From July 7 to 10, 2025, the International Secretariat for Water (ISW-SWE) took part in strategic exchanges in New York during the meeting convened by the President of the General Assembly and the stakeholder consultation in preparation for the United Nations Water Conference 2026.
A Civil Society and Youth Delegation Committed to Inclusive Water Governance
Mobilized by the International Secretariat for Water, and with the support, among others, of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), representatives of the Global Youth Movement for Water and the Butterfly Effect NGO coalition traveled to UN Headquarters in New York. The ISW accompanied them to foster a collective dynamic in favor of more inclusive and intergenerational water governance.
Water as a Tool for Peace and Dialogue
Invited by the High-Level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP) at the Japan House in New York, youth (World Youth Parliament for Water, Emily Kroft, Canada) and civil society (Butterfly Effect, Carla Elias, Bolivia) representatives mobilized by ISW delivered a strong message:
“Water must be used as a tool for peace and dialogue.”
In line with the Spirit of Bandung promoted at the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, they called for the establishment of a permanent intergenerational dialogue, where younger generations can fully participate in decision-making.
The Voice of Youth at the 7th Thematic Session on Water and Disasters
The ISW Youth Sector Coordinator, Alix Debray, spoke during the 7th thematic session on water and disasters. She emphasized the crucial role of youth in implementing local solutions and building more inclusive global governance.
Six Key Themes for the United Nations Water Conference 2026
At the heart of the consultation, six themes structuring the interactive dialogues of the 2026 Conference were officially adopted:
- Water for People
- Water for Prosperity
- Water for the Planet
- Water for Cooperation
- Water in International Processes
- Investments for Water
Discussions also highlighted the need for an integrated, cross-sectoral approach to overcome the fragmentation of the water sector. Particular emphasis was placed on integrating peace and conflict prevention as a cross-cutting theme, linked to the SDGs, climate objectives, and biodiversity conventions.
Implementing the UN Global Water Strategy
UN-Water presented its implementation plan for the global strategy on water and sanitation, offering a concrete framework to address sectoral challenges.
The ISW reaffirmed several key priorities:
- Meaningful, accessible, and sustainable involvement of youth and civil society
- Building on lessons learned from the 2023 UN Water Conference
- Concrete proposals for impactful, inclusive multi-stakeholder engagement at the global level
A Youth Water Strategy
In this perspective, during the first Youth Water Dialogue held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on June 12–13, the youth of the Global Youth Movement for Water – catalyzed by ISW – developed a youth water strategy intended for adoption at the 2026 UN Water Conference. The implementation of this strategy was also at the heart of discussions during World Water Week in Stockholm, where ISW-SWE organized a dedicated session.
Next Step: Preparatory Meeting in Dakar
The next key milestone will be the preparatory meeting in Dakar, on January 26–27, 2026, where the political and operational foundations of the UN Water Conference 2026 will be set, with specific work on:
- The content of interactive dialogues
- Their format
- The expected outcomes of the Conference
A Common Position Paper from European NGOs for 2026
As part of the Conference preparations, ISW-SWE and more than 20 European NGOs co-drafted a joint position paper with recommendations for the European Union and its Member States.
The signatories call for:
- High-level political mobilization
- Meaningful inclusion of civil society
- Coordination with other multilateral processes, notably the Climate COP
- Strengthened diplomatic engagement
At the same time, a delegation led by the Coalition Eau, with the support of ISW-SWE, met with representatives of the French Ministry of Ecological Transition and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to ensure:
- Continuity with commitments made in 2023
- Strong political leadership from France
- Active support for civil society
This work is coordinated by WaterAid Brussels and supported by the following organizations: Coalition Eau, Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung, Action Against Hunger, Action Medeor, Arche noVa – Initiative for People in Need, BORDA, German Toilet Organization, Grüne Liga – Netzwerk Ökologischer Bewegungen, Help – Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, Hoffnungszeichen Sign of Hope, Ingenieure Ohne Grenze, Malteser International – Order of Malta Worldwide Relief, ONG Awa – Ingeniería para el Desarrollo Humano, Oxfam Germany, Secours Islamique France, ISW-SWE, Simavi, Vision Hope, Viva con Agua – Sankt Pauli, WaterAid, Well:fair, Welthungerhilfe, and World Vision