Progress towards the Water Action Decade in the Arab Region and Preparing for the 2026 UN Water Conference

This action is meant to ensure that Arab priorities are reflected in the global process by providing regional input to the UN Water Conference 2026. Furthermore, the outcome of the action will also inform regional decision and policy making structures such as the Arab Ministerial Water Council. The objectives of the action are to: Assess regional progress on internationally agreed water-related goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030 Agenda and the dedicated water goal (SDG 6). Identify existing challenges and gaps in the region in achieving internationally agreed water-related goals and targets. Discuss enablers that can support accelerating the implementation of water-related goals and targets in the region. Present outcomes of national and regional initiatives, innovations and key actions that demonstrate commitment of Arab countries to internationally agreed water-related goals. Inform regional decision and policy making structures and mechanisms on water-related opportunities, challenges and achieved progress in the Arab region to better plan the way forward. Encourage member States and other stakeholders from the region to implement and report on voluntary commitments to the Water Action Decade. Preparation of an outcome document that reflects regional priorities on water-related issues and opportunities to inform the global process, including the 2026 UN Water Conference.
Leading Entity
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA)
Contributing Action Number
CA1.18
Primary Entry Point
1: Lead and inspire collective action
Output(s)
Output 1.2: Action is inspired by compelling and unified UN system communications and messaging on water
SDG 6 Target(s)
Cross-cutting work on SDG 6
Type of Engagement
Convening of stakeholders
Geographical Scope
Regional, transboundary and sub-regional (multi-country) level
Start Date
End Date

Leading Entity

United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation

The Contributing Actions are key initiatives supporting the United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation, aligning individual and joint efforts across UN entities and partnering organizations to advance global water and sanitation goals. These actions are integrated into the Collaborative Implementation Plan (CIP) Results Framework 2025-2028, which provides a structured approach to achieving system-wide impact through coordinated UN efforts.
The Priority Collaborative Actions outlined in the framework focus on enhancing water security, improving governance, strengthening climate resilience, and accelerating progress on sanitation and hygiene. By fostering system-wide collaboration among UN agencies, these actions help drive policy coherence, knowledge sharing, and innovative solutions to address the world’s most pressing water challenges.