UNCCD Terminology

Improved plant varieties, animal breeds

Glossary source

PRAIS

Refers to the development of new plant varieties or animal breeds that offer benefits such as improved production, resistance to pests and diseases, or drought tolerance, in response to changing environmental conditions and land users’ needs.
(Source: WOCAT glossary https://www.wocat.net/glossary)

Infrastructural vulnerability factors

Glossary source

PRAIS

The observable/measured variables available at global and/or country- and sub-national level datasets, which are being recommended for use in constructing the infrastructural component of the Drought Vulnerability Index. These factors have been used in scientific literature and recommended by experts to define infrastructural vulnerability to drought.

Life expectancy at birth

Glossary source

PRAIS

One of the factors recommended to estimate the social component of the Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI). Life expectancy at birth refers to the number of years a newborn infant would live if prevailing patterns of mortality at the time of its birth were to stay the same throughout its life. This is an indication of the health status of a country, where a healthier population would be inherently more resilient to drought impacts. See also ‘Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI)’

Literacy rate (per cent of people aged 15 years and above)

Glossary source

PRAIS

One of the factors recommended to estimate the economic component of the Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI). The percentage of people aged 15 years and above that can both read and write, with understanding, a short simple statement about their everyday life. The literacy rate is described as an outcome indicator to evaluate educational attainment, although does not necessarily measure the quality of education. It can predict the quality of the labour force and can be used as a proxy instrument to measure the effectiveness of education systems. The accumulated achievement of education is fundamental for further intellectual growth and social and economic development. A high rate of female literacy implies that women can seek and use information for the betterment of the health, nutrition and education of their household members and are empowered to play a meaningful role.11 A populace with a high literacy rate would be better equipped to both cope with drought and implement drought mitigation and adaptation strategies. See also ‘Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI)’

National Action Programme (NAP)

Glossary source

UNCCD Terminology

National Action Programmes are at the heart of the Convention and constitute the conceptual and legal framework for implementing it at the national and local levels. Their purpose is to identify the factors contributing to desertification and the practical measures necessary to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. The Convention indicates that affected countries shall elaborate and implement them with the full participation of local communities and all interested stakeholders. Furthermore, they should be fully integrated with other development programmes.

National action programmes (NAPs) are the key instruments to implement the Convention. They are often supported by action programmes at sub-regional (SRAP) and regional (RAP) levels. The NAPs are developed through a participatory approach involving various stakeholders, including relevant governmental offices, scientific institutions and local communities. They spell out the practical steps and measures to be taken to combat desertification in specific ecosystems.

Source: (http://www2.unccd.int/convention/action-programmes)

Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS)

Established in 1973, CILSS is a sub-regional intergovernmental organisation that, amongst other things, helps West African countries to implement the Convention. Membership includes : Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal.

Population aged 15-64 years (per cent of total population)

Glossary source

PRAIS

One of the factors recommended to estimate the social component of the Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI). The total population between the ages 15 to 64 as a percentage of the total population. It is an indication of the impacts different age groups have on the environment and on infrastructure, helping in the analysis of resource use and formulation of future policy and planning goals with regard to infrastructure and development. See also ‘Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI)’

Population below the international poverty line (per cent)

Glossary source

PRAIS

One of the metrics used to measure indicator SO 2-1 as well as one of the factors recommended to estimate the economic component of the Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI). The percentage of the population living on less than $1.90 a day at 2011 purchasing power. See also ‘Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI)’

Population using safely managed drinking water services (per cent)

Glossary source

PRAIS

The metric used to measure indicator SO 2-2 as well as one of the factors recommended to estimate the infrastructural component of the Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI). Proportion of population that is using an improved drinking water source that is located on the premises, available when needed, and free from faecal and priority chemical contamination. See also ‘Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI)’, ‘Improved drinking water source’

Refugee population

Glossary source

PRAIS

One of the factors recommended to estimate the economic component of the Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI). The population of people recognized as refugees under the following criteria: the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol; the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa; in accordance with the UNHCR statute; and those granted refugee-like humanitarian status or people provided temporary protection. Country of asylum is the country where an asylum claim was filed and granted. Refugee populations are more likely to be exposed to natural hazards (living in makeshift dwellings, etc.) and less capable of coping with disasters. See also ‘Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI)’

Regional Action Programme (RAP)

Glossary source

PRAIS

Regional Action Programmes promote and strengthen technical cooperation networks to harmonize, complement and increase the efficiency of national action programmes.The purpose of regional action programmes is to identify the factors contributing to desertification and practical measures necessary to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought at regional level. These programmes may include agreed joint programmes for the sustainable management of transboundary natural resources, scientific and technical cooperation, and strengthening of relevant institutions to harmonize, complement and increase the efficiency of national action programmes.

Regional knowledge-sharing system

Glossary source

PRAIS

A web-based system explicitly designed for the management and sharing of knowledge at regional level (such as data, information, tools, skills, expertise, best practices and success stories) among members within an organization or a network (for example, the Information Network on Desertification and Drought for Latin America and the Caribbean- DESELAC).

Reporting

Glossary source

PRAIS

As per the annex of decision 7/COP.13 reporting on progress towards the strategic objectives is required by all Parties considering themselves affected by desertification, land degradation and drought, provided that (i) Parties have sufficient official national data/information to report or validate national estimates derived from global data sources; and (ii) reporting is provided primarily from official national data.
Since information on the three land-based indicators (trends in land cover, trends in land productivity or functioning of the land, and trends in carbon stocks above and below ground) will be also used to inform the sustainable development goal 15.3, all Parties to the UNCCD are invited to provide relevant information.
Reporting on implementation framework of the 2018-2030 Strategic Framework will be done through qualitative reporting and on a voluntary basis until the CRIC has considered refining the reporting guidelines
(Source: http://www2.unccd.int/sites/default/files/sessions/documents/2017-11/co…)

Reporting Entity

Glossary source

PRAIS

The sole reporting entities for UNCCD reporting are Parties to the UNCCD that submit official reports containing information on the implementation of the Convention and/or the 2018-2030 Strategic Framework at national level and/or highlighting activities providing support to those Parties affected by desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD).

Rural population (per cent)

Glossary source

PRAIS

One of the factors recommended to estimate the social component of the Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI). The percentage of the total population that live in rural areas, which is calculated by subtracting the urban population from the total population. may have greater income inequities, and livelihoods that are more dependent on natural resources, for example, which may make them disproportionately vulnerable to drought. See also ‘Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI)’

Social vulnerability factors

Glossary source

PRAIS

The observable/measured variables, available as global and/or country and sub-national datasets, which are being proposed in this GPG for use in the construction of the social component of the Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI). These factors have been used in scientific literature and recommended by experts to define social vulnerability to drought. See also ‘Drought Vulnerability Index (DVI)

Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)

Glossary source

PRAIS

A drought index widely used to monitor meteorological droughts. It was developed by McKee et al. (1993) and is based on long-term precipitation data which is fitted to a probability distribution function and then transformed to the normal distribution so that an SPI of zero describes the normal precipitation for the given location, month and accumulation period.

Strategic objectives

Glossary source

PRAIS

Higher level objectives defined in the context of the UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framework to guide the actions of all UNCCD stakeholders and partners in the 2018-2030 period. More specifically, the UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framework defines the following strategic objectives: Strategic objective 1: To improve the condition of affected ecosystems, combat desertification/land degradation, promote sustainable land management and contribute to land degradation neutrality Strategic objective 2: To improve the living conditions of affected populations Strategic objective 3: To mitigate, adapt to, and manage the effects of drought in order to enhance resilience of vulnerable populations and ecosystems Strategic objective 4: To generate global benefits through effective implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Strategic objective 5: To mobilize substantial and additional financial and non-financial resources to support the implementation of the Convention by building effective partnerships at global and national level.

Technology transfer

Glossary source

PRAIS

Technology transfer refers to the transfer, acquisition, adaptation and development of environmentally sound, economically viable and socially acceptable technologies relevant to combating desertification and/or mitigating the effects of drought, with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas. The UNCCD recognizes the key role of appropriate technology, knowledge and know-how for the implementation of the commitments under the Convention. Thus, it recognizes the importance of facilitating through international cooperation the transfer of technology, knowledge and knowhow. It also recognizes the importance of technology transfer as well as scientific research and development, information collection and dissemination and financial resources, encouraging international cooperation among Parties.

Tier of Vulnerability Assessment (Tier of VA)

Glossary source

PRAIS

A representation of a level of methodological complexity in calculating the Drought Vulnerability Index. It is being used in a similar way as was defined in the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (IPCC, 2006) and approved through Decision 20/CP.7.