The Dushanbe water process: Charting the global course for water security

Salohiddin Kirom

The author is the ambassador of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Republic of Korea.

From May 25 to 28, the eyes of the global community turned to Dushanbe, Tajikistan, as the 4th High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” 2018-2028 successfully concluded. Conceived by the government of the Republic of Tajikistan in close coordination with the United Nations, this landmark gathering did more than just draft policy; it solidified a collective geopolitical will to protect our planet’s most critical resource.

As diplomats, we often measure the success of an international summit by its ability to bridge the gap between rhetoric and actionable commitments. By all metrics, Dushanbe has delivered a global nexus for the water agenda.

Under the leadership of Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Dushanbe once again transformed into the global capital for the water and climate agenda. The sheer scale of the event — drawing approximately 2,500 delegates, including 1,100 international participants spanning 110 countries and 75 international organizations — underscores the undeniable urgency of the “Dushanbe Water Process.”

From a diplomatic perspective, the true triumph of this conference lies in its strategic continuity. Dushanbe served as the vital connective tissue between the foundational outcomes of the 2023 UN Water Conference; the immediate preparatory milestones for the upcoming 2026 UN Water Conference; and the definitive road map leading to the final review of the UN’s Water Action Decade in 2028.

Water security is not an isolated environmental issue. It is the baseline foundation for economic growth, food and energy security, environmental resilience and the fundamental well-being of our populations.

The agenda seamlessly interlinked the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6 — clean water and sanitation — with broader climate action and innovative financing.

Through dedicated forums for youth, women, the private sector and specific regional focuses such as Africa, the Water for Sustainable Development Conference moved beyond traditional state-to-state diplomacy. True water governance requires the ingenuity of the private sector, the rigorous data of the scientific community and the lived experiences of grassroots civil society.

The concurrent special exhibition shifted the conversation from abstract policy to real-world application, showcasing cutting-edge technologies, smart water management systems and innovative financing models designed to scale immediately.

The ultimate legacy of these intense days of diplomacy is crystallized in the adoption of the Dushanbe Declaration, alongside the forthcoming Co-Chairs’ Summary. These are not merely symbolic documents; they provide a pragmatic, highly coordinated playbook for transboundary cooperation and voluntary commitments.

Tajikistan President Rahmon also proposed creating a new “Dushanbe Water Framework” to strengthen international coordination on water issues beyond 2030. The International Water Award of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan was also established to promote and strengthen water diplomacy and unite the efforts of the international community for a sustainable and secure future.

As we look toward the 2026 UN Water Conference, Tajikistan has firmly established itself as a premier champion of global water diplomacy. The message radiating from Dushanbe is clear: the water crisis is cross-border, cross-generational, and nonnegotiable. Only through deep, multilateral partnership can we turn the tide toward sustainable development.

The work in Dushanbe has concluded, but the implementation of its vision begins today.

We appreciate Korean Government contribution to the success of the said Water Conference.

The official delegation led by Ms. Kang Kum-sil,  Ambassador for Climate and Environment, as well representatives of Korea based International Center for Water Security and Sustainable Management (UNESCO i-WSSM) and Hanns Seidel Foundation Korea actively engaged in the Conference's various programs.