Stories

On the outskirts of Jimma, Ethiopia, a modest tree nursery is thriving against all odds. Here, vibrant green seedlings have sprouted from soil once rendered barren by relentless droughts. Hussein, a local farmer, walks among rows of avocado, banana and papaya seedlings, each symbolizing a new beginning for his family. “These trees are an important source of hope and pride for us,” he says, his voice a mix of pride and relief. This land has endured severe droughts for decades, with erratic rainfall extending the dry season and turning the soil to dust. But in Jimma, an agroforestry project offers a beacon of stability rooted in the soil.The path to Jimma’s environmental rejuvenation commenced with a thorough evaluation of its degraded soil, which had suffered from years of intensive agriculture and persistent droughts. This initiative, the Greening Drylands Partnership, bolstered by the Changwon Initiative, launched by the Republic of Korea during the UNCCD COP10 in 2011, aiming to support the global target of a land degradation-neutral world. Financial backing was provided by the Korea Forest Service through the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). They conducted extensive soil sampling throughout the region to assess nutrient and moisture levels and thus the resilience of the soil. Encouragingly, despite its depletion, Jimma’s soil showed potential; with proper care, it was capable of supporting new life.Hussein was one of the first to volunteer, intrigued by the idea that trees could provide benefits beyond his seasonal crops. At first, he didn’t believe trees could survive in this kind of soil, he admits. “We had always relied on corn and tomatoes, but when the drought came, they just dried up.” Today, he stands in the middle of his orchard, surveying the lush canopy that now protects his land. His fruit trees, once tiny saplings, have grown sturdy, their roots reaching deep into the earth. Where corn and peppers once struggled, avocado and banana trees thrive, providing a steady income he’d never imagined. In the past four months alone, he has earned about 72,000 Ethiopian Birr (about $1,300) from fruit sales. For Hussein, the change is more than financial. Hussein is not alone in this transformation. His neighbor, Mohammed, and women’s collectives have also joined the agroforestry project, moving from annual crops to a permanent orchard. They have seen a steady income and now employ other villagers to help with the harvest, extending the project’s impact beyond his land.Jimma’s agroforestry success is part of a larger movement. Across Ethiopia, the Green Legacy Initiative, a national reforestation campaign launched in 2019, has inspired communities to plant trees and protect natural resources. The program has surpassed its initial goal of planting 20 billion trees, setting the country on a path to reverse decades of environmental degradation. The Greening Drylands Partnership, with its direct economic benefits, demonstrates the potential to combine reforestation with income generation, giving struggling farmers a reason to protect their land.In Jimma, agroforestry is gaining traction as a movement, guided by farmers like Hussein, who recognize the importance of selecting the right seeds, planted with care, to ensure resilience.Ethiopia’s droughts persist. Each year, as temperatures rise and rains fail, the country faces increasing pressure to adapt. However, the farmers of Jimma have demonstrated that adaptation is not a matter of surrender. Through agroforestry, they have found a way to thrive in conditions that once seemed impossible. They are actively engaged in reshaping their future, planting trees with a sense of urgency and dedication, as if their very survival depends on it.The roots of resilience are spreading, offering a roadmap for other drought-prone regions in the Horn of Africa and beyond. It serves as a reminder that sometimes the most powerful solution is already present and waiting within our communities. 

CARI is launching a new edition of Désertif'actions focused on drought resilience via a programme planned for 2025-2026 in  three phases:Phase 1: Preparation of a joint advocacy by international civil societyFrom March to September 2025, all associations, NGOs and voluntary networks are invited to organize preparatory national workshops to outline country-specific concerns and produce collective national recommendations. CARI proposes common terms of reference for these workshopsAn online questionnaire will be launched on 17 June 2025 to ensure broad participation by all stakeholders.CARI will circulate notes on the decisions taken at the most recent UNCCD COP16.From November to December 2025, international webinars will enable the pooling, analysis and completion of the national workshop results and the questionnaire to identify the priorities to be raised at the global level.Phase 2: Désertif'actions international summit from 25 to 28 March 2026 in Djerba, TunisiaThis multi-stakeholder meeting, initiated by civil society, will bring together 350 participants to prepare the contribution ofCSOs to the negotiations of the next COP17 of the Convention to Combat Desertification, to position the drought resilience at the center of policy implementation.Phase 3: Participation in UNCCD COP17 in 2026 in Mongolia to share the recommendations from Désertif'actionsIn collaboration with the civil society organizations and networks accredited to the UNCCD and the CSO panel, the goal of this campaign is to promote a joint advocacy during the UNCCD COP17 negotiations and to influence its decisions to raise countries' resilience in the face of drought. Download the Désertif'actions 2026 information noteCARI invites you to organize national preparatory workshops for Désertif'actions before 30 September 2025.To enable the pooling of the results of these workshops, CARI is proposing terms of reference to frame the content around the central issue of reducing drought vulnerability. The terms of reference can be downloaded here: Désertif'actions websiteProposed thematic subjects:Transformation of sedentary agricultural and/or livestock production systems to make them more resilient to droughtsSupport for pastoralism as a mobile production system relevant to droughtsTerritorial management of water resources: reconciling different usesThe role of local authorities in proactive territorial management to anticipate the risk of droughtVoluntary organizations organizing national workshops are free to adapt the organisational arrangements (duration, participants, formats).The preparatory workshops are primarily intended for civil society, to enable the development of joint recommendations. The participation of national institutional representatives and other stakeholder groups is recommended to enrich the dialogue.To facilitate consultation, participation by all and the production of recommendations, we recommend that you organise the work in groups and limit plenary sessions to information sharing.Connecting with organizations and advocacy networks and those active within the UNCCD can help pool your effortsIf you would like to organise a national preparatory workshop for Desertif'actions 2026:Inform CARI contact@desertif-actions.org of your upcoming workshopAsk CARI to put you in touch with relevant organizations and networksSend the workshop report to CARI before 30 September 2025CARI can provide methodological support to help organize the workshop but unable to provide any financial support

The UNCCD COP16 took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December 2024. Its impact has been tremendous, with governments pledging scale up their efforts to address land degradation and enhance resilience to drought. Those pledges also embraced an ambitious science agenda, and the scientific community is stepping up to meet the challenge.Central to this will be the future work of UNCCD Science-Policy Interface (SPI), which provides the best opportunity for global scientists to ensure that efforts to combat land degradation and drought are grounded on solid evidence. To meet these needs, the UNCCD is issuing an Open Call for independent scientists willing to support policy makers and practitioners achieve the vision and ambition expressed by countries at COP16.Who serves on the SPI and what is needed?     Today more than ever there is an urgency of translating scientific findings into policy and practice. The work of the SPI over the next two years will help policy makers and practitioners advance in how we address land system challenges and build resilience of communities and ecosystems in a rapidly changing world.Specifically, your expertise is needed to:Contribute to the next Global Land Outlook, the UNCCD flagship reportContribute to the development of other products providing scientific support for the UNCCDCollaborate with other intergovernmental science bodies and panels as appropriateAs emphasized by the UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw, "Scientific and traditional knowledge, actionable data and interdisciplinary collaboration are indispensable for addressing land degradation and building community and ecosystem resilience to drought." What has SPI accomplished so far?The SPI has been central to UNCCD efforts to underpin policy development with sound science since 2013. Over 100 experts with a wide range of disciplinary expertise from countries all over the world have served on the SPI. The work of the SPI has scientifically framed the global approach to addressing land degradation under the 2030 Agenda’s SDG Target 15.3 known as Land Degradation Neutrality, and explored the nexus between land and drought so that resilience can be enhanced. During the 2022-2024 period the SPI accomplishments included technical reports resulting from scientific assessments on aridity trends, projections and impacts and sustainable land use systems. Learn more about SPI work here.UNCCD Chief Scientist Dr. Barron Joseph Orr emphasized the urgent need for experts skilled in translating science into language an informed public and policy makers can readily understand and use. “The impact of the SPI's voluntary efforts on the world is beyond measure. Members are certainly top scientists in their given fields, but also exceptional communicators. Our objective is to put a human face on land degradation and drought, which is why these experts hail from across the globe and cover not only the biophysical aspects of environmental change, but the economic, social and cultural dimensions as well.”How does the SPI function?The UNCCD Science-Policy Interface is comprised of 35 experts (25 independent scientists, five science delegates and five observers). The independent scientists are recruited through a global Open Call and selected by the Bureau of the UNCCD Committee on Science and Technology (CST) on the basis of scientific merit and experience in interfacing science and policy, taking into account career stage as well as gender and regional and disciplinary balance. The five science delegates are elected by each region to serve on the CST Bureau and the SPI. Four observer organizations selected by the CST Bureau following an open call to UNCCD-accredited United Nations and other intergovernmental organizations based on their contribution to the implementation of the UNCCD. The fifth observer represents civil society organizations and is nominated by the UNCCD Civil Society Organizations Panel.The SPI is co-chaired by the Chair of the Committee on Science and Technology and an independent scientist elected by SPI members. Participation is voluntary and is governed by the Bureau of the CST supported by SPI governance documents which outline the roles and responsibilities of all members and observers. Most of the work of the SPI is conducted virtually, with tasks covered by different working groups. Past members have reported committing as much as 20 per cent of their time to deliver on the work programme of the SPI developed by the Parties to the Convention. How do I apply to serve on the SPI?Learn more and then apply              Go directly to the application                                               

Do you believe in the power of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing? Are you interested in learning and coordinating a UNCCD initiative on co-learning? Then apply to become Co-Chair of the UNCCD Communities of Learning and Practice (CLPs) on Drought Management.  What are the UNCCD CLPs? At COP 15, Parties requested that the UNCCD Secretariat encourages, supports and facilitates communities of learning and practice to pursue co-learning and collaboration for drought risk reduction and resilience capacity-building matters. As response to Decision 23/COP. 15 Paragraph 8, the UNCCD Secretariat in collaboration with GWP launched the CLPs with the mission to pursue co-learning and collaboration on drought risk reduction and resilience capacity-building issues. The CLPs are peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing and co-learning initiatives to strengthen the capacities of National Focal Points (NFPs), Science and Technology Correspondents (STCs) and other key stakeholders involved in drought management and efforts to combat desertification. A total of six CLPs have been established and are currently operational: a Global CLP and five regional communities (for Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Northern Mediterranean and Central and Eastern Europe). The CLPs serve as a mechanism to promote knowledge sharing both withing and beyond the regions to help transform local experience and know-how into global insights. What do CLPs do? The UNCCD CLPs have over 300 members, representing a diversity of stakeholders including UNCCD National Focal Points, scientists, academics, policy makers and NGOs representatives.  Each CLP has its own online platform where community members can post ideas, share events and case studies, network with global and regional peers and connect directly through direct messaging. Members also benefit from various in-person events and online capacity building resources. CLPs engagement and activities include: Resource library of curated tools, scientific articles, case studies, and technical resources, such as the UNCCD Drought Toolbox.Online self-paced courses on the three pillars of integrated drought management planning (to be launched in 2025).In-person workshops and case clinics dedicated to the design and enhancement of National Drought Policies and Plans.Webinar series on drought-related topics, from land degradation neutrality to early warning systems, and women led drought initiatives.Case study call-outs to identify best management practices, innovative solutions, and lessons learned from the ground experience.Events and sessions at international conferences to increase networking among CLP members and invite new members to join.Membership directory to identify and exchange with experts in your field and region.Blogs and discussions to exchange on hot topics and burning questions as well as get advice from peers. “The community of learning and practice will allow me to improve my knowledge and technical skills on drought and desertification management. I am very happy to be among you in this beautiful community. We are all convinced that "Unity is Strength", so let's work together for a sustainable future for the land and to address the challenges related to the impacts of drought!”– Isaac Goké, UNCCD Youth Negotiator, General Directorate of Environment and Climate, Ministry of Living Environment, Transport, and Sustainable Development, Benin   CLPs impact and achievementsMobilizing hundreds of experts throughout the five continents, the CLPs have become one of the world’s largest platforms for knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning on drought management. Over the past two years, the CLPs have accomplished the following achievements:Facilitated peer-to-peer knowledge sharing by providing over 300 resources and posts in multiple languages on the CLP online platform, making knowledge more accessible to diverse communities.Supported two case clinics and three regional workshops, equipping participants to tackle political and technical challenges.Hosted five online knowledge exchange sessions on key themes related to drought resilience and sustainable land management, engaging 687 participants worldwide and enabling countries to co-develop solutions through shared learning. Opening for Co-Chair positions The UNCCD Secretariat has an opening for 12 Co-Chair positions (two per community). The CLP Co-Chairs will play a leading role in managing, coordinating and moderating the UNCCD CLPs. Working closely with the other CLP Co-Chairs and the UNCCD Secretariat, the position is central to ensuring effective collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building among CLP members. The Co-Chair will facilitate discussions, coordinate events, represent the CLP at conferences, manage content and support the strategic direction of the CLP to meet its objectives in drought resilience and sustainable management practices. Interested in applying? Please refer to the expression of interest document for details on the position and how to apply. The application deadline is 31 March 2025.

Bonn, Germany, 18 February 18, 2025 – A landmark collaboration is taking shape in the global fight against land degradation. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate efforts in sustainable land and water management, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience in support of the sustainable development agenda. A partnership for sustainable growth Land degradation, desertification and drought pose critical challenges worldwide, affecting ecosystems, economies and communities. Recognizing the urgency of these issues, UNCCD and GGGI are joining forces to create innovative solutions that integrate environmental sustainability with economic growth.  This collaboration is firmly rooted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the objectives of the Rio Conventions, ensuring a holistic approach to sustainable land management. Under the MoU, UNCCD and GGGI will leverage their expertise to: Develop and implement joint programs focused on sustainable land and water management, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience. Enhance resource mobilization efforts to secure funding and technical support for land restoration initiatives. Engage the private sector to drive investment and technical innovation in sustainable land management projects. Promote knowledge-sharing and capacity-building through training programs, policy dialogues and best practice exchanges. Design green investment strategies to support countries in achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and drought resilience targets. A shared vision for impactful action By working together, UNCCD and GGGI aim to unlock new opportunities for land restoration and ecosystem conservation. Their collaboration will also extend to joint advisory services, feasibility studies and publications that inform and inspire action on the ground. “I am pleased to announce this strategic partnership between UNCCD and GGGI, which marks a significant step in our collective efforts to combat land degradation, enhance biodiversity conservation and build resilience against climate change," stated Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary. "This MoU is a testament to our shared commitment to a future where land is valued, protected and restored for the benefit of people and the planet.” GGGI Director-General Sang-Hyup Kim echoed this sentiment: 'The collaboration with UNCCD reflects GGGI’s strong commitment to land restoration and biodiversity conservation. This partnership will not only shed light on the financial and policy elements. GGGI looks forward to a powerful collaboration with UNCCD to tackle climate challenges related to land degradation, water management and drought.'" Looking ahead: Turning ambition into action As the world faces escalating environmental challenges, the partnership between UNCCD and GGGI represents a critical step forward. With a shared mission to create sustainable, climate-resilient landscapes, their collaboration will support countries in transforming policies into tangible action, ensuring that economic development is both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. Media contact: press@unccd.int  About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is an international agreement on good land stewardship. It helps people, communities and countries create wealth, grow economies and secure enough food, clean water and energy by ensuring land users an enabling environment for sustainable land management. Through partnerships, the Convention’s 197 parties set up robust systems to manage drought promptly and effectively. Good land stewardship based on sound policy and science helps integrate and accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds resilience to climate change and prevents biodiversity loss.  About GGGI  The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was established in 2012 as a treaty-based intergovernmental organization at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. It supports its 49 Member States and 29 Partner countries in transitioning to a green growth model that integrates poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability and economic growth. Operating in over 51 countries, GGGI helps nations meet their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement commitments. Currently, GGGI is implementing 10+ projects funded by AFD across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific, focusing on green investment, climate-resilient agriculture, the circular economy and sustainable solutions in forestry, mobility, energy and industry — all aligned with GGGI’s Programmatic Solutions. 

For centuries, rangelands and pastoralist communities have been the backbone of cultures, economies and ecosystems around the world. Covering more than half of the Earth's land surface, these vast landscapes support two billion people and contribute significantly to global food security and climate resilience. Yet they have remained largely invisible in international policy discussions, slowly degrading under the pressures of climate change, unsustainable land use and economic expansion.   At UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, nations took a decisive step by adopting a decision on rangelands and pastoralists, marking an unprecedented commitment to protect these critical ecosystems and the people who depend on them. This commitment represents a fundamental shift, placing rangelands alongside forests and wetlands in global conservation efforts and ensuring that their role in climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and food security is fully recognized.   Why rangelands are more important than ever Rangelands and grasslands provide one-sixth of the world's food supply and store nearly one-third of the planet's carbon stocks in their deep-rooted soils. They are vital to smallholder herders, farmers and indigenous communities, yet more than 50 per cent of these ecosystems are now degraded.  As Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), warns, their decline is often overlooked: "When a forest is destroyed, the loss is visible and causes immediate concern. But rangeland degradation is silent, often unnoticed and undervalued." He emphasizes the urgent need for global action to protect these landscapes before it is too late.  Beyond their economic significance, healthy rangelands stabilize soil, prevent erosion, regulate water cycles, enhance biodiversity, and store carbon – essential functions in the fight against climate change. Yet, despite their immense ecological value, these landscapes have historically received far less attention and funding than forests and wetlands. Recognizing this oversight, the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP), a global initiative designed to highlight the indispensable contributions of rangelands and pastoralist communities to our planet’s health and economies. A landmark decision at COP16 For the first time, UNCCD Parties adopted a decision to promote the sustainable management, restoration and conservation of rangelands – vast ecosystems used for grazing – ahead of COP17, which will be hosted by Mongolia in 2026.   Countries have pledged to improve pastoralists' land rights by aligning with international guidelines, strengthening legal protections and ensuring access to rangelands. The decision also emphasizes the value of Indigenous and local knowledge in sustainable land management, recognizing the role of traditional pastoral practices in conserving these ecosystems for future generations. Commitments were made to mobilize public-private partnerships, establish biodiversity credits and develop innovative financing models to ensure long-term investment.  This pivotal shift ends decades of neglect and places rangelands at the centre of global sustainability efforts. It aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and strengthens their integration into national biodiversity and climate strategies and action plans. With Mongolia set to host UNCCD COP17 in 2026, the global community has a unique opportunity to cement rangelands as a key focus of environmental policy. Plans are already underway to develop a UNCCD Flagship Initiative on Rangelands, which will foster international cooperation, secure large-scale funding for restoration, and facilitate knowledge sharing between scientists and pastoral communities.    However, systemic challenges remain. Conflicting land use policies, economic pressures and a lack of formal recognition of pastoralists' rights continue to threaten rangeland sustainability. Many pastoralist communities face displacement due to land conversion, mining and large-scale agricultural projects that prioritize short-term economic gains over long-term ecosystem health. Addressing these issues requires an integrated approach that combines scientific research, policy reform and traditional land management.    Translating commitments into action   “The commitments at UNCCD COP16 mark a turning point, but success depends on sustained collaboration. Governments must work closely with pastoralists and livestock value chain agents, conservation groups and financial institutions, to scale up investment through sustainable financing and innovative tools.” said Enrique Michaud co-chair of the IYRP Global Alliance. "Securing pastoralists' land rights is crucial to prevent displacement and conflict, to ensure access to their traditional rangelands and to fortify the ecosystem services they provide." Sustainable rangeland and land-use planning must balance conservation efforts with the economic realities of pastoral livelihoods, promoting land management strategies that maintain ecosystem health while supporting local economies. Rangeland conservation must also be fully integrated into national and global climate adaptation strategies to ensure that these landscapes contribute to long-term resilience to climate change and desertification.   Ensuring rangeland sustainability is not just an environmental imperative – it is a necessity for climate security, food sovereignty and cultural preservation. As UNCCD Parties and partners prepare for COP17, the momentum generated at COP16 must be translated into real action.  About UNCCD The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is an international agreement on good land stewardship. It helps people, communities and countries create wealth, grow economies and secure enough food, clean water and energy by ensuring land users an enabling environment for sustainable land management. Through partnerships, the Convention’s 197 parties set up robust systems to manage drought promptly and effectively. Good land stewardship based on sound policy and science helps integrate and accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds resilience to climate change and prevents biodiversity loss. https://unccd.int About the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists On the initiative of Mongolia, the United Nations General Assembly has designated 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026) to enhance rangeland management and the lives of pastoralists. With this declaration, UN Member States are called upon to invest in sustainable rangeland management, to restore degraded lands, to improve market access by pastoralists, to enhance livestock extension services, and to fill knowledge gaps on rangelands and pastoralism. The IYRP 2026 will coincide with the UNCCD COP17 to be hosted by Mongolia. https://iyrp.info