New York, September 24, 2024 – The Europe Today: Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, met with Tshilidzi Marwala, Under-Secretary-General of the UN and Rector of the United Nations University (UNU), along with Kaveh Madani, Director of the UNU Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), on September 22 in New York. The discussions centered on advancing collaboration between Tajikistan and the United Nations University to address critical global challenges related to water availability and environmental protection.
During the meeting, Minister Muhriddin emphasized that this partnership marks a new chapter in Tajikistan’s engagement with UNU and UNU-INWEH, highlighting their shared commitment to tackling pressing global issues. He reaffirmed Tajikistan’s longstanding role as a global advocate for water and expressed confidence that UNU would be a vital partner in bridging the science-policy gap, as well as enhancing technical capacity needed to confront global challenges.
“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,” stated Rector Marwala.
Tajikistan’s efforts as a UN Member State have been instrumental in shaping 10 UN General Assembly resolutions and spearheading global initiatives such as the International Year of Freshwater, the Year of Water Cooperation, and the “Water for Life” and “Water for Sustainable Development” Decades. The country also played a key role in the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, demonstrating its leadership in global water advocacy. In 2023, Tajikistan co-hosted the UN Water Conference, marking a pivotal moment in reviving high-level global discussions on freshwater issues, nearly 50 years after the last such event.
This renewed cooperation between Tajikistan and UNU is expected to enhance global efforts to address water and environmental sustainability, setting the stage for further progress on shared global goals.
