UNITED NATIONS

JOURNAL

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
Seventeenth Session of the Conference of the Parties
17–28 August 2026
UNCCD
Thursday, 20 August 2026
Content last updated on: 15 Jul 2026 14:36 CEST

Programme of Meetings and Agenda

Conference of the Parties

10 - 1 pm

Open Dialogue Session

  • Inclusion of activities of civil society organizations within the official programme of work of the Conference of the Parties
    • Open dialogue session 
(closed meeting)

Committee of the Whole

3 - 6 pm

COW 3rd meeting

  • 2018–2030 Strategic Framework of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
    • Enhancing the implementation of the Convention and its 2018–2030 Strategic Framework of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
      (ICCD/COP(17)/5)
  • Policy frameworks and thematic issues:
    • Sand and dust storms
      (ICCD/COP(17)/9, ICCD/COP(17)/12)
    • Gender
      (ICCD/COP(17)/9, ICCD/COP(17)/12)
    • Rangelands and pastoralists
      (ICCD/COP(17)/10, ICCD/COP(17)/12)
(closed meeting)

Committee on Science and Technology

3 - 6 pm

CST 5th meeting

  • Avoiding, reducing and reversing land and soil degradation of agricultural lands
    (ICCD/COP(17)/CST/4, ICCD/COP(17)/CST/8)
  • Procedural matters:
    • Work programme for the Science-Policy Interface (2027–2030)
      (ICCD/COP(17)/CST/8)
    • Programme of work for the eighteenth session of the Committee on Science and
      Technology (ICCD/COP(17)/CST/8)
(closed meeting)

Forthcoming official meetings

Friday, 21 August 2026

Conference of the Parties

3 - 6 pm

COP 4th meeting

Meeting time tbc - COP is to follow immediately after the adjournment of the CST and CRIC

  • Organizational matters
    • Credentials of delegations
      (ICCD/COP(17)/13)
  • 2018–2030 Strategic Framework of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
    • Review of the report of the Committee on Science and Technology and its recommendations to the Conference of the Parties
      (ICCD/COP(17)/CST/8)
    • Report of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention and its recommendations to the Conference of the Parties
      (ICCD/CRIC(23)/8, ICCD/CRIC(24)/5)
  • Organizational matters
    • Election of officers other than the President:
      • Election of the Chair of the Committee on Science and Technology
(closed meeting)

Committee of the Whole

10 - 1 pm

COW 4th meeting

  • Promotion and strengthening relationships with other relevant conventions and international organizations, institutions and agencies
    (ICCD/COP(17)/6, ICCD/COP(17)/12)
  • Procedural matters
    • Participation and involvement of civil society organizations in meetings and processes of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
      (ICCD/COP(17)/3, ICCD/COP(17)/12)
(closed meeting)

Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention

3 - 6 pm

CRIC 6th meeting

  • Procedural matters: Programme of work for the twenty-fifth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention
    (ICCD/CRIC(24)/5)
  • Formulation of the report of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention, including, where necessary, draft decisions for
    consideration and, as appropriate, adoption by the Conference of the Parties
(closed meeting)

Committee on Science and Technology

3 - 6 pm

CST 6th meeting

  •  Adoption of the report of the Committee on Science and Technology
    (ICCD/COP(17)/CST/8)
  • Organizational matters:
    • Election of officers other than the Chair of the Committee on Science and Technology

Closure of the session

(closed meeting)