2023 was an undoubtedly special year for water. For the first time in nearly 50 years, water took center stage at the UN 2023 Water Conference. Co-chaired by the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of The Netherlands, the UN 2023 Water Conference mobilized a wave of global efforts on water.
The UN 2023 Water Conference established the Water Action Agenda, that represents an accumulated financial investment of approximately 77.2 billion US dollars through 800 commitments from diverse actors. Since then, SIWI has been engaged in encouraging further progress on the Water Action Agenda together with the water community.
Momentum since Water Action Agenda’s formation
The Water Action Agenda Symposium in Delft in March was the first milestone in a continuing series of events this year, ultimately leading to the UN 2026 Water Conference. The Symposium was focused on keeping track of progress on the implementation of the Water Action Agenda commitments, serving as a moment to evaluate and track progress.
Building on this knowledge and the increased ambition to progress on shared commitments, the 10th World Water Forum in May in Bali offered events and panels where SIWI experts shared their expertise. The co-organization of a high-level panel on “Moving the Water Action Agenda forward together” in cooperation with the Governments of Indonesia, The Netherlands, and Tajikistan was one of the highlights at the Forum.
The panel was oriented around the five themes of the UN 2023 conference, featuring ministers from the UAE, Senegal, Singapore, China and Tajikistan as well as a Director General from the EU and high-level representatives from UNICEF, ADB, the Regional Infrastructure Development Agency of Indonesia, UN-Water and the African Civil Society Network on Water. The panel, introduced by the Water Envoy of the Netherlands, Meike van Ginneken, set the scene and emphasized the importance of action.
H .E. Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability Affairs of the UAE, as aspiring co-host of the UN Water Conference in 2026, indicated that UAE will strive to move the needle on collective efforts on water and bring a new perspective and lens to global conferences. His Excellency stated that “there is a need for an urgent, comprehensive and coordinated response from the international community to achieve a water secure future.” H.E. Cheikh Tidiane Dieye, Minister of Water and Sanitation of Senegal, as expected co-host of the UN 2026 Water Conference, chimed in with UAE’s vision and expressed his hopes for rapid and actionable outcomes from the 2026 Water Conference with positive impacts on the 2030 Agenda.
In closing, Meike van Ginneken re-emphasized the need for continual action and engagement with people outside of the water sector.as we continue to generate momentum towards 2026 and beyond.
A month later, in June, SIWI as a member of the International Advisory Committee and co convenor of high-level panels, took part in the Third High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action. In its final declaration, the conference echoed the need to “pursue full implementation and achievement of Water Action Agenda voluntary commitments and …further dialogue and exchange on the means of implementation.” The declaration featured a call for monitoring and reporting of Water Action Agenda voluntary commitments, while encouraging the registration of new commitments.
During The 2024 United Nations High-level Political Forum for Sustainable Development , its Special Event on SDG 6 and the Water Action Agenda in New York, focused on shaping global water discourse among UN Member States in view of the launch of the UN system-wide strategy on water. The Water Action Agenda was a noteworthy element of various speeches, and Meike van Ginneken of The Kingdom of The Netherlands provided many illustrations of successful commitments and their implementation, calling on UN DESA to manage it as a living and dynamic database.
She further announced the launch of the Water Action Agenda Magazine, coordinated by SIWI. Coming up in the 2024 edition of World Water Week, SIWI and the Government of the Netherlands, a High-Level Panel on Center Stage will serve as an annual follow-up to the UN 2023 Water Conference and the Water Action Agenda. The High-level panel ‘Water’s pathway in Global Processes’ will focus on the question of ‘how we can leverage, and accelerate, the implementation and impact of the Water Action Agenda and maintain the recognition of water in international processes. With the presence of the expected co-chairs of the upcoming UN 2026 Water Conference, as well as the co-chairs from the previous 2023 Conference, this High-level panel can serve as a stocktaking and realignment moment to contribute to developing the framework of the upcoming UN 2026 Water Conference. It will be immediately followed by a hands-on interactive workshop where stakeholders engaged in the Water Action Agenda, and other water initiatives, can share learning and plan action together on specific shared goals. on specific shared goals.
Keeping up the action and dialogues as well as collaborating across sectors are not only key to achieving the Water Action Agenda but to meeting the goals of SDG 6 and achieving a peaceful and sustainable future. With World Water Week as a yearly stock taking moment that unites stakeholders across sectors, regions, organizations and communities, this is a key milestone moment in keeping the impetus going.
SIWI is committed to supporting collective action and the outcomes of the UN 2023 Water Conference, as formulated in its formal Water Action Agenda commitment. We are keeping our eyes set on 2026 and look forward to welcoming you all to Stockholm to join us in taking the next steps for progress on this road together.
