Japan Water Forum(JWF), who is Asia-Pacific Water Forum(APWF) secretariat, has participated in the International High-level Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development, 2018-2028” (“Dushanbe Conference”) as a series of our policy recommendation activities.

 On 22 March 2018, the UN International Decade for Action: Water for Sustainable Development 2018 – 2018 was launched aiming to increase awareness of the international community against the upcoming water crisis and further improve cooperation and unite efforts of water-related projects and events on the global, regional and national levels for the 10 years to come.

Immediately following this announcement, the Dushanbe Conference was held in Dushanbe, a capital of Tajikistan from 20 to 22 June, 2018 co-held by the UN and the Government of Tajikistan.

With the participation of more than 500 people including heads of state and government and ministers from over 70 countries and regions, the nations’ interest, policies and actions were shared through their statements. Also, inclusive 12 topics were discussed in the Action Panels while opening up doors for all stakeholders.

During the Dushanbe Conference, JWF joined one of the Action Panels, “Water Sustainability in Cities and Human Settlements” which was co-organized by UNDP and UN-HABITAT, and played an important role of rapporteur recording the discussions and delivering the outcomes of the Panel at the plenary meeting.

On the last day, the Dushanbe Conference announced the Final Declaration that addresses “water cycle” and “increase of investment in the water sector” which are also included in the Yangon Declaration adopted by the 3rd Asia-Pacific Water Summit.

Then the outcomes of the Dushanbe Conference were shared in the UN High-Level Political Forum (from 9 to 18 July 2018, New York) with participating countries.

(Reported by Sae Ishihara, Manager)