IHP-IX 1.5. Develop adaptive water management in line with socio-hydrology and the interaction between humans and water for water management.

Undertaking and sharing assessments on the interaction between humans and water, in line with socio-hydrology by the scientific community supported to develop adaptive pathways, scenarios and strategies for water management. 1. Contribution to research, knowledge generation and dissemination on socio-hydrology, including socio-hydrogeology, as a follow-up of the Panta Rhei decade and previous IHP initiatives in partnership with IAHS. 2. Formulation and initiation of a socio-hydrology scientific dialogue among natural and social sciences researchers (including hydrological, ecohydrological, hydrogeological, social, and climate scientists and agronomists) and local communities/stakeholders (human-water models, case studies). 3. Conducting and supporting scientific research to assess the interaction between humans, environment and water, in line with socio-hydrology within an urban / rural setting and develop adaptive pathways, scenarios and strategies for water management. 4. Conducting an assessment and preparing a synthesis report on the socio-hydrology-related knowledge within the UNESCO Water Family, including the Flagships. 5. Research on role of water in migration, urbanisation and the dynamics of human civilisations, in partnerships with IAHS.

Contributing Action Number

CA4.12

Primary Entry Point

4: Accelerate progress and transformational change

Additional Entry Point(s)

1: Lead and inspire collective action

2: Engage better for countries

5: Account through joint review and learning

Output(s)

Output 1.2: Action is inspired by compelling and unified UN system communications and messaging on water

Output 2.1: Expertise and resources are fully leveraged by the UN system to support countries, with emphasis on the water and sanitation needs of developing countries

Output 2.2: Diverse stakeholders and partnerships are mobilized by the UN system to support countries’ progress on water and sanitation

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

SDG 6 Target(s)

Cross-cutting work on SDG 6

SDG target 6.1: Achieve safe and affordable drinking water

SDG target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management (IWRM)

SDG target 6.B: Support stakeholder participation

Type of Engagement

Normative support (e.g. development of normative guidance, guidelines and standards)

Implementation (e.g. direct support and service delivery, pilot or larger scale)

Capacity development and technical assistance

Convening of stakeholders

Policy advice and thought leadership

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

Leading Entity

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

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.