Geneva Water Hub at the UN 2026 Water Conference Preparatory Meeting: Advancing Water Cooperation and Peace
The Geneva Water Hub took part in the Multi-Stakeholder Preparatory Meeting for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, convened in New York. We welcomed the background note prepared by the Co-Hosts—Senegal and the United Arab Emirates—together with UNDESA, which builds on the outcomes of the 2023 Conference and sets a clear vision for the path ahead.
Representing the Geneva Water Hub, Basilio Ghisletta, Policy and Law Programme Manager, emphasized four key priorities during his intervention:
- Integrating peace and conflict prevention as a cross-cutting theme throughout the Conference.
- Addressing the protection of water and water sources in the “Water for People” Dialogue—before, during, and after conflict.
- Linking water more directly to SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions).
- Contributing to concrete commitments through the Water Action Agenda.
At the same meeting, Chile, speaking on behalf of the Transboundary Water Cooperation Coalition—which includes over 35 members (16 countries, the EU, UN entities, and partners)—delivered a joint statement calling for stronger international efforts to advance cooperation across shared waters.
The Coalition’s statement identified five key enablers:
- Establishing operational arrangements for shared water resources
- Acceding to UN water conventions
- Enhancing data and information exchange
- Developing climate-resilient basin management and investment plans
- Mobilizing financing for cooperative water management
Together, these contributions reflect a growing international commitment to water cooperation as a foundation for peace, resilience, and sustainable development.
