ICCD/COP(12)/20/Add.1
Decision 9/COP.12

Leveraging of synergies among theRio conventionsand promoting partnerships with other international agencies and bodies
The Conference of the Parties,
Recalling article 1 of the Convention,
Also recalling decision 9/COP.11, which requests a review and assessment of the progress made by the UNCCD secretariat in promoting and strengthening relationships with other relevant conventions and international organizations, institutions and agencies,

Acknowledging that making significant progress towards the strategic objectives of the Convention requires strong and effective relationships that are able to leverage the appropriate synergies with other organizations that have overlapping or convergent missions,

Also acknowledging that this includes not only the Rio conventions and other multilateral environmental agreements but also the organizations and institutions concerned with the issues addressed in this decision,
Welcoming the initiatives undertaken by the secretariats of the Rio conventions and the GEF on the development of common indicators,
Taking into consideration the relevant decisions taken by the twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties,
1. Proposes the use of the three land-based progress indicators as set out in decision 15/COP.12 for reporting under the Rio conventions, which are coherent with the progress indicators/metrics adopted in decision 22/COP.11, namely: (i) Trends in land cover; (ii) Trends in land productivity or functioning of the land; (iii) Trends in carbon stock above and below ground;
2. Requests the secretariat:(a) To promote further harmonization of indicators and reporting procedures, including the land-based progress indicators across the Rio conventions;(b) To continue working with the Interagency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal Indicators (IAEG-SDGs) in order to define indicators for SDG target 15.3;
3. Also requests both the secretariat and the Global Mechanism to continue to fulfil their respective roles in the established partnerships and to seek new partnerships accordingto their respective mandates in order to further enhance the implementation of the Convention and, if appropriate, to bring them to the attention of the Conference of the Partiesfor any necessary action;
4. Further requests the secretariat to: (a)Continue improving partnerships fostering capacity development for national drought preparedness planning, drought early warning, risk and vulnerability assessments, and enhanced drought risk mitigation;(b) Participate, within the mandate and scope of the Convention,in partnerships fostering capacity development to respond to dust and sand storms, and floods;(c) Report to the Conference of the Partiesat its thirteenth session on progress made in implementing this decision. 11th plenary meeting 22 October 2015