The high impact meeting will be hosted by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in close cooperation with the United Nations and international partners which continues within the established framework of Dushanbe Water Process. This initiative has served as a key global platform for inclusive dialogue, practical solutions, and accelerated action on water issues since the launch of the Water Action Decade.
The conference builds on the success of previous editions held in 2018, 2022, and 2024, as well as the landmark UN 2023 Water Conference co-hosted by Tajikistan and the Netherlands. It arrives at a critical juncture amid growing water-related challenges, including climate change impacts, population pressures, and expanding water stress affecting about 10% of the global population.
The overall goal is to advance the objectives of the Water Action Decade by emphasizing sustainable and integrated water resources management, promotion of related programs and projects, and strengthened cooperation at all levels to achieve internationally agreed water-related targets, including SDG 6, which stands for clean water and sanitation for all.
There are several key specific objectives to this conference.
Firstly, the conference will be acting as a major preparatory milestone for the 2026 UN Water Conference which will be co-hosted by Senegal and the United Arab Emirates. This meeting is scheduled from 2nd to 4th December 2026 in the UAE. It will act as a bridging momentum from the 2023 event into focused guidance and action.
It will also be showcasing scalable solutions, forging new partnerships, and addressing priority water challenges through practical, action-oriented approaches and at the same time advancing the implementation of the Water Action Agenda itself.
The implementation of the Water Action Decade will be aligned with the UN Secretary-General’s four workstreams on knowledge exchange, data improvement, advocacy and partnerships, and communication.
It will provide an early informal consultation platform with stakeholders to begin shaping the UN 2028 Water Conference which is to be hosted by in Dushanbe, which will conduct the final comprehensive review of the Decade and explore post-2030 directions.
The conference will emphasize accelerating SDG 6 through five key accelerators: financing, data, capacity, innovation, and governance. It will promote integrated cross-sectoral approaches linking water to climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, glacier preservation, and related global agendas.
The four-day program features preparatory forums and side events, including the Asia-Pacific regional preparatory meeting for the 2026 UN Water Conference, organized by UN ESCAP on 25th May.
The official high-level sessions will be held on 26th to 27th May at the Kokhi Somon complex. There will be field trips and tours on 28th May to showcase Tajikistan’s water resources management experiences.
Participants will also engage in opening and closing sessions, plenary discussions, thematic sessions which aligned with the interactive dialogue themes of the 2026 UN Water Conference, special panels, stakeholder forums, cultural events, and an international exhibition.
Expected outcomes include a Final Declaration, a Co-Chairs’ Summary, and a substantive contribution from the Dushanbe Water Process to the 2026 UN Water Conference. These will deliver key messages, forward-looking recommendations, and tangible follow-up actions to drive implementation at national, regional, and global levels.
New voluntary commitments can be registered under the Water Action Agenda, launched at the 2023 UN Water Conference which has already seen over 840 pledges to date. Conference results will also feed into the 2026 High-Level Political Forum (with in-depth SDG 6 review), Rio Conventions COPs, the 2027 SDG Summit, the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences (2025-2034), and future events such as the 11th World Water Forum in Riyadh in 2027.
The Republic of Tajikistan reaffirms its strong commitment to international water cooperation based on solidarity, shared responsibility, and sustainable development principles. The event aims to unite governments, UN entities, financial institutions, civil society, youth, Indigenous Peoples, the private sector, and other stakeholders in advancing a water-secure, resilient, and sustainable future for all.
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