Citizen Science Toolbox: A Digital Tool for Participatory Data Collection

The Citizen Science Toolbox is an open-access digital platform developed under the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) to empower citizens, communities, and local organizations to actively contribute to environmental monitoring and water-related data collection.

Designed to bridge the gap between water-related data, scientific research and community engagement, the Toolbox facilitates the collection of standardized data by non-experts through mobile and web-based interfaces with intuitive surveys.

Core Components

• Mobile application: currently available as the Be-Resilient UNESCO app for Android, allowing users to submit georeferenced observations through customizable survey protocols.
• Web-based platform: available at cs.ihp-wins.unesco.org and hosted on IHP-WINS, where users can add and visualize data and access interactive dashboards.

This tool supports a wide range of thematic surveys including water quality, hydrological conditions, biodiversity indicators, and climate impacts. It also enables the creation of customized survey forms tailored to project needs. The platform ensures data validation, transparency, and accessibility by aligning with Open Science principles.

Why Use the Toolbox?

The Citizen Science Toolbox, in addition to the Citizens4Water Database, serves as a practical solution for projects aiming to:

• Collect consistent data over time and across regions and topics
• Mobilize communities in monitoring environmental and water-related issues
• Foster community stewardship of data and findings
• Support evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation

Whether you are launching a local river watch initiative, assessing climate-change impacts, or engaging youth and local communities in climate action, the Citizen Science Toolbox is a tool to anchor your project's data in participatory science and enhance its impact.