Abu Dhabi: The Embassy of Tajikistan and the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, organized a press conference in Abu Dhabi on preparations for the Fourth International High-Level Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018–20”.
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The conference will be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from May 25 to 28. The conference featured remarks by Bérangere Boëll, Ashrafjon Gulov and Shaima Hussain Gargash.
Officials highlighted the conference’s role in advancing discussions on Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on clean water and sanitation, while supporting preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference to be held in Abu Dhabi.
Boll emphasized the importance of stronger international cooperation in addressing global water challenges, noting that the Dushanbe conference would help maintain momentum towards the Abu Dhabi gathering in 2026.
She also highlighted the role of the UAE, together with Senegal and the United Nations system, in supporting a comprehensive and action-focused process for the upcoming conference.
Ambassador Gulov thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates and the Office of the UN Permanent Coordinator for their cooperation in organizing the conference.
He said that Tajikistan has played a leading role in promoting water diplomacy at the global level over the past two decades through several initiatives approved by the United Nations General Assembly.
These include the International Year of Freshwater in 2003, the International Decade for Action “Water for Life” from 2005 to 2015 and the current International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” which runs until 2028.
Gargash said the UAE and Tajikistan share a common vision that places water issues at the center of climate action and sustainable development efforts.
She added that the two countries continue to strengthen cooperation and exchange expertise ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi.
Officials said the Dushanbe conference is expected to bring together more than 2,500 participants, including government representatives, UN officials, financial institutions, academics, civil society organizations and private sector representatives.
The conference program will include plenary meetings, thematic sessions, forums and side events focusing on issues such as water security, investment, sustainability and international cooperation.
Among the expected outputs are the Dushanbe Declaration, a summary of the co-chairs and a contribution document for the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi.
The conference concluded with calls for stronger global partnerships and practical solutions to address growing water-related challenges around the world.
