The Third Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa in August 2006 was held during the UN International Year for Deserts and Desertification (UN-IYDD). The Cape Town Assembly also marked the first anniversary of the SLM Focal Area within the GEF since it had been adopted during the Beijing Assembly in 2002. Finally, it was the first Assembly since GEF had become a financial mechanism for the UNCCD, which had been adopted in Havana, Cuba in 2003. The GEF celebrated these events by devoting one full day in Cape Town to highlight GEF achievements in the area of combating land degradation since its establishment in 1994. The Forum brought together the assembly participants, such as GEF focal points, representatives from national delegations, the UNCCD country focal points, NGO staff involved in land degradation activities, scientists from academic institutions and research organizations, and personnel from bilateral organizations, multilateral organizations, United Nations organizations and from GEF land degradation field projects. This publication provides a summary of the presentations made and issues discussed at the Forum and its round table, which culminated in a "Consensus of the Forum" statement on the way forward. The Consensus has been recorded as an assembly document.