The main objective of the Fourth Dushanbe Conference on the Decade for Action on Water is to further mobilise collective efforts and support the implementation of the voluntary commitments set out in the Programme of Action for Water of the United Nations Water Conference, as well as to foster the creation of new partnerships and accelerate actions aimed at achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Conference also aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices and innovative solutions, strengthen partnerships between stakeholders, reinforce the role of water in sustainable development, raise public awareness and mobilise political will in order to accelerate progress towards achieving the water-related goals of the 2030 Agenda.
In particular, the fourth Dushanbe Conference on the Decade of Action for Water will focus on the following objectives:
- serve as a key preparatory meeting for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, co-organised by the Republic of Senegal and the United Arab Emirates;
- present scalable solutions, strengthen cooperation and forge partnerships to address priority water-related opportunities and challenges;
- strengthen the implementation of the Decade for Action on Water, building on the four pillars4 of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Action Plan for the Decade for Action on Water 2018–2028;
- conduct an informal consultation with stakeholders in the run-up to the 2028 United Nations Water Conference, which will serve as a comprehensive final review of the Decade for Action on Water 2018–2028 and an initial discussion on the way forward, including beyond 2030.
Water for cooperation
On this occasion, Pierre HENRY de VILLENEUVE, Head of International Institutional Support (International Office for Water), will speak at Thematic Session D about water & cooperation, on 26 May from 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm
The aim of this session is to address cooperation around river basins, as well as cross-border and international cooperation in the field of water. It aims to highlight the key role of cross-border legal frameworks and institutional cooperation agreements for the joint management of surface and groundwater.
It will also be an opportunity to promote inclusive water governance, multi-stakeholder collaboration and scalable solutions for equitable and peace-oriented cooperation. The focus will be on the involvement of all stakeholders (economic sectors, the private sector, etc.) and on best practices, particularly in Asia. Finally, this session aims to contribute to the discussions at international water conferences, such as the one in 2026.
Programme
Welcome
- Laura Hendry, Senior Specialist on Mediation, Centre for Peace Mediation, Ministry for Foreing Affairs of Finland (Moderator of the Session)
Opening words
- Romas Kamanga, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, Zambia
- Eduards Stiprais, Ambassador, EU Special Representative for Central Asia
Keynote
- Aleš Bizjak, Chair of the Bureau of the Water Convention; Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of Slovenia, Water Directorate
Setting the scene
- Status of transboundary water cooperation worldwide
- Abou Amani, Assistant Director-General for Sciences, a.i, Secretary, Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), UNESCO and Sonja Koeppel,Secretary of the Water Convention, UNECE
- Takeaways from the Pre-Conference Forum ‘Frontiers of Transboundary Cooperation: Tools and Actions for Sustainable Water Management’
- Barbara Janusz-Pawletta, Country Representative, International Water Management Institute – Regional Representative Office for Central Asia Office
Panel discussion
Chair of the Panel:
- James Dalton, Director of Global Water Programme, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Chair of the Transboundary Water Cooperation Coalition
Panellists:
- Daler Abdurazoqzoda, Head of the Department of Water and Energy Policy, Development of Science and Technologies, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan
- Representative of Bangladesh (TBC)
- Nelson Gomonda, Director of Programmes, African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) (TBC)
- Pierre Henry de Villeneuve, Project Director, International Office for Water (OiEau), International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO)
- Lyazzat Syrlybayeva, Founding Member, Women in Water Diplomacy Network – Central Asia and Afghanistan
Official Closing
- Annukka Lipponen, Chief Specialist on Water Resources Management, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland
Water for prosperity
Pierre HENRY de VILLENEUVE will also speak at Thematic Session B on water and prosperity, on 26 May from 2 pm to 4 pm.
This session aims to translate political commitments into concrete actions for sustainable water management, in line with SDG 6 and other multilateral processes. Its outcomes will help refine the strategic framework and strengthen the political momentum ahead of the December 2026 Conference.