By Abdullahi Lukman
UN-Water Members and Partners gathered in Geneva from 30 September to 1 October 2025 for the 42nd UN-Water Meeting, focusing on implementation of the UN System-wide Strategy on Water and Sanitation and preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference.
The strategy, launched in July 2024, outlines five key entry points: leading collective action, country-level engagement, mainstreaming water in global processes, accelerating progress, and joint review.
Discussions highlighted significant momentum, including record visibility for World Water Day 2025 and ongoing joint programs in several countries.
Participants reviewed upcoming water-related initiatives at COP30 and progress on the SDG 6 Capacity Development Initiative.
UN-Water is also preparing the 2026 SDG 6 Synthesis Report for the High-Level Political Forum in July.
The meeting also addressed preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference, set for 2–4 December in the UAE and co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal.
The conference is expected to advance the global water agenda and its links to climate, peace, and development.
Member States, including France, Switzerland, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Japan, and Cambodia, expressed interest in co-chairing interactive dialogues during the conference.
Participants reaffirmed support for global collaboration, despite concerns over the implications of the ongoing UN80 reform initiative and broader geopolitical uncertainties.
