UAE @ UNHQ 🇺🇳
In the final push this fall to build momentum for the Conference, the UAE convened for a high-level session at UN Headquarters in New York.
At “Water as a Strategic Imperative: From Global Challenges to Collective Action”, HE Abdulla Balalaa called for greater political momentum, cross-sectoral collaboration, and sharper roadmaps and commitments for Member States — as well as public and private sector stakeholders to be able to implement and scale actionable solutions by the Conference.
The session brought together several Member States and international organisations from - the African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment; the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC); the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of UNESCWA; and the Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank - and was moderated by Foreign Policy’s Susan Sadigova.
“Success of the Conference should not be judged on the 10th of December, but by whether money and action follow in the months and years afterwards” – HE Balalaa
The World Bank also highlighted its Water Forward initiative , a global coalition designed to make water security a driver of jobs, economic growth, and resilience. Announced earlier this spring, Water Forward aspires to improve water security for up to 1 billion people by 2030, bringing governments, development banks, private capital, and other partners together around country-led Water Compacts to align policy reform, institutional strengthening, and investment - and move from fragmented projects to scalable, investable water solutions.
