The Government of Tajikistan has announced that the Fourth Dushanbe Conference on the Water Action Decade will be held from May 25 to 28, 2026, in Dushanbe, as part of the ongoing Dushanbe Water Process, a global initiative aimed at addressing water-related challenges and promoting sustainable water management worldwide.The Dushanbe Water Process was launched to support the implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” (2018–2028), which seeks to accelerate global efforts toward sustainable water use and access. The initiative is organized in collaboration with the United Nations and other international partners.
Held every two years, the conferences serve as a global platform for political dialogue, partnership-building, and monitoring progress on water-related commitments. The process is co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Tajikistan and the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.According to officials, the main mission of the initiative is to advance the outcomes of the 2023 UN Water Conference, provide a platform for reporting progress under the Water Action Decade, and monitor more than 840 voluntary commitments aimed at improving global water governance and sustainability.
Since its launch, three conferences have been held under the Dushanbe Water Process. The first conference in 2018 marked the start of global dialogue under the decade initiative. The second meeting in 2022 helped shape the themes for interactive dialogues at the 2023 UN Water Conference.
The most recent conference in 2024 brought together more than 2,500 participants, including representatives from over 70 UN member states and more than 100 UN entities and international organizations. The gathering focused on advancing the outcomes of the five interactive dialogues held during the 2023 UN Water Conference.
The upcoming 2026 conference is expected to continue Tajikistan’s role as a global platform for discussing water issues, strengthening international cooperation, monitoring progress, and accelerating global action to address water challenges.
