The International Hydrological Programme (IHP) is UNESCO’s intergovernmental scientific cooperation program on water. It was created in 1975, becoming the first and only intergovernmental freshwater initiative institutionalized in the UN system. IHP is governed by an Intergovernmental Council, which constitutes a subsidiary body of UNESCO’s General Conference. IHP is implemented in phases developed through a comprehensive consultative process with its 168 IHP National Committees, international scientific associations and other UN bodies, ensuring IHP’s continuous relevance and its overall institutional coordination.

UNESCO‐IHE Institute for Water Education, located in Delft, The Netherlands, is formally part of UNESCO since 2003. UNESCO‐IHE is the largest postgraduate water education facility in the world. The Institute confers fully accredited master degrees and promotes PhDs. It has enhanced the capacities of 14,500 water professionals from over 160 countries. Based on the decisions of the governing boards of UNESCO, the Institute may expand its service to Member States via the establishment of a Global Campus of Water and Development and the potential acquisition of PhD granting rights in connection with host countries and universities.

The World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), located in Perugia, Italy, is a flagship programme of UN‐Water, which brings together 30 UN agencies. It is housed, administered and led by UNESCO. WWAP produces the periodic World Water Development Reports on an annual basis, and on specific topics (e.g. Water and Energy) with a five‐year global synthesis report.