From 25 to 28 May 2026, the OSCE actively participated in the Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development", 2018-2028, held within the framework of the Dushanbe Water Process, as part of preparations for its contribution to the 2026 UN Water Conference. Through its participation in several official sessions, the OSCE contributed to discussions on how countries can strengthen co-operation under increasing climate stress, while reinforcing the importance of linking policy dialogue with the lived realities of communities that depend on shared water resources.
Water insecurity, compounded by the impacts of climate change and unequal access to resources, continues to affect communities across the OSCE region, particularly in shared river basins where co-operation is essential for sustainable water management and resilience.
Ahead of the Conference, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) organized a three-day regional workshop, "Promoting Collaboration over Shared Water: Concepts and Approaches for Building Trust and Co-operation" in partnership with the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) and with support from the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia.
The regional workshop brought together women water professionals and young experts from across Central Asia to develop practical recommendations for strengthening co-operation focused on stronger data sharing, more effective communication, and more inclusive decision-making in transboundary water management. These recommendations were presented during a reception marking UNU-INWEH's 30th anniversary, highlighting the work of the Women in Water Diplomacy Network.
The discussions underscored a shared message: sustainable water security depends on inclusive participation and shared responsibility.
During the Conference itself, the OSCE contributed to multiple sessions, including the opening plenary and several policy dialogues. On 25 May, it co-hosted the Youth Water Forum with the Government of Tajikistan, represented by the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan. Young participants called for stronger and more meaningful involvement in global water decision-making, and their outcome statement will help inform future policy processes.
The same day, the OSCE contributed to the Women Water Forum, which underscored the importance of co-operation on water and glaciers and reinforced the value of inclusive approaches to shared environmental challenges. Together, these engagements demonstrated that water diplomacy is ultimately about people-building trust and fostering more secure and resilient societies.
At the interactive dialogue on "Water for People," Bakyt Dzhusupov, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities**,** delivered an "ignite speech" emphasizing the foundations of effective water co-operation and noted:
"Water co-operation across borders depends on transparency, dialogue, trust, and strong institutions that can manage shared resources peacefully. Climate change is intensifying these challenges, with droughts, floods, and shifting rainfall patterns exposing and deepening existing vulnerabilities, especially in fragile contexts. This reinforces that water governance is not only a development issue, but also a matter of peace and stability. Building resilient societies requires more than technical solutions alone."
The Conference served as an important platform for strengthening partnerships, mobilizing collective action, and advancing the implementation of the UN Water Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while providing an opportunity to reflect on priorities for the post-2030 framework.
These activities were implemented under the OSCE extra-budgetary project " Women, Water Management and Conflict Prevention - Phase III ," funded by Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Finland.
