Senegal to Host High-Level Preparatory Meeting for 2026 UN Water Conference in Dakar.
By Raymond Enoch
Senegal has stepped further into the global spotlight on water governance and public health as it prepares to host the high-level preparatory meeting for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference in Dakar from 26 to 27 January 2026.
The announcement follows the 7th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health of the United Nations Water Convention, held on 5 November 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. The session brought together governments, experts and partners to deliberate on the critical linkages between water, health and sustainable development.
Participants praised the Government of Hungary and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) for the successful organisation of the Budapest meeting, describing it as a strong moment of international consultation on the future of water diplomacy and the implementation of the Water and Health Protocol.
The gathering took place against the backdrop of UN General Assembly Resolution 77/334, which mandates Senegal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to co-organise the 2026 UN Water Conference. The conference aims to strengthen global water governance and accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) by firmly placing water and sanitation at the heart of international priorities.
Under the joint leadership of Senegal and the UAE, a broad cycle of multilateral consultations has already identified six major thematic pillars for the interactive dialogue of the 2026 conference. One of these key themes focuses on “water for populations,” which will cover issues related to the Protocol on Water and Health, including equitable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Officials say the upcoming Dakar preparatory meeting will be a decisive step toward the success of the 2026 UN Water Conference. It is expected to provide a unique opportunity to deepen synergies between states, the private sector, civil society, academia and youth, and to build momentum behind the dynamic labelled “From Dakar to the United Arab Emirates.”
According to the organisers, this process will be rooted in an inclusive, action-oriented and collaborative approach, designed to deliver tangible, transformative outcomes. The overarching ambition is to make water a lever for peace, security, resilience and shared prosperity at the global level, while reinforcing the role of hydrodiplomacy and the Water and Health Protocol as strategic tools for sustainable development.
