“Water for Life” Tajikistan June 9 to 11

High Level International Conference on the implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015.

For information about the Conference, visit www.waterforlifeconf2015.org or contact the Secretariat of the Conference:

33 Sheroz str., Dushanbe 734001, Republic of Tajikistan

E-mail:info@waterforlifeconf2015.org;

Tel: (+992 37) 227 68 43 / Fax: (+992 37) 227 68 4

On 23 December 2003 at its 58^th session the UNGA adopted the resolution A/RES/58/217 initiated by the Republic of Tajikistan. According to the resolution the period 2005 – 2015 was declared as the “International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”.

The main goal of the Decade was to promote efforts to fulfill international commitments made on water and water-related issues by the year 2015.

These commitments also included the development goals contained in the United Nations Millennium Declaration, particularly, to halve the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Another important goal of the Decade was to develop by 2015 plans for integrated water resource management and water-use efficiency in rendering assistance to the developing countries.

The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan being the initiator of the Decade has taken a number of measures at national, regional and global levels for its successful implementation. With this view the Government of Tajikistan in cooperation with the UN and other international organizations organized the following important international water events:

• International Conference on Regional Cooperation in Trans-Boundary River Basins on 30 May – 1 June, 2005, Dushanbe;
• International Conference on Water Related Disasters Reduction on 27-29 June 2008, Dushanbe;
• High-Level International Conference on midterm comprehensive review of the implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015 on 8-10 June 2010, Dushanbe;
• High Level International Conference on Water Cooperation on 27-29 August 2013, Dushanbe.

Since the year 2015 terminates the International Decade for Action “Water for Life” a comprehensive assessment of the activities carried out during this period, identification of the difficulties and problems in the implementation of the Decade goals, as well as planning of the further activities for the post 2015 period are of crucial importance.

To that end on 19 December 2014 the UNGA has adopted a resolution (A/RES/69/215) entitled “International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015, and further efforts to achieve the sustainable development of water resources” calling upon member countries, UN system institutions, including the “UN-Water” and other organizations to comprehensively evaluate the progress achieved in the implementation of the Decade and continue taking steps for achieving internationally agreed water-related goals, including those indicated in the outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference entitled “The future we want”.

The resolution also implies the convening of the two important events:

• High-level interactive dialogue of the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly in New York within the week after the World Water Day on 22 March, 2015 for the purposes of comprehensive review of the progress achieved in the implementation of the Decade, including the best practices and lessons learned relevant to the achievement of sustainable development; and
• High-level international conference on the implementation of the International Decade in June 2015 in Dushanbe.

For holding the High-level international conference on the implementation of the   International Decade for Action, “Water for Life”, 2005-2015, there will be established an Organizing Committee under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan.

In order to develop a comprehensive Programme of the Conference with the participation of all categories of water users and decision-makers, there will be established an International Steering Committee from among the representatives of the partner countries, international and regional institutions, river basin organizations, NGOs, the private sector and other stakeholders.

The primary goal of the Conference is a comprehensive discussion of the issues of implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015, which will later play a crucial role in conducting comprehensive review of the implementation of the International Decade with bringing its results to the notice of the wider international community.

The conference also provides an opportunity to discuss the challenges and gaps in the implementation of the International Decade, and on this basis recommendations for further actions after 2015, including contribution to the development of the Sustainable Development Goals related to water resources will be elaborated.

Date and venue:

The Conference will be held on 9-10 June 2015 in Dushanbe.

Language:

The working languages of the Conference are English and Russian (simultaneous translation will be provided). The translation into other UN official languages will be provided to the possible extent.

Organizers:

The Conference is organized by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with the “UN-Water” and other UN institutions, international and regional organizations and other partners.

Preliminary Program:

The conference program will include a variety of activities, including plenary and thematic sessions, round tables, parallel and pre-conference events, side events, presentations and other event formats upon request of stakeholders as well as an exhibition and a tour.

In preparing the structure of the conference, a variety of approaches will be used including thematic, regional and multi-stakeholder approach (sessions dedicated to different groups of stakeholders).

Prospective topics for discussion at the conference:

• Mainstreaming water and sanitation in national development strategies;
• Water – Energy – Food – Climate Nexus;
• Addressing water scarcity and quality, waste water treatment and recycling;
• Promoting sustainable water consumption and use;
• Water beyond 2015: SDGs on water;
• Tools and mechanisms for achieving SDGs on water;
• Global challenges and water perspective;
• Water cooperation at international, regional, national and local levels for the achievement of the goals on water and sanitation; The representatives of the UN member countries’ governments, UN institutions, international and regional organizations, international financial institutions, business communities, non-governmental organizations, civil society, as well as scientists and experts are invited to participate in the conference. Invitations to the UN member countries, international and regional organizations and other partners will be sent on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the National Organizing Committee.Expected Results: The Conference will promote the awareness of the international community on the water sector trends and mobilizing efforts of the governments, UN institutions, international and non-governmental organizations, as well as other parties at all levels involved in the water problems solution.
• The outcomes of the Conference will be submitted at the 70^th session of the UNGA in 2015.
• It is expected that the conference participants will elaborate recommendations and proposals aimed at further strengthening of measures taken at the national, regional and international levels to achieve the internationally agreed water-related goals, including the sustainable development goals based on the comprehensive assessment of the implementation of the International Decade for Action “Water for Life”, 2005-2015.
• Potential Participants:
• Selection of the main topics for discussion and determination of the structure of the conference program will be implemented by the International Steering Committee in its first meeting on 23-24 February 2015 in Paris.