Being part of the HELP network allows the possibility of sharing experiences in the implementation of integrated water resources management. Experiences sharing, data and knowledge transfer can also be used for the data poor basin wishing to implement the HELP philosophy.

Advice on how to dialogue with stakeholders can be provided through the HELP basins experience. Further the HELP programme provides activities to increase the dialogue between several “water-related” communities in order to better integrate land-water resources management (i.e scientists, lawyers, managers, economists, stakeholders).

Some of the HELP basins are implementing IWRM on the ground for many years and can offer experiences and guidelines on how to do it.

If you wish to join the HELP network:

We are currently calling for proposals for the third phase of HELP. The next HELP call is likely to be in 2013.

During this phase HELP is being organized along the focal areas linked with IHP-VII themes (Attachment-1). You are required to nominate focal areas of interest in your HELP basin. Please complete Form-A to renew an existing HELP basin and Form-B for the new HELP basin.

Recognising that not all necessary information or evidence of support will be readily available by the 20^th January 2009. This is not of concern, please submit your proposal and provide additional information as it becomes available.

Please send your proposal electronically to G.Gobina@unesco.org at the IHP-Secretariat by the 20^th of January 2009.

For your information, you will find enclosed under “Publications” the Documents that are accompany the Global Call in 2008.

Twinning within the HELP network

The HELP International Steering Committee recommended during its meeting in September 2004, the twinning of HELP basins.

To date, 2 different kind of twinning has been set up within the HELP network.

- Two HELP basins have established a twinning based on the INBO (International Network of Basin Organizations) protocol. This applies to basins within which basin organization exists. Further information on the TwinBasin project of INBO is available at http://www.riob.org/friobang.htm.

- The Mururmbidgee HELP basin is currently working on another kind of twinning with basins where there is no basin organization.

Guidelines on possible ways of twinning are available under "Publications".

It is recommended to basins to directly contact other actors of the network to design and establish joint activities. A document providing a listing of key issues and needs within the basins is also under "Publications".