There were eighteen participants representing the following agencies/institutions:

Zimbabwe Water Resources Management Strategy Project, Thames Water International, International Water Management Institute, India Resources and Environment Group, University of Dundee, Organization of American States, US Army Corps of Engineers, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, University of Arizona, US Geological Survey, University of Natal, International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change, International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, Brandenburg University of Technology, International Atomic Energy Agency, and UNESCO.

• Links with other partners
• Links with World Water Assessment Programme - WWAP
• Review of HELP Basin Guidelines defined by the Task Force

• Stakeholders must be involved in the identification of the local issues which need to be addressed.
• Catchments must provide a framework for the joint study of the physical, social and policy factors that affect water management.

problem statement, statement of commitment, and statement of proposed activities.

• The meeting agreed that a two-stage process should be considered, with a limited number of basins to start with, followed by more basins that will be solicited formally later. All those basins that have provided comprehensive details, as part of their nomination to participate in HELP, would be invited to be part of the pilot study phase subject to the revised criteria being met. The number of fast track basins would have to be small in order to maintain their standard given the limited manpower of the Secretariat. The fast track basins should demonstrate that the HELP approach works and then a formal solicitation at national level should be made sometime after 2002. However, HELP would keep the door open for all additional nominations and maintain its transparency. Those basins that are not able to meet the tightened guidelines immediately will continue to be involved in the pilot basin exercise by receiving updates of progress from elsewhere to act as a guide in the continued establishment of HELP.
• The meeting also agreed that some selection processes could be handled regionally. For example, Organization of American States could be in charge of basin selection in Latin America. However, in order to maintain the standards, regional processes should be controlled at a global level.

• November 2000: The IHP Secretariat sent letters to HELP basin nominators to seek additional information according to revised guidelines.
• March 3, 2001: Receipt of additional information from HELP basin nominators and circulation for comment to the Management Committee.
• March 4-6, 2001: Review of additional information by Wallingford sub-group of the IMC and the establishment of the HELP Pilot Basin Phase.
• March 28- April 30, 2001: Circulation of the Wallingford sub-group report to the IMC for further comment.
• August 6-8, 2001: The Dundee Water Conference can be an opportunity for a meeting of HELP policy representatives and the interfacing the technical underpinning of HELP water policy and law issues.
• February 2002: Assessment of progress in HELP pilot basins updates, methodology, and confirmation of commitments from all stakeholders.
• Consideration of new HELP basins proposals.
• Preparatory meeting for the Stockholm Conference.
• August 2002: Stockholm HELP Conference.
• Post-Stockholm HELP Conference - following a review of HELP Conference output, formal solicitation will be made for additional HELP basins at a national/regional level to extend the global network.