The International Centre for Water Security and Sustainable Management under the auspices of UNESCO (i-WSSM) participated in the 4th High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from 25 to 27 May 2026.
The conference was convened as the Water Action Decade (2018–2028) has entered its latter half, with the aim of reviewing implementation progress, accelerating the achievement of SDG 6, and discussing key agendas linked to the 2026 and 2028 UN Water Conferences.
Through its participation, i-WSSM aimed to identify key trends in the global water agenda, explore water-related cooperation needs in Central Asia and other regions, and examine potential areas for future international cooperation. i-WSSM also operated an exhibition booth to introduce its research, education and training, and international cooperation activities, thereby enhancing the Centre’s visibility within the international water community.
In particular, the key messages delivered during the high-level opening session, special sessions, thematic sessions, and side events provide useful insights for Korean water companies and related organizations seeking to understand global water agenda trends and international cooperation opportunities. i-WSSM has therefore prepared a separate reference material summarizing these discussions.
1) Operation of the i-WSSM Exhibition Booth
i-WSSM operated an exhibition booth throughout the conference to introduce the Centre’s background, mandate, key functions, research and education outcomes, and international cooperation activities. Through videos, brochures, annual reports, GWSI publications, and UWMP promotional materials, the Centre presented its role and contribution to advancing water security and sustainable water management.
Through the booth operation, i-WSSM engaged with government and research institutions, international cooperation networks, and water-related organizations in Central Asia. Potential areas of cooperation discussed included GWSI article contributions, WEAP/LEAP-based nexus research, capacity-building programmes using disaster analysis frameworks, international development cooperation projects in Central Asia, and water diplomacy networks.
2) Participation in High-Level and Thematic Sessions
i-WSSM attended the opening ceremony, high-level sessions, and thematic sessions to understand the evolving direction of the global water agenda. The discussions emphasized water as a cross-cutting issue linked to health, food, energy, ecosystems, peace, and economic stability.
Key messages included accelerating SDG 6 implementation, responding to climate change, preserving glaciers, strengthening transboundary water management, mobilizing finance, promoting science-based solutions, and enhancing governance. Central Asian countries and developing countries also highlighted cooperation needs related to glacier melt, water scarcity, transboundary water management, hydrometeorological monitoring, early warning systems, climate finance, and support from multilateral development banks.
These discussions may serve as useful reference points for Korean water companies and related organizations in exploring opportunities for international development cooperation, overseas engagement, climate finance-linked projects, transboundary water management, and water-related disaster risk reduction.
3) Participation in Special Sessions and Thematic Discussions
i-WSSM participated in special sessions related to preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference, the final review of the Water Action Decade, and discussions on water in the Post-2030 agenda. These sessions highlighted the importance of continuity between the 2026 and 2028 UN Water Conferences and the need to move from commitments to implementation-oriented action.
The thematic sessions addressed key topics such as Water for People, Water for Prosperity, Water for Planet, Water for Cooperation, Water in Multilateral Process, and Investments for Water. Discussions focused on WASH, transboundary water cooperation, integrated water resources management, nature-based solutions, water-related investments, stakeholder engagement, monitoring, and accountability.
To support Korean water companies and related organizations in understanding these global discussions, i-WSSM has prepared a separate reference material summarizing the key messages from the opening session, special sessions, and thematic sessions. The material includes major topics such as SDG 6 acceleration, the final review of the Water Action Decade, the Post-2030 water agenda, climate resilience, transboundary water management, and water-related investment.
4) Side Event and Network Building
i-WSSM also joined the side event titled “Nature-Based Pathways along Flyways: Integrating Water, Wetland and Food Systems for Climate Resilience.” The event addressed the need to integrate water, wetland, and food systems into a coherent climate resilience framework.
During the conference, i-WSSM held networking discussions with various stakeholders, including representatives from the Government of the Republic of Korea, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Tajikistan, Tajik government officials, UN ESCAP, K-water, and the Asia Water Council. In particular, discussions with UN ESCAP explored potential cooperation in disaster risk reduction, early warning, flood and drought response, rainfall risk mapping, and data-based water disaster management.
In addition, i-WSSM’s participation in the conference and exhibition booth operation were introduced through several media and partner channels, including an interview with Tajikistan’s national broadcaster TVT, the Sadoi Dushanbe SNS channel, the Hanns Seidel Foundation SNS channel, and other international media outlets. These opportunities helped share the significance of the Dushanbe Water Conference, raise awareness of global water challenges, and promote i-WSSM’s role in international cooperation for water security.
5) Follow-up Directions
i-WSSM will continue to manage and develop the network of government agencies, international organizations, research institutions, and experts identified through the conference. The Centre plans to link these networks to future cooperation activities, including international training programmes, seminars, GWSI, UWMP, and international development cooperation initiatives.
Based on the global water agenda and regional cooperation needs identified during the conference, i-WSSM will further develop its engagement strategy for the 2026 UN Water Conference. The Centre will also continue to align these outcomes with its mid- to long-term international cooperation strategy, focusing on areas such as climate resilience, transboundary water cooperation, water-related investment, urban water management, and inclusive water governance.