In accordance with article 24 of the Convention, the Committee on Science and Technology (CST) was established as a subsidiary body of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to provide it with information and advice on scientific and technological matters relating to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought.
The CST is composed of government representatives competent in the fields of expertise relevant to combat desertification and mitigating the effects of drought. It is multi-disciplinary and open to the participation of all Parties. It meets in conjunction with the ordinary sessions of the COP. more..

The Group of Experts

The CST Bureau met in Bonn Germany from 7 - 9 October 2002 to select the 25 members of the Group of Experts in accordance with decision 17/COP.5 and its annex.

»	List of Members of the Group of Experts (pdf)
»	Meeting of the Group of Experts, Hamburg 4-7 November 2002
	- Information Note (pdf)
»	Presentations at the Second Meeting of the Group of Experts (ppt)

Programme of Work for the Group of Experts

»	Letter to Parties explaining the process of selection of the experts (pdf)
»	Compilation of recommendations received from Parties (pdf)
»	Work Programme of the Group of Experts (pdf)

The Roster of Experts and Ad Hoc Panels

The Conference of the Parties may, as necessary, in principle in its ordinary session, appoint ad hoc panels to provide it, through the CST, with information and advice on specific issues regarding the state of the art in fields of science and technology relevant to combat desertification and mitigating the effects of drought.
Each ad hoc panels appointed by the COP is composed of experts whose names are taken from the roster of independent experts, taking into account the needs for a multi-disciplinary approval, an appropriate gender balance, and broad and equitable geographical representation.

Survey and evaluation of existing networks, institutions, agencies and bodies

This is a link to the database that resulted from Phase I of the "Survey and evaluation of existing networks, institutions, agencies and bodies", which was called by the COP in its decision 23/COP.1 under the mandate of the UNEP and its consortium members in accordance with article 25 of the Convention. The database is currently maintained by the University of Arizona. It contains detail information on 1103 institutions and networks (31 December 1999) among a total of 5314 networks, institutions, agencies and bodies, which have been contacted in the survey by October 1999.

»	UNCCD Information Network Project Database (University of Arizona)