Freshwater is the most important resource for mankind, cross-cutting all social, economic and environmental activities. It is a condition for all life on our planet, an enabling or limiting factor for any social and technological development, a possible source of welfare or misery, cooperation or conflict.

To achieve water security, we must protect vulnerable water systems, mitigate the impacts of  water-related hazards such as floods and droughts, safeguard access to water functions and services and manage water resources in an integrated and equitable manner. 

UNESCO works to build the scientific knowledge base to help countries manage their water resources in a sustainable way through the International Hydrological Programme (IHP), through leading the UN-wide World Water Development Report, through the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education in Delft in the Netherlands, through over 20 affiliated research centres on water around the world and through a series of water-related Chairs.