DUSHANBE, 23.09.2024 (NIAT Khovar) – On September 22, 2024, on the sidelines of the Summit of the Future 2024 in New York, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin met with the Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Rector of the UN University (UNU) Tshilidzi Marwala and the Director of the UNU Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) Kaveh Madani.

At the meeting Minister Muhriddin stated that today marks a new chapter in our enduring partnership with UNU and UNU-INWEH. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to addressing the global challenges of water availability and environmental protection. Tajikistan takes pride in being a global advocate for water. Addressing the global water challenges will benefit from the exchange of scientific knowledge. UNU is the right partner for bridging the science-policy gap and strengthening the technical capacity the world requires to address its problems. We are proud of the progress we have made together with UNU-INWEH and look forward to expanding our joint efforts to ensure a more sustainable and resilient future for all.

“This partnership will strengthen coordination between Tajikistan and UNU and enhance cooperation on programs that promote knowledge sharing, capacity building, and policy-relevant research, contributing to both parties’ work on global sustainability challenges, particularly in science, technology, innovation, and sustainable development,” said Rector Tshilidzi Marwala.

Tajikistan has a proven commitment to addressing the global water challenges. As a UN Member State, Tajikistan has played a major role in developing 10 UN General Assembly resolutions and shaping global initiatives such as the International Year of Freshwater, the Year of Water Cooperation, the «Water for Life» and «Water for Sustainable Development» Decades, and the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. It also served as the co-host of the UN Water Conference in 2023, playing a key role in advocacy for the water agenda and resuming high-level global conversations on freshwater after nearly 50 years.