UNESCO-IHP is behind the Water Information Network System (IHP-WINS), which was launched in January 2017 [49]. This online platform (available at: http://ihp-wins.unesco.org/) incorporates geospatial data on water resources into a cooperative and open-access participatory database to foster knowledge-sharing and access to information. IHP-WINS is freely made available by UNESCO-IHP to Member States, water stakeholders and partners with the aim of facilitating access to information, and encouraging contributors to share data on water. Thanks to these contributions, the platform benefits from continuous enrichments with spatial data and documents, coming from various sources. A variety of spatial data is shared and accessible on the platform: the scale varies from worldwide to very local level, information can be quantitative or qualitative, and both raster and vector files are available. Additionally, because the platform is open to a variety of contributors, information covers a large array of water-related topics ranging from quality to risk, and gender, etc. Users can combine these layers of information to create maps tailored to their own needs. 
Transparency and respect of authorship is guaranteed as all information provides the benefits of metadata in a standardized format from a Digital Object Identifier (DOI: 10.29104). This allows for accurate identification and crediting of all contributions, and facilitates later sharing. Inter-disciplinary collaboration, professional networking and mentoring are also stimulated through working groups where users can exchange and provide feedback on their ongoing work. This involvement and participation contribute to the building of an online community. By gathering global and inclusive knowledge on water, and facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration, IHP-WINS aims overall at supporting Members States and stakeholders involved in resource management. The platform will also contribute to close the gap between North and South in terms of access to knowledge. The initiative contributes to the follow-up on the monitoring and implementation of the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) and those of other water-related goals.