Paris, 30 April 2025. Acting as Vice-Chair of the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) for the Latin America and Caribbean region, Cuba took part in its 64th session, held on 29 and 30 April at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
The main purpose of the meeting was to review the implementation of the Programme, which is currently in its ninth phase until 2029, address existing challenges, and guide future strategic initiatives. Once again, Cuba reaffirmed its commitment to water-related issues and to achieving the targets and indicators of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all) of the 2030 Agenda.
Carlos Alberto Luaces Socarrás, Head of the Secretariat of the National Council of River Basins of Cuba and Chair of the National Committee of the IHP, highlighted the efforts made by the Latin American region to build strategic partnerships—not only among National Committees, but also with the World Meteorological Organization and the Conference of Ibero-American Water Directors (CODIA)—enabling a more integrated approach to water challenges.
The region is also addressing existing asymmetries among countries and designing a work plan based on their respective capacities. The Cuban representative also acknowledged the efforts of the UNESCO office in Montevideo in this regard.
This year holds particular significance for the Programme, as it marks the 50th anniversary of its creation, as well as the 60th anniversary of “water sciences” at UNESCO. To commemorate these milestones, a celebratory event is being prepared for 11 June, expected to gather over a thousand participants, including ministers, scientists, educators, and youth.
UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), founded in 1975 following the International Hydrological Decade (1965–1974), is the only intergovernmental programme of the UN system devoted to water research, management, education, and related capacity development.