1.10. Integrating citizen science in the hydrological discipline.

Conducting and sharing of research on integrating citizen science in the hydrological discipline by the scientific community and other stakeholders supported, to improve understanding of the water cycle enabling science-based decision making. 1. Citizen science pilot studies in different regions for water resources monitoring and crowdsourced assessments by local stakeholders, including validation of data quality to ensure adequate accuracy. 2. Country and community level projects integrating indigenous knowledge in water and land management, through citizen and open science methodologies to build water resilience.
3. Collaboration with AMCOW and/or NEPAD Water CoE to pilot crowdsourced/citizen science-based project monitoring water quality towards improved water management, involving, among other collaborators, the Citizens AND HYdrology (CANDHY) Working Group on water towards improved water management). 4. Continued Research and Development and capacity building work, including development of a citizen science toolbox, its promotion through training programmes and in cooperation with non-governmental organizations as catalysts.
Leading Entity
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Contributing Action Number
CA2.8
Primary Entry Point
2: Engage better for countries
Additional Entry Point(s)
3: Align UN system support for integration
4: Accelerate progress and transformational change
Output(s)
Output 2.2: Diverse stakeholders and partnerships are mobilized by the UN system to support countries’ progress on water and sanitation
Output 3.3: Mainstreaming of water and sanitation-related issues into Member States-led intergovernmental processes is supported by the UN system
Output 4.2: High-quality, disaggregated water and sanitation data and information are available and shared transparently through strengthened national and sub-national monitoring systems and regional and global platforms with support from the UN system
Output 4.3: Institutional and human resources capacity development support that responds to national needs and priorities is provided by the UN system, contributing to a skilled water and sanitation workforce
Output 4.4: Enabling environments for water and sanitation innovation are supported by the UN system, including policies, partnerships, and transfer of technology to remove barriers, with emphasis on technology transfer needs of developing countries
SDG 6 Target(s)
SDG target 6.4: Increase water-use efficiency and ensure freshwater supplies
SDG target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management (IWRM)
SDG target 6.B: Support stakeholder participation
Water-related work on other SDGs
Type of Engagement
Normative support (e.g. development of normative guidance, guidelines and standards)
Data collection and analysis
Implementation (e.g. direct support and service delivery, pilot or larger scale)
Capacity development and technical assistance
Convening of stakeholders
Geographical Scope
Global level
Regional, transboundary and sub-regional (multi-country) level
Country-level (national, subnational and local)
More Information
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000384615
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000388299

Leading Entity

United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation

The Contributing Actions are key initiatives supporting the United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation, aligning individual and joint efforts across UN entities and partnering organizations to advance global water and sanitation goals. These actions are integrated into the Collaborative Implementation Plan (CIP) Results Framework 2025-2028, which provides a structured approach to achieving system-wide impact through coordinated UN efforts.
The Priority Collaborative Actions outlined in the framework focus on enhancing water security, improving governance, strengthening climate resilience, and accelerating progress on sanitation and hygiene. By fostering system-wide collaboration among UN agencies, these actions help drive policy coherence, knowledge sharing, and innovative solutions to address the world’s most pressing water challenges.