UAE And Senegal Collaborate With Regional Stakeholders At Cairo Water Week Ahead Of UN 2026 Water Conference

The 7th Cairo Water Week, held from October 13th to 17th, coincided with the 9th Africa Water Week. This event was significant for the UAE and Senegal as they prepared for the UN 2026 Water Conference. The UAE engaged with African and international stakeholders to discuss inclusive preparations, stakeholder involvement across sectors, and transitioning from commitments to actions to advance Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.

A notable session was co-organised by Egypt, Senegal, and the UAE, titled "Aspirations for the UN 2026 Water Conference." Ministers from Iraq, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa attended alongside senior representatives from Japan, the Netherlands, and the European Union. Non-state actors such as UN entities, NGOs, private sector representatives, and civil society also participated. They discussed water's crucial role in sustainable development.

Shaima Gargash, UAE Director of Energy and Sustainability Affairs, expressed aspirations for the conference: "We want everyone to see the UN 2026 Water Conference as an opportunity to aspire, push boundaries, re-imagine ways of working to move the needle on water in the global agenda and position water as a fundamental driver for sustainable development."

Cheikh Tidiane Dièye from Senegal highlighted their commitment: "Senegal is committed to ensuring that this process creates lasting impacts and prepares the groundwork for a transformative conference in 2026. We cannot act alone - the success of our global water ambitions depends on collective engagement and cooperation."

South Africa’s Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, announced plans for an AU-Africa Water Investment Summit in 2025 during their G20 Presidency. This summit is seen as a key step towards the UN 2026 Water Conference. The UAE also participated in sessions on water-climate interlinkages and desalination technology advancements.

The UAE shared insights into its desalination efforts through initiatives like the Mohamed Bin Zayed Water Initiative. This includes a partnership with XPRIZE involving a $150 million investment for the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition. The competition offers a total prize purse of $119 million.

Significance of Joint Events

The seventh Cairo Water Week was themed "Water and Climate: Building Resilient Communities" by Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. This year marked a joint organisation with Africa Water Week. These events underscored collaborative efforts in addressing water challenges amidst climate change impacts.

The discussions at these events emphasised collective action towards sustainable water management. By fostering international cooperation and innovation in water technologies, stakeholders aim to ensure future generations have access to clean water resources globally.

With inputs from WAM