Organizers
The 3rd Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference is organized by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan with the support of the United Nations and other partners. The ultimate responsibility for preparation of the Conference rests with the National Organizing Committee established by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
Background
The Third High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028 will be held from 10 to 13 June 2024 in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan within the framework of the Dushanbe Water Process.
The Dushanbe Water Process is an initiative of the Government of Tajikistan to support the implementation of the goals of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028” through a series of biennial conferences hosted by the Government of Tajikistan in close cooperation with the UN. Prime-minister of the Republic of Tajikistan and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs are the Cochairs of the conferences.
To date, two Dushanbe Water Conferences successfully held in 2018 and 2022 in Dushanbe. The Second Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference in 2022 played a significant role in shaping the themes of interactive dialogues of the UN 2023 Water Conference and launching the Water Action Agenda.
Within the sidelines of the Third Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference the Government of Tajikistan aims to provide a platform for monitoring and promoting the outcomes of the UN 2023 Water Conference.
Based on this, the program structure of the Third Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference will follow that of the UN Water Conference, including five interactive dialogues that will comprehensively review progress made since the UN Water Conference in New York. The conference also includes a thorough assessment of the implementation of the Water Action Agenda.
Goals
The main objective of the Third Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference is to further enhance common efforts and support the implementation of voluntary commitments registered in the Water Action Agenda of the UN Water Conference, as well as to stimulate new partnerships and accelerate actions to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Dushanbe conference also aims 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 2030 Agenda and contribute to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in 2024 and preparatory process of the UN Water Conference in 2026.
In particular, the 3rd Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference will focus on:
- Providing a platform to support the implementation of the goals and targets of the Water Action Decade, as well as for the follow up to the UN 2023 Water Conference;
- Providing an update on the activities and actions indicated in the Final Declaration, the Co-Chairs’ Summary and the Call for Action and Partnerships of the 2nd Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference;
- Accelerating the implementation of internationally agreed water-related goals and targets at the regional and national level, particularly through the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework;
- Promoting science-based solutions and tools, including data, technologies and innovations;
- Improving capacity building, knowledge and education through sharing information and best practices;
- Showcasing successful partnerships, advocacy and networking actions by stakeholders at all levels towards the implementation of the goals and targets of the Water Action Decade;
- Strengthening cooperation at different levels by promoting dialogue, partnership and cross-sectoral approaches.
The Third Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference will also provide a mechanism to encourage governments, the United Nations and all other partners to translate intentions into actions on the ground and catalyze new commitments to be registered in the Water Action Agenda.
International Advisory Committee (IAC)
The International Advisory Committee (IAC) of the Dushanbe Water Process consisting the representatives of the partner governments, United Nations institutions, international and regional institutions, nongovernmental organizations and other stakeholders will help the National Organizing Committee to facilitate an inclusive preparation for the Conference, as well as to develop a comprehensive program and outcome documents of the Conference.
The International Steering Committee (ISC) of the Group of Friends of Water in New York will be engaged in the preparation of the Conference through its regular meetings, convened by Permanent Missions to the United Nations.
Outcomes
In continuity with past events, this Conference will produce a Final Declaration and a Co-chair’s Summary, as well as a compendium of actions, partnerships and other initiatives towards the implementation of the Water Action Decade, presented during the Conference. The outcomes of the Conference will be presented to the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations 2024 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
Participation
The Conference is multi-stakeholder in nature and will bring together different groups and actors involved in the implementation of water-related goals and targets. The Conference will gather high-level representatives of the UN member states, UN entities, international and regional organizations, international financial institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations, academia, communities, local governments, and other stakeholders. To provide an opportunity for the promotion of integrated approaches and partnerships, participation of representatives from different sectors out of the water box is encouraged.
Format of Participation
The Third Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference is expected to be a physical in-person event to ensure the highest level of interaction among participants, as well as widely broadcasted via YouTube and other channels.
Dates and Venue
The Conference will be held on 10-13 June 2024 at Kokhi Somon, Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan. Conference forums will be held prior to the official opening of the Conference. Venues for these events will be decided by the organizers separately.
Registration
The Dushanbe Water Process is introducing, for the first time, a registration fee for participation in the Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conferences. This is not related to commercial purposes, as the Government of Tajikistan covers most of the local costs for conference participants, which are many times higher than the envisaged fee.
The introduction of the registration fee is related to the need to ensure security and timely resolution of all logistical issues. It also helps to avoid false registrations, which we have encountered a lot in the preparation of previous conferences.
Detailed information on conference registration is available at the following link: https://conf2024. dushanbewaterprocess.org/registration-ru/?lang=ru.
Languages
The working languages of the Conference are English and Russian (simultaneous translation will be provided). Translation into other UN official languages will be provided to the possible extent for the Opening Ceremony and Closing Session.
More information about the Conference is available at: https://conf2024.dushanbewaterprocess.org/
Structure of the Program
The program of the 3rd Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference will follow the structure of the UN 2023 Water Conference, including a plenary session, five interactive dialogues that will comprehensively review progress made since the UN 2023 Water Conference, forums, side events, cultural events, an exhibition, a press conference and field trips.
Plenary Session
The Plenary session of the Third Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference will provide an opportunity for the Heads of Delegation to make political statements. Guidelines to make statements consistent with the Water Action Decade and SDG 6, as well as Water Action Agenda of the UN 2023 Water Conference will be provided to Heads of Delegations through diplomatic channels, as appropriate.
Forums
The Forums will be held before the opening ceremony of the Conference and will provide focused engagement of private sector, academia, women, youth and other major groups, in the manner consistent with objectives of the Conference. The objective of the Forums is to create an additional platform for broader discussion of water-related issues among specific types of stakeholders or in certain regions.
The Forums make it possible to involve different types of stakeholders, including women, youth, indigenous people, professional groups, scholars, private sector and others in the implementation of the water agenda with a focus on catalyzing water action and partnership at the local, national, regional and global level. Factual and relevant deliberations, findings and solutions may effectively contribute to the Conference and address the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework.
The Forums will provide an opportunity for participants to reflect on the outcomes of the UN 2023 Water Conference and 2nd Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference in their narrow context. The outcomes of the Forums will be presented at the Closing session. The Terms of Reference for the Forums will be prepared by the Conference Secretariat.
Interactive Dialogues
The Third Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference will include five Interactive Dialogues correspond to that of the UN 2023 Water Conference. The Dialogues will focus on the implementation of the goals and targets of the Water Action Decade, review the progress catalyzed by the UN 2023 Water Conference particularly implementation of the Water Action Agenda, identifying challenges and opportunities in their implementation, sharing best practices and innovative solutions and strengthening partnerships among stakeholders towards the implementation of the water-related goals.
The co-chairs of the appropriate interactive dialogues of the UN 2023 Water Conference are invited to coorganize the interactive dialogues of the Dushanbe Conference jointly with other partners of the Dushanbe Water Process. The Terms of Reference for the Interactive Dialogues will be prepared by the Conference Secretariat.
The Dialogues will cover the following themes correspond to that of the UN 2023 Water Conference:
Interactive Dialogue - 1. Water for Health: Access to WASH, including the Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation.
Interactive Dialogue - 2. Water for Sustainable Development: Valuing Water, Water-Energy-Food Nexus, and Sustainable Economic and Urban Development.
Interactive Dialogue - 3. Water for Climate, Resilience, and Environment: Source to Sea, Biodiversity, Climate, Resilience, and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
Interactive Dialogue - 4. Water for Cooperation: Transboundary and International Water Cooperation, Cross-Sectoral Cooperation, including Scientific Cooperation, and Water Across the 2030 Agenda.
Interactive Dialogue - 5. Water Action Decade: Accelerating the Implementation of the Objectives of the Decade, including through the UN SecretaryGeneral’s Action Plan.
The outcomes of the Interactive Dialogues will be presented at the Closing session. They will also be reflected in the outcome documents of the 3rd Dushanbe Water Action Decade Conference.
Side Events
Side events are an excellent opportunity for stakeholders to dive deeper into pressing water issues within smaller, stakeholder-driven sessions. Share your expertise and insights, building collaborative connections with fellow Conference participants.
While aligning with the overarching themes of the 5 interactive dialogues of the UN 2023 Water Conference, side events offer you the freedom to choose specific topics that meet your interest.
The conference organizers provide dedicated space for your event, assist with visa applications for your participants, and arrange convenient local transportation. Additionally, you can enjoy a networking opportunity at the evening reception.
A diverse range of stakeholders can bring their unique perspectives to the table! International and regional organizations, financial institutions, government agencies, civil society groups, academic institutions, and the private sector are all welcome to organize side events. More information about side events is available at: https://conf2024.dushanbewaterprocess.org/sideevents/
