Paris, 5 June 2026 – A Kazakh delegation actively participated in the 27th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) Council, where it presented the initiative of President of Kazakhstan on establishing an International Water Organization.

The delegation included diplomats from the Permanent Delegation of Kazakhstan to UNESCO and Mr Alikhan Medeu, Chair of the National IHP Committee, Head of the Geospatial Economics Laboratory at the Institute of Geography and Water Security under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan Mr Alikhan Medeu.

In his opening remarks, UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany emphasized that water resources represent one of the key challenges of our time, directly linked to sustainable development, climate change, food security and peacebuilding. He called for further strengthening constructive international cooperation and scientific research on various water-related issues.

During the session, Member States reviewed the implementation of the IHP’s strategic priorities, preparation for the 2026 UN Water Conference, capacity-building in the field of water resources and the enhancement of national and transboundary water governance mechanisms.

Addressing the Council’s plenary meeting, Kazakhstan’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Askar Abdrakhmanov informed the international hydrological community about President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s initiative to establish an International Water Organization under the UN. He noted that the initiative aims to strengthen coordination, improve the implementation of international commitments and address the fragmentation of the existing global water governance architecture.

The Ambassador briefed the Council on the outcomes of the first international consultations on the establishment of the International Water Organization that were held in Astana on 23 April 2026 as part of the Regional Ecological Summit.

Kazakhstan emphasized that UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme, with more than half a century of experience in hydrological sciences, capacity-building, and international cooperation, is one of the peput intergovernmental platforms within the UN system for promoting constructive dialogue on improving global water management.

Participation of Kazakhstan in the 27th session of the IHP Council reaffirmed the country’s commitment to advancing multilateral cooperation on water security, promoting science-based approaches to water management and seeking effective international solutions to contemporary water challenges.

For reference: Established in 1975, UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) is an international scientific cooperation programme dedicated to water research and management, as well as related education activities and capacity-building for specialists and institutions in this field. Its governing body is the IHP Council, composed of 36 Member States elected for four-year terms.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-unesco/press/news/details/1235847?lang=ru