JOURNAL

2 December 2025

3rd meeting 

The meeting was called to order by the Chair, Ms. Philippine Dutailly (France).

Improving the procedures for communication of information as well as the quality and formats of reports to be submitted to the Conference of the Parties [Item 3]

The Committee began its consideration of the item.  

A representative of the UNCCD secretariat introduced document ICCD/CRIC(23)/2.

Part 1 of the interactive dialogue under agenda item 3 entitled “Leveraging Data, Tools, and Regional Expertise for the 2026 UNCCD Reporting Process” focused on “Technical Innovations and Methodologies”.

Presentations were made by representatives of the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT), the Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern, the Apacheta Foundation and Creative Commons.

Presentations were also made by representatives of the UNCCD Global Mechanism and the UNCCD secretariat.

In the ensuing interactive discussion, statements were made by the representatives of Peru, India, Armenia, Argentina, Panama, Palau (on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group), Pakistan, Türkiye, Brazil, China, Saudi Arabia, Guyana, Saint Lucia, the Russian Federation, Japan, Uganda, Cook Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, the Republic of Korea, Bangladesh, Kenya, the European Union and its Member States and South Africa (on behalf of the African Group).

A statement was made by a representative of the civil society organizations and indigenous people.

Panelists responded to questions raised during the discussions.

The Committee concluded the general discussion under agenda item 3.  

The meeting was adjourned.  

4th meeting

The meeting was called to order by the Chair, Ms. Philippine Dutailly (France).

Improving the procedures for communication of information as well as the quality and formats of reports to be submitted to the Conference of the Parties (continued) [Item 3]

The Committee continued its consideration of agenda item 3.

Part 2 of the interactive dialogue under agenda item 3 entitled “Leveraging Data, Tools, and Regional Expertise for the 2026 UNCCD Reporting Process” focused on “Capacity Building and Collaboration”.

Presentations were made by representatives of the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT), the Centre for Development and Environment, the University of Bern, the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

In the ensuing interactive discussion, statements were made by the representatives of Bhutan, Cook Islands (on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Group), China, the Syrian Arab Republic, Sudan, Bahamas, Iraq, Kuwait, Türkiye and Fiji.

Panelists responded to questions raised during the discussions.

The Committee concluded the general discussion under agenda item 3.

Effective implementation of the Convention at national, subregional and regional levels [Item 2]

(b) Policy frameworks and thematic topics: sand and dust storms

The Committee began its consideration of the item.  

A representative of the UNCCD secretariat introduced document ICCD/CRIC(23)/3.

In the ensuing interactive discussion, statements were made by the representatives of Algeria (on behalf of the African Group), China (on behalf of Asia Pacific), Micronesia, South Africa, the Republic of Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the Syrian Arab Republic and the European Union.

The meeting was adjourned.

Registration

• Country Parties to the Convention, United Nations Secretariat units and bodies, specialized agencies and related organizations, Intergovernmental Organizations (IGO) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) admitted as observers by the COP, Side Event Participants and Media may register to attend the sessions of UNCCD. The registration link for CRIC23 can be found here.
• In order to facilitate verification of requests for registration at the conference, all participants are required to upload a copy of their national passport and an official nomination letter confirming their capacity to attend the session.
• Participants are also required to upload a standard passport photo to accelerate on-site registration and badge collection.
• Please be reminded that multiple registrations for the conference are not permitted (e. g. registration as a Country Party and/or an observer organization and/or media representative). Only one registration with the corresponding conference badge can be issued to an individual at any given time.

Conference badge collection

• Conference badge is only issued to duly registered and approved participants.
• Upon first arrival to the venue, participants are requested to proceed to the registration desk and present their passport (or nationally approved photo identification card) and their pre-registration QR code (printed or electronic), for badge issuance.
• Participants with valid conference badges can directly access the venue through the security and badge control, where their badges will be scanned. There is no need to stop by the registration desk unless there are any registration or badge issues.
• Participants are requested to the wear their issued conference badges at all times in order to gain access to the conference centre.
• Kindly be aware that misuse of conference badge at all UNCCD conferences is prohibited and may lead to permanent suspension of your registration.

Registration desk opening hours

• Friday 5 December from 8:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Delegations are advised that wireless internet access is available throughout the venue. The network name is UNCCD-Public, and the password is: unccd1706.
 

A Computer Center is located in first floor of Panama Convention Centre, providing 20 workstations and printing facilities. An ICT Helpdesk counter is also available in the same area to assist with technical support.
 

A link to the stream of the meetings of the CRIC 23 session can be found on https://www.cric23.org/ and on the UNCCD website.

Requests for inclusion in the schedule of meetings of regional and interest groups should be communicated to:

Kayhan UI (kul [at] unccd.int (kul[at]unccd[dot]int)) or Mahamadou Tari Bako (mbako [at] unccd.int (mbako[at]unccd[dot]int)).

By its latest legislation, namely General Assembly resolution 79/248 on the Pattern of Conferences and the report of the Fifth Committee to the General Assembly (document A/79/643), the General Assembly reiterates its request to ensure the provision of high-quality conference services to member States and other participants in official United Nations meetings. In the interest of the smooth running of the meetings, participants need to maintain a normal speed whenever delivering speeches or making statements and would encourage country Parties to send their statements to estatements-cric23 [at] un.org (estatements-cric23[at]un[dot]org), if possible in advance, so that the provision of the required high-quality simultaneous interpretation services can be achieved to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.

The UNCCD Conference App is an easy tool for participants of official UNCCD events to have access to the latest conference schedules, all official documents and other relevant information related to the UNCCD process and conference logistics. It also provides information on the latest up-to-date schedule of events.

It is relevant for all delegates and other participants of all sessions of the UNCCD Conference of Parties (COP), the Committee of Science and Technology (CST) and the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC).