At the 13th World Water Basin Summit in Rio de Janeiro, IAHR convened two workshops on sediment management and digital transformation for river basins, while formally confirming Kobe, Japan, as the host city of the 43rd IAHR World Congress in 2029.

Alongside its engagement with cities, IAHR is working with river basin authorities as a key arena for addressing water challenges at the scale where water management, infrastructure, ecosystems and communities intersect. Through collaboration with partners, IAHR connects scientific knowledge, technical innovation and operational experience to support integrated basin management. This focus is also reflected in IAHR’s recent Hydrolink special issue on River Basin Organizations.

IAHR strengthened its engagement with river basin authorities, policymakers, technical experts and international partners at the 13th World Water Basin Summit of the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO), held in Rio de Janeiro from 16 to 19 June 2026.

The Summit provided an important opportunity to advance the Road to Bari process through practical, international dialogue on some of the most pressing challenges facing river basin management. During the event, IAHR convened two dedicated workshops addressing sediment transport management and digital transformation for river basins.

The first workshop, Integrated Sediment Transport Management in River Basins, was organised by IAHR, INBO and the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD). It examined sediment management as a core element of integrated river basin governance, bringing together representatives of basin organisations, water authorities, technical institutions and international organisations to exchange practical experience, identify barriers to implementation and explore scalable solutions.

The session also contributed to the ongoing INBO–IAHR–ICOLD collaboration, including the development of a forthcoming INBO handbook on sediment transport management at basin scale and the wider Road to Bari process.

The second workshop, Digital Transformation for River Basins, explored how data, modelling, artificial intelligence and digital tools can better support decision-making in river basin management. Discussions focused on the need to connect technological innovation with institutional processes, engineering expertise and operational implementation, ensuring that digital transformation delivers practical value for water authorities and basin managers.

The workshop formed part of the Road to Bari framework and brought together representatives of public authorities, basin organisations, research institutions and technical communities from different regions of the world. It also reflected the growing importance of digital transformation within IAHR’s wider work on water management, resilience and global transitions.

During the Summit, IAHR also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the National Organizing Committee of the 43rd IAHR World Congress in Kobe, Japan (NOC IAHR2029), formally confirming Kobe as the host city of the 43rd IAHR World Congress in 2029.

The agreement was signed on 16 June by Prof. Philippe Gourbesville, President of IAHR, and Prof. Tetsuya Sumi, Chair of NOC IAHR2029.

By confirming Kobe as the host city of the 43rd IAHR World Congress, this agreement gives continuity to IAHR’s global pathway. As we advance towards Bari 2027, IAHR is strengthening the dialogue between science, policy and practice needed to address water challenges across cities, basins and nations.

Philippe Gourbesville, President of IAHR

Hosting the 43rd IAHR World Congress in Kobe is both an honour and a responsibility for the National Organizing Committee. We look forward to welcoming the global IAHR community to Japan in 2029 and to building on the momentum towards Bari 2027 through a Congress that fosters exchange, collaboration and practical responses to shared water challenges, under the theme of Water driving synergies from local to global, -Integrated basin management for climate resilience and shared prosperity.

Prof. Tetsuya Sumi, Chair of NOC IAHR2029

The signing marked an important institutional milestone for IAHR. It confirms the next destination in the association’s global congress cycle while reinforcing the shared international pathway now leading towards the 42nd IAHR World Congress in Bari, Italy, from 28 June to 2 July 2027.

INBO is a key IAHR partner in engagement with river basin authorities. Its endorsement of the Road to Bari framework and the inclusion of Bari 2027 in its own events roadmap underline the importance of cooperation between the scientific, policy, technical and implementation communities.

The work undertaken in Rio demonstrates how the Road to Bari is being developed as an active international process, connecting real-world water management challenges with the knowledge, innovation and expertise required to address them. Through dialogue on sediment management, digital transformation and integrated river basin governance, IAHR is helping create the conditions for meaningful exchange and practical action ahead of Bari 2027.

While Bari remains the immediate focus, the agreement with NOC IAHR2029 establishes an early institutional bridge to the next chapter of IAHR’s global journey. The official handover from Bari 2027 to Kobe 2029 will take place during the closing ceremony of the 42nd IAHR World Congress in Bari.

Discover the Road to Bari framework and join the journey towards the 42nd IAHR World Congress in Bari, Italy, from 28 June to 2 July 2027.

 Related

The Road to Bari Framework
Hydrolink Magazine
IAHR World Congress