The UNCCD impact indicators are to provide insights on the progress made towards the achievement of the following strategic objectives of the 10-year Strategic Plan of the Convention:
- Strategic objective 1: To improve the living conditions of affected populations
- Strategic objective 2: To improve the condition of affected ecosystems
- Strategic objective 3: To generate global benefits through effective implementation of the UNCCD
At COP 9, a set of eleven impact indicators was provisionally accepted (decision 17/COP.9) for reporting on these strategic objectives. Starting in 2012-2013, affected country Parties to the Convention will, at a minimum, report on the following two impact indicators:
- Proportion of the population in affected areas living above the poverty line
- Land cover status
In order to enable affected country Parties to report on the sub-set of two impact indicators, the secretariat prepared draft reporting tools which were developed and tested during pilot impact indicator tracking exercises at the national level.
The remaining nine impact indicators were considered optional for inclusion in reports by affected countries. The whole set of impact indicators is being subject to an iterative, partecipatory and formative process of refinement, which includes testing through pilot exercises at the national level. As decided by the COP at its tenth session, the process of refinement is being brought forward by an ad hoc Advisory Group of Technical Experts (AGTE).