Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region: Accelerating SDGs Progress and Strengthening Regional Cooperation

On 21–22 April, the tenth session of the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region was held in the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Forum brought together representatives of member States, international organizations, academia, the private sector, and civil society to review progress on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Held under the overarching theme “Transforming Together: Innovative and Equitable Actions for the SDGs”, the event served as a key regional platform for exchanging experience, assessing achievements and challenges, and identifying practical solutions to accelerate progress in the context of ongoing global crises.

The Forum featured thematic round tables on key SDGs, including SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation. This round table also served as a regional preparatory event for the 2026 UN Water Conference, focusing on priorities, best practices, and next steps toward sustainable water management.

Participants noted that, despite significant regional progress, including high levels of access to safely managed drinking water and well-established transboundary cooperation mechanisms, serious challenges remain. These include unequal access to water supply and sanitation, water pollution, ecosystem degradation, and the growing impacts of climate change, such as droughts and floods.

During the round table, Oygul Usmanova presented on behalf of SIC ICWC experience of Central Asian countries in transboundary water cooperation. She highlighted that effective cooperation is underpinned by a combination of legal and institutional frameworks, regular intergovernmental and expert dialogue, and strong analytical and information support. Particular emphasis was placed on the water, energy, food, and ecosystems nexus approach and its operationalization.

The panel discussion “Beyond GDP” focused on rethinking how progress is measured. Participants discussed the limitations of gross domestic product as a sole indicator of development and emphasized the need for more comprehensive metrics that capture quality of life, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Special attention was paid to integrating such indicators into public decision-making and policy development processes.

At the conclusion of the Forum, participants reaffirmed the importance of strengthening regional cooperation, enhancing youth engagement, advancing innovative tools, and promoting knowledge exchange to accelerate progress toward the SDGs. Particular emphasis was placed on moving from dialogue to implementation of concrete solutions capable of ensuring sustainable and inclusive development across the UNECE region.