Ad hoc intersessional groups

Intergovernmental working groups (IWG) provide in-depth reviews and analysis of reports submitted to the Conference of Parties (COPs). The IWGs provide valuable insight into progress made and highlight areas that require more work.

Established in 1999, the first IWG reviewed and analysed the reports submitted to the third and fourth sessions of the Conference of the Parties.

By decision 12/COP.10, an IWG was established in 2011 to conduct mid-term evaluation of the 10-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention (2008–2018). Its report was released in 2013.

The first IWG on effective policy and implementation measures for addressing drought was established in 2019 and released its findings in 2022.

By decision 7/COP.14, the Conference of the Parties decided to include in the preparations of the midterm evaluation the establishment of a new intergovernmental working group (IWG-MTE), to oversee the midterm evaluation process of the UNCCD 2018–2030 Strategic Framework. The report of the IWG-MTE, as contained in document ICCD/COP(16)/2, can be found here.

A second IWG on drought (IWG Drought) has been established to work during the triennium 2022-2024 and presented its findings and recommendations for consideration by the Parties at COP16. The final report can be found here.

At the sixteenth session of the COP in 2024, Parties decided to establish an Intergovernmental Working Group (IWG) on the Future Strategic Framework (FSF) to identify key elements for a post-2030 strategic framework of the Convention and conduct a thorough analysis of the indicators in the current strategic framework.