The Geneva Water Hub Contributes to Preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference

On 22 April 2026, the Geneva Water Hub participated in the high-level side event “Accelerating Regional Action on SDG 6: Strengthening Partnerships toward the UN 2026 Water Conference”, held at the Palais des Nations-Unies in the framework of the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development.

Co-organized by Slovenia and the UNECE - United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Water Convention, and supported by Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Finland and France, the event aimed to strengthen regional cooperation on water and connect regional priorities to the global preparatory process of the United Nations 2026 Water Conference.

In his intervention, Basilio Ghisletta, Programme Manager, shared key reflections drawn from the policy brief currently being developed in partnership with the Pôle Eau Dakar (PED) and TRENDS Research & Advisory. We highlighted three essential shifts that we believe are necessary to strengthen the impact and ambition of the 2026 Conference — particularly in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

We are encouraged that several Co-Chairs commended the Geneva Water Hub’s reflection and expressed their intention to integrate our recommendations into their ongoing preparations for the 2026 Conference.

Importantly, Geneva Water Hub’s remarks on the need to protect water systems before, during and after armed conflicts, especially in fragile and conflict-affected regions, were reflected in the closing remarks of H.E. Mrs. Shahad Matar, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to UNOG. She called for the protection of water systems under all circumstances — reinforcing a key message advanced by GWH.

This exchange signals growing recognition that safeguarding water infrastructure and strengthening governance in fragile settings must be central to the global water agenda.

We look forward to continuing to contribute to the road to #UNWater2026.