Progress report for
Dushanbe Water Process as a follow up mechanism to the UN2023 Water Conference
Achievement at a glance
As part of the Water Action Agenda, the Government of Tajikistan committed to use the Dushanbe Water Process as a follow-up mechanism to the UN 2023 Water Conference. To fulfill this commitment, the Third High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028 (Third Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference) had a specific focus on implementing the Water Action Agenda and identifying obstacles and opportunities related to fulfilling the commitments outlined in the Water Action Agenda. The Conference also sought to share best practices and innovative solutions, strengthen partnerships among stakeholders, promote the role of water in sustainable development, raise awareness and mobilize political will to accelerate progress towards achieving the water-related goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, contribute to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2024 and inform the preparatory process of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.The Third Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference took place from 10 to 13 June 2024 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The conference was organized by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with the United Nations and other international partners within the framework of the Dushanbe Water Process, an initiative of the Government of Tajikistan to support the implementation of the objectives of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028”. The conference was co-chaired by Mr. Qohir Rasulzoda, Prime Minister, Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and Mr. Liu Zhenmin, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.
Coming fifteen months after the New York Conference, the Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference provided a platform for Water Action Agenda commitment holders to share updates on their efforts to implement their commitments, examine challenges, find solutions, and seek partnerships to accelerate implementation. The Conference program closely mirrored the structure of the UN 2023 Water Conference, which fostered continuity by building on the discussions, key messages and recommendations from the five interactive dialogues of the New York Conference. The Interactive Dialogues sessions in Dushanbe offered a timely opportunity to review progress, showcase good examples, enhance key messages and recommendations and propose follow-up actions for the five thematic areas. Conference participants acknowledged the value of continued dialogue on these same thematic topics to improve and accelerate implementation and maintain the momentum from the UN 2023 Water Conference.
The Conference was attended by more than 2,500 dignitaries and policymakers, academics and experts from all regions and included official delegations from 70 countries and over 100 international and regional organizations, including United Nations entities, financial institutions, and basin organizations. The Third Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference produced three outcome documents: Co-Chairs’ Summary of the conference proceeding, a final Dushanbe Declaration that reflects the forward-looking key messages and recommendations for follow-up actions, and the Dushanbe Commitments that compiles the initiatives, commitments and partnerships that were proposed during the Conference.
Next Steps
• The outcomes from the Third Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference will be shared at international events including the High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development, Stockholm World Water Week, Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties for UNFCCC, UNCCD, and CDB among others.• The Dushanbe Water Process can be leveraged to support the preparatory process for the upcoming 2026 Water Conference and Final Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the Water Action Decade Conference in 2028, as well as other international water-related events.
• The Fourth Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference is planned for 2026.
Beneficiaries
The Dushanbe Water Process and its periodic Conferences benefit all countries, organizations, partnerships and coalitions working to implement the Water Action Agenda.
Actions
The Third Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference produced three outcome documents:• The Co-Chair Summary describes the proceeding of the Conference sessions and related activities. The document includes key messages and follow-up actions from the Conference sessions. It also provides the co-chairs view on the main conclusions of the Conference and layouts next steps for the Dushanbe Water Process in support of implementation of the objectives of the Water Action Decade, including the preparations for UN-the mandated United Nations Conference on the Final Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action in 2028 and other upcoming water-related events.
• The final Dushanbe Declaration reflects the key messages that emerged from the preparatory process, interactive dialogues, forums, as well as other important conclusions and recommendations from the Conference. The document provides forward-looking key messages for decision-makers and stakeholders and identifies important opportunities ahead to advance the objective of the Water Action Decade and follow-up on the outcomes of the UN 2023 Water Conference. It calls for a commitment to elevate and address water and sanitation issues within the international agenda and calls on the relevant actors to take action within their respective capacities.
• The Dushanbe Commitments document compiles the initiatives, commitments and partnerships that were proposed during this Conference as a contribution to the water-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda, Water Action Agenda commitments, and the Water Action Decade. This document aims at taking stock of the actions and partnerships discussed during Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conferences and at contributing to their follow-up. It is recommended to register the actions and partnerships as voluntary commitments to the Water Action Agenda through the United Nations SDG Actions Partnership Platform and providing updates on their progress.