From Dakar to Abu Dhabi and Beyond

Strengthening Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement in UN Water Conferences

This HLPF side event will explore how meaningful and inclusive stakeholder engagement can be strengthened in the lead-up to the 2026 UN Water Conference in Abu Dhabi and institutionalized beyond 2026. Building on the Dakar One-Day Stakeholder Meeting and drawing inspiration from other multilateral processes, the interactive discussion will focus on practical ways to ensure that civil society, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women and girls, youth, scientific institutions, local and regional authorities, and other stakeholders can contribute effectively to global water governance.

The 90-minute interactive session will open with scene-setting remarks by the Co-Chairs of Interactive Dialogue E “Water in Multilateral Processes”, Mexico and Germany, as well as UN DESA, followed by rapid-fire inputs on stakeholder engagement mechanisms and constituencies. Participants will then work in roundtables to discuss key conditions for effective stakeholder engagement, including mandate, institutionalization, coordination, financing, representation, access, accountability, and concrete entry points for stakeholder influence. The event will conclude with a short reporting-back segment and closing reflections.

Opening by Co-Chairs → Ignition Inputs & Q&A → Roundtable Discussion → Key Take aways → Closing remarks

The event was selected as an official side event for the 2026 High-Level Political Forum. The event will take place on 8 July, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm, followed by an informal reception at the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations.  It is co-organized by the German WASH Network, ANEW – African Civil Society Network on Water and Sanitation, Welthungerhilfe, Germany (Co-Chair of ID E) and UN DESA.

Confirmed and requested contributors include:

  • Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation
  • Shaima Gargash, Director of Energy and Sustainability Affairs, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Dr. Mohamed C.B.C Diatta, Sherpa for the 2026 UN Water Conference, Republic of Senegal
  • Enrique Delgado Ríos, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations
  • Sebastian Lang – Coordinator, International Water Policy, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Germany
  • Naiara da Costa Chaves, Senior Sustainable Development Officer, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, UN DESA
  • Tania Martinez-Cruz, Indigenous Peoples Operations Analyst, Global Environment Facility
  • Polina Nesterenko, Regional Focal Point, Children and Youth Constituency, Sendai Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism (SEM)
  • Shahrukh Nasim Khan, UNCCD Youth Caucus
  • Elizabeth A. Koch, Principal, Bridging Waters Advisory & Process Support Team Lead, Women in Water Diplomacy Network
  • Ingrid Timboe, Deputy Executive Director and Senior Policy Lead, Alliance for Global Water Adaptation (AGWA)

Moderator:

  • Thilo Panzerbieter, Chair, German WASH Network

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Wednesday, 8 July 2026
Time: 4:00 – 5:30 pm EST / UTC-4 (followed by an informal reception)
Location: German Permanent Mission to the United Nations, German House; 871 United Nations Plaza, NY
Entry: From 3:45 pm EST / UTC-4

PLEASE REGISTER NOW

Please kindly RSVP by 6 July 2026 COB via the form.

Please note that the submission of this form does not guarantee participation in the Side Event as capacity is limited. After registering you will receive a confirmation of the registration via email. In a second step we will confirm your participation in a separate email.

For security clearance, participants must register and bring a valid form of ID to enter the German Permanent Mission to the UN. Holders of UN badges or accreditation can use these credentials instead of ID.

With kind support of