The Council, composed by 36 UNESCO Member States elected by the General Conference of UNESCO, convenes at its ordinary sessions every two years to plan, define the priorities and the supervision of execution of the UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP).
This session is open to the Council members and observers, and takes place in person, with simultaneous interpretation in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese. To follow the proceedings of the Council online, please register for the Zoom event via the link further below.
Meeting the new visionary Chairperson of the IHP Council
On 28 November 2025, UNESCO convened the 7th Extraordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Council of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme during which it elected its new Bureau and governing bodies for the 2025–2027 mandate, including, for the first time, a woman serving as Chairperson of the IHP Council.
The election of Cristiane Collet Battiston as Chairperson of the IHP Council is a key step forward for women’s representation in the only intergovernmental programme dedicated to water sciences within the United Nations system.
Cristiane Collet Battiston’s election reflects broader efforts to promote gender balance and equitable regional representation across UNESCO’s scientific bodies.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/27th-session-intergovernmental-hydrological-programme-council?hub=701
