The HELP programme was endorsed at the 5^th Joint UNESCO-WMO Conference on Hydrology, in Geneva, February 1999.

The meeting of the Interim Management Committee in Dublin, Ireland, 6-8 November 2000, agreed that a two-stage process in the programme implementation should be considered, with a limited number of basins to start with, followed by more basins that will be solicited formally later.

The HELP Pilot Phase:

25 unsolicited basins contacted the HELP Secretariat to be part of the programme.

All those basins that have provided comprehensive details, as part of their nomination to participate in HELP, were invited to be part of a pilot study phase subject to the revised criteria being met.  The fast track basins were expected to demonstrate that the HELP approach works and then a formal solicitation at national level was planned to be made.

Following the recommendations of the IMC meeting, Dublin, a sub-committee of the HELP IMC met at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford, 6-8 March 2001, to review nominated HELP basins proposals. Written proposals were received from 25 basins. The outcomes was the production of a report which has been subsequently updated on the basis of the revised submissions and in which a provisional classification of basins under the following categories:

·         Demonstration (former Reference) HELP basin (1)

·         An Operational group (total 4)

·         An Evolving group (total 14)

·         A Proposed group (total 6)

The sub-group of the IMC decided that all 25 nominations should be part of the HELP Pilot phase; and through the circulation of comments on individual basins it was hoped that further developments using HELP principles would be encouraged. The HELP Symposium of HELP implementation has provide a forum for evaluating progress in the implementation of this HELP Pilot basin phase prior to formal solicitation for additional HELP Basins thereafter. The precise definition of each category of HELP basin is available in a one-page document within the resources. The selection criteria to be part of HELP as set out by the HELP Interim Management Commitee in Dublin are available under Documents. These selection crietria were reviewed during the HELP International Steering Commitee meeting, Bonn, Germany, 5-7 May 2003. Following this review, a formal solicitation for additional basins was made 31^st October 2003 (see You and HELP to access all the relevant documents and information to propose an HELP basin).

The Implementation Phase 2004-Onwards:

The Implementation Phase of the HELP programme has just started with the publication of the HELP network following the Global Call.

Linkages between the different basins of the HELP network (i.e. twinning) and linkages with other international programmes are being developed. 

The HELP network is composed by 67 basins classified under the 4 following categories:

Group P: Proposed HELP Basin 

Additional information is needed to re- classify this basin

A Proposed HELP basin

• may need to provide more detail for various aspects described in the Proposal Document.; may not have yet achieved any   initial operational activity.
• may not have  yet begun full stakeholder involvement;
• may have identified too  few or too narrow a range of the HELP key issues;
• may also need to provide further information about official endorsement, support and funding commitments.

Group E: Evolving HELP basin 

This is a basin which is not yet fully operational.

An Evolving HELP basin has successfully completed its Proposal Document and

• has demonstrated  initial progress and commitment to develop the basin in accordance with HELP principles;
• has plans to involve stakeholder groups in regular meetings for HELP basin management;
• has budgetary and stakeholder commitment secured and is awaiting implementation;
• has a comprehensive project plan for proposed activities with timelines and milestones;
• has plans for workshops, regular reporting, publications and  web site ;
• may become operational following at least one year’s implementation of the project plan;
• may solicit external support, if local resources do not suffice.

Group O: Operational HELP Basin

This is an established basin which  may become  a World Demonstration Basin in due course.

An Operational HELP basin has had all the characteristics of an Evolving Basin and

• has implemented the HELP philosophy;
• has involved most HELP stakeholder groups in basin management;
• is substantially functioning across several HELP key issues in an integrated manner;
• demonstrates an active interface between science and water managers, and society;
• has established mechanisms for unrestricted  information and data access and exchange;
• follows the WMO Resolution 25 on international exchange of hydrological and related data.

Group D: World Demonstration HELP Basin  

This is seen as demonstrating best practice in HELP and IWRM, with something to offer other basins.

A World Demonstration HELP Basin has all the characteristics of an Operational Basin and

• has a high quality web site and a response facility for requests for information;
• is prepared to partner, cooperate with or engage in a twinning  agreement with another HELP Basin;
• is able to provide facilities for local seminars and / or visits from other HELP Basins;
• is able to promote and attract sponsors for the HELP concept;
• addresses problems in all of the five HELP key issues areas;
• has a wide and varied range of stakeholders, including water resource managers, scientists, national and local government, private sector and NGOs.