African Regional Consultations on the Mid-Term Review of the “International Water Decade of Action 2018-2028

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13 June, 2022 to 14 June, 2022

Introduction
In order to accelerate efforts towards meeting water-related challenges and the SDGs, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2018-2028 as the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”. This recognizes Access to water and sanitation is a precondition to life and a declared human right and the fact that Water is vitally important to sustainable development – from health and nutrition to gender equity and economics.

The objectives of the Decade are to focus on the sustainable development and integrated management of water resources for the achievement of social, economic, and environmental objectives and on the implementation and promotion of related programmes and projects. A key objective to enhance cooperation and partnership at all levels to help achieve internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and in Africa, the African Water Vision 2025 and AU Agenda 2063. The Decade also highlights the importance of promoting efficient water usage at all levels, considering the water, food, energy, environment nexus; and stresses the importance of the participation and full involvement of all relevant stakeholders, including women, children, young people, older persons, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and local communities.

On 20 December 2018 the General Assembly adopted the resolution on the “Midterm comprehensive review of the implementation of International Decade for Action, ‘Water for Sustainable Development’ 2018-2028”. (A/RES/73/226). This resolution calls for a Conference on the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action to be convened in New York from 22 to 24 March 2023, co-hosted by the Governments of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Further, the General Assembly resolutions 73/226 and 75/212, decides the Conference shall be preceded by regional preparatory meetings involving all relevant stakeholders, including Governments, the United Nations system, and non-governmental organizations.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the AMCOW Governing Council and the African Union Commission (AUC), are jointly facilitating the African regional preparatory process. The regional process begins with a Regional Consultative Meeting on 13-14 June which will be held in a virtual format.

Objective
To build synergies between Regional Stakeholder Organizations in a drive to accelerate the implementation of the water related SDG Goals in an efficient, effective, and impactful African Regional Policy Framework.

Documentation

Concept note

Provisional Programme