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When Southern Africa experienced its third consecutive year of severe drought between 2015 and 2017, Bongani Simon Masuku — now Principal Secretary in Eswatini’s Ministry of Agriculture — saw firsthand how fragmented responses could deepen a crisis. As a longtime advocate for science-based policy and former Chair of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Committee on Science and Technology, Masuku recalls how the lack of coordination and shared learning left many countries struggling to respond effectively.Those hard lessons, nearly a decade old, laid the groundwork for more coordinated and inclusive approaches to drought management — culminating in a significant breakthrough at UNCCD COP16 in 2024.A turning point at COP16Officially launched at UNCCD COP16 in December 2024, the Communities of Learning and Practice on Drought Management (CLP) marked a step change in how countries approach drought.Supported under the Changwon Initiative, the CLP has grown into five regional and one global community: multilingual, interactive spaces for peer learning, co-creation and practical capacity-building.The CLP directly supports Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) goals and offers a space where policymakers, scientists, youth leaders and local actors share strategies, challenges and successes.Why it mattersOnce seen as sporadic disasters, droughts are becoming a chronic threat. Since 2000, their frequency and intensity have risen by 29 per cent — and by 2050, three out of four people could face their impacts.Yet solutions often remain locked in silos, out of reach for those on the front lines. The CLP breaks those silos by enabling real-time collaboration and cross-regional exchange.Masuku emphasized the importance of reaching all decision-makers:“Knowledge is power. A platform for sharing information is a powerful tool — especially when it reaches those who might otherwise be left out. With the right knowledge, you can make the right decisions.”A living knowledge networkBuilding on earlier regional knowledge-sharing efforts, the CLP has grown rapidly since its launch in late 2024, bringing together over 300 members from across sectors and regions.It has held regional workshops and case clinics tackling both technical and policy challenges. Five global online exchanges have drawn 687 participants worldwide.The platform has published more than 300 multilingual resources — ranging from technical guides to policy briefs — and sparked new partnerships, helping countries co-create tools and strategies.The network is also turning the UNCCD Drought Toolbox into a dynamic, user-driven resource, shaped by field realities and continuous feedback.Voices of changeThe platform isn’t just for governments and experts. It’s opening doors for the next generation of land and climate leaders. Juliet Grace Luwedde, Global Coordinator of the UNCCD Youth Caucus, sees the CLP as an inclusive gateway:“It’s a great place for young people to start learning and connecting — people who can answer their questions and help them grow. No question is too small. It’s also a fantastic resource for young negotiators to build confidence and find their voice.”Tools that drive actionOne of the CLP’s most powerful features is its close link to the Drought Toolbox — a suite of tools for assessing risk, monitoring drought and designing early warning systems.Through the platform, these tools are made more user-friendly and widely accessible. Interactive offerings — from expert clinics and regional competitions to self-paced learning — ensure these tools lead to action, not just information.Looking aheadAs climate stress intensifies, the need for coordinated drought management is growing rapidly. The CLP is expanding to include more countries — particularly in drought-prone regions like the Sahel and the Horn of Africa — while adapting its tools to fit national priorities.Rooted in the spirit of the Changwon Initiative, the CLP fosters innovation, strengthens partnerships andscales solutions that bridge local realities with global goals. Continued collaboration is helping position it as a vital global hub — connecting knowledge, building capacity anddriving action where it’s needed most. A movement rooted in practiceThis is more than a platform. It’s a movement — one that turns collective knowledge into shared resilience. At its core is a simple but powerful idea: investing in people, not just policies, is what ensures no voice is left behind.Sustained support through the Changwon Initiative has helped make that idea real — enabling communities once excluded from critical discussions to take the lead. Today, they are not just included — they are equipped, connected and shaping global solutions from the center.Photo: © ILRI/Stevie Mann

In Kyrgyzstan, where steep mountains and deep valleys define both the landscape and daily life, land degradation and drought are no longer distant threats — they’re reshaping everyday reality. These slow-onset crises erode not just soil and biodiversity, but the livelihoods and resilience of rural communities whose well-being depends on healthy land.Today, nearly 1.9 million people — or 35.5 per cent of the population — are directly exposed to land degradation. In 2019 alone, 1.83 million hectares of land were classified as degraded, accounting for nearly one-tenth of Kyrgyzstan’s total land area.While many countries face similar threats, Kyrgyzstan’s high-altitude terrain and dependence on pastoralism make it particularly vulnerable. In recent years, climate variability has intensified pressure on natural resources, disrupting crop yields, altering grazing patterns and straining water supplies across rural areas.Between 2018 and 2021, the Greening Drylands Partnership (GDP) launched a major effort to restore Kyrgyzstan’s fragile landscapes. It aimed to breathe new life into degraded ecosystems, protect biodiversity and help communities adapt to a changing climate. But with mounting deforestation, shrinking grasslands and escalating climate impacts, the challenge proved anything but simple.The Changwon Initiative: A driving force for land restorationThe Changwon Initiative — a flagship programme of the Korea Forest Service and the UNCCD — helped turn restoration from vision to reality. It became a regional catalyst for action, supporting land restoration not only in Kyrgyzstan, but also across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Armenia and Mongolia.In Kyrgyzstan, the Changwon Initiative aligned restoration efforts with national environmental goals and long-term sustainability. It ensured that recovery initiatives were not isolated projects, but part of a broader, coordinated vision for change. By bringing together governments, non-governmental organizations and international partners, it laid the groundwork for meaningful, lasting action on the ground.Planting the seeds of changeFrom 2019 to 2022, one of the most impactful efforts under this partnership was a community-focused reforestation project supporting rural and forestry nurseries. The aim was both simple and ambitious: to plant trees, raise awareness and build skills that would last well beyond the project’s end.Four nurseries were established in the Chui and Talas regions, covering a total of eight hectares. They became home to a range of fruit and ornamental trees — not just to green the land, but to promote sustainable farming and land use.Farmers and forestry workers received practical training in nursery management, pest control and pruning — blending scientific techniques with local traditions.The project didn’t stop with adults. Twenty-four school-based nurseries were also created, inviting the next generation to become caretakers of the land. Young people across Kyrgyzstan engaged directly with their environment, taking part in reforestation — one sapling at a time.To expand impact beyond the project sites, a national UNCCD information center helped disseminate tools and insights across the country, while roundtables shaped new policy recommendations for sustainable land management.Tools for long-term restorationThe project went beyond planting trees. It provided communities with the tools to understand and protect their environment long after the initial phase ended. Risk assessment maps identified areas most vulnerable to land degradation. Restoration activities were aligned with national policies and embedded in the broader Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) framework.Most importantly, people were placed at the center — not just involved but empowered. From farmers to students, local communities became stewards of their own recovery.While these efforts planted the seeds of progress, scaling up to achieve nationwide transformation is the next frontier. Moving beyond pilot projects will require sustained investment, stronger institutions and continued commitment from both governments and civil society. Sharing lessons regionally — from Mongolia to Belarus — will be key to ensuring success beyond borders.In countries like Belarus, restoration projects are already entering their second phase. Kyrgyzstan now stands ready to do the same — the foundation is solid, the knowledge is growing and community engagement is real. What’s needed next is a renewed investment in people, supportive policies and the natural systems that sustain life.A growing legacyWith support from the Changwon Initiative, Kyrgyzstan has taken meaningful steps toward restoring its land — and its future. Skills have been strengthened, forests are returning and a new understanding is taking root: land restoration is not only possible, but essential.Through strong partnerships and a shared commitment, Kyrgyzstan is proving that degraded land can recover — and that when the land heals, so do the communities that depend on it. Healthier ecosystems, more resilient livelihoods and a renewed bond between people and nature — this isn’t just an ideal. It’s a future already beginning to take shape.

How the Changwon Initiative helped build the UNCCD Drought ToolboxDrought is no longer a rare or distant event. It is becoming one of the most serious and far-reaching challenges of our time. Since 2000, droughts have become 29 percent more frequent and intense. By 2050, as much as three-quarters of the world’s population could be affected.For millions of people, this means more than just dry weather — it means failed harvests, shrinking water supplies, rising food prices and displacement from their homes and livelihoods.But drought, unlike sudden disasters, offers a unique opportunity: it gives us time. And when time is used wisely, it can turn risk into readiness.From crisis to preparedness: The birth of the Drought ToolboxFaced with the growing impact of drought, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) recognized the need for a shift — from reacting to crises after they hit, to preparing before they begin. This led to the creation of the Drought Toolbox: a science-based, globally accessible platform that helps countries and communities assess, monitor and reduce drought risk.Designed as a practical support tool, the Toolbox brings together resources for developing national drought plans, identifying vulnerable areas, setting up early warning systems and learning from real-world examples of drought resilience. Behind this comprehensive platform lies a key driver: the Changwon Initiative.The Changwon Initiative: Turning vision into actionLaunched by the Korea Forest Service in partnership with the UNCCD, the Changwon Initiative was instrumental in transforming the Drought Toolbox from concept to reality. Through targeted funding and technical support, the Initiative helped bring together global experts, institutions and local stakeholders to co-create the platform.Workshops convened with its support became spaces for cross-sector collaboration. Government agencies, scientists and land managers worked side by side to align methodologies, share regional knowledge and design an interface that could speak to both policymakers and practitioners. The result was not just a digital tool, but a living, evolving resource for drought resilience.When Tools Reach People: Global Examples of ImpactAcross the world, the Drought Toolbox is helping countries move from crisis response to long-term resilience — with real results on the ground. In Costa Rica, it became the foundation for a national workshop that brought together ministries, improved coordination and led to drought strategies based on shared data and clear priorities. In Andhra Pradesh, India, local leaders used the Toolbox to identify the most drought-prone areas, translating data into practical action — from installing rainwater harvesting systems to planting drought-resistant crops and training farmers to monitor conditions themselves.In South Africa, the Toolbox supported the integration of early warning systems into land-use and agricultural planning, enabling farmers to adopt more sustainable practices and authorities to act on forecasts before droughts took their toll. Meanwhile, in Central Asia, countries facing similar climate pressures used the platform to harmonize monitoring efforts and coordinate their responses — showing how regional cooperation can strengthen resilience across borders.Collaboration is keyOne of the most important lessons from the Toolbox’s creation is that preparedness is not just technical — it’s collaborative. The platform draws from the expertise of partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), and grounds that knowledge in the real-life experiences of those facing drought on a daily basis.This spirit of collaboration also sparked the development of complementary tools like the Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) Toolbox, recognizing the interconnectedness of climate risks, land degradation and human health.A lasting legacyThe Changwon Initiative did more than fund a product. It helped shape a process that placed accessibility, usability and inclusivity at the heart of drought preparedness. Thanks to this investment, the Drought Toolbox has become a vital global asset — used by countries, institutions and communities to plan ahead and protect what matters most.As droughts grow more frequent and complex, the need for practical, integrated solutions becomes more urgent. The Drought Toolbox — born of international collaboration and local insight — shows us what’s possible when we choose to act before crisis hits.It is a reminder that while we cannot stop the rain from disappearing, we can prepare wisely for its absence — and that preparation begins not with fear, but with the right tools in the right hands.

بقلم: ياسمين فؤاد، الأمينة التنفيذية لاتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لمكافحة التصحرغالبًا ما يُصوَّر الانتقال العالمي في مجال الطاقة على أنه تحدٍ معقد ومكلف وملحّ. لكن هذه النظرة لا تعكس الصورة الكاملة. ماذا لو كانت هذه التحوّلات الكبرى تمثل واحدة من أعظم الفرص في عصرنا لإصلاح كوكبنا؟ إنها فرصة لا لتغيير الطريقة التي نولّد بها الطاقة فحسب، بل أيضًا لإحياء الأرض نفسها، ومعالجة الأزمات المترابطة من منبعها، والمتمثلة في تغيّر المناخ وفقدان التنوع البيولوجي وانعدام الأمن الغذائي.لقد شاهدت ذلك بنفسي هذا الأسبوع في مدينة إيشفايلر بألمانيا. على مدى أجيال، كانت هذه المنطقة معروفة بآلات مناجم "هامباخ" الضخمة، التي تمتد على مساحة 85 كيلومترًا مربعًا (ما يعادل تقريبًا مساحة جزيرة مانهاتن) وتغوص حتى 400 متر (أي ما يعادل نصف ارتفاع برج خليفة، أطول مبنى في العالم). لقدزرت هذا الموقع الذي كان في الماضي منجمًا مفتوحًا برفقة وفد من البرلمانيين من مختلف أنحاء العالم ضمن "أكاديمية صنّاع التغيير العالمية". اليوم، وبفضل جهد دؤوب استمر لعقود، يجري تحويل المشهد إلى ما يمكنني وصفه بـ "الأرض الصديقة": نظام بيئي ينبع بالحياة، وُلد من جرح صناعي. ومن المقرر أن يتحول هذا الحوض الهائل بحلول عام 2029 إلى ثاني أكبر بحيرة في ألمانيا.إنّ ما يحدث في إيشفايلر ليس مجرد "قصة جميلة"، بل تجربة ملموسة وملهمة. إنه نموذج حيّ لما يمكن أن يتحقق حين تلتقي الاستثمارات مع التكنولوجيا، والقانون مع الحوار المجتمعي. كما أن مشروع إيشفايلر هو أيضًا مثال معقد لانتقال عادل، يعترف بسنوات التهجير البيئي والاجتماعي التي سبقت عملية الاستصلاح. وأبرز ما استوقفنا في هذه الزيارة لم يكن في التربة أو الأشجار المزروعة حديثًا، بل وجدناه هو القانون والبشر.فالاستصلاح المذهل الذي شهدناه لم يكن وليد حسن نية الشركات، بل ثمرة إطار تشريعي متين: "قانون الاتحاد الفدرالي لاستخراج المعادن" في ألمانيا. هذا القانون يكرّس مبدأ أساسيًا: "من يستفيد من استخراج الموارد هو المسؤول عن إعادة تأهيل الأرض بعد ذلك." كما يُلزم الشركات بتقديم خطط استصلاح علمية ومفصلة للموافقة عليها قبل البدء بأي عملية حفر. إنه إطار قانوني يضع النهاية في الحسبان منذ البداية. وقد تحقق النجاح لأن القانون فرض ذلك، واضعًا معايير طموحة تضمن إعادة الأرض إلى الناس بحالة صحية ومنتجة وغنية بالتنوع البيولوجي.هذا هو النموذج الذي يجب أن ننقله من إيشفايلر إلى بقية العالم. بالنسبة مع البرلمانيين المرافقين، كان هذا هو الدرس الأبرز. فرغم أن التقنيات أو الموارد المالية لهذا المشروع "الفاخر" قد لا تكون قابلة للتطبيق في كل مكان، إلا أن مبدأ وجود سياسات قوية وقابلة للتنفيذ هو مبدأ عالمي. فالمشرّعون هم المهندسون الحقيقيون لهذا التغيير.على مدى ثلاثة عقود، عالج المجتمع الدولي التحديات الكبرى لكوكبنا من خلال ثلاث اتفاقيات مترابطة، انبثقت من قمة الأرض في ريو. وغالبًا ما جرى التعامل مع هذه الاتفاقيات بشكل منفصل. لكن مشروع إيشفايلر أظهر لنا أن العمل الميداني هو ما يولّد التعاون البنّاء الذي نحتاجه. هنا، يصبح استصلاح الأراضي المسار العملي الموحد الذي يمكّننا به مواجهة تغيّر المناخ وفقدان التنوع البيولوجي والتصحر في آنٍ واحد.فالتربة الصحية والنظم البيئية المزدهرة تشكل أحواضًا كربونية قوية تمتص كميات هائلة من ثاني أكسيد الكربون من الغلاف الجوي. والأراضي المستصلحة تصبح أفضل خط دفاع لنا ضد صدمات المناخ، إذ تعمل كالإسفنج الطبيعي: تمتص مياه الفيضانات وتحتفظ بالرطوبة خلال الجفاف. وفي الوقت ذاته، يعدّ الاستصلاح محرّكًا لعودة التنوع البيولوجي، فمن خلال إعادة بناء التربة السليمة واستعادة الدورات الهيدرولوجية، نضع الأساس للحياة. كما تمهّد زراعة النباتات المحلية الطريق لعودة الملقّحات والحشرات والطيور والثدييات، ليتحول المشهد القاحل إلى نسيج حيّ معقد ومترابط.رحلتي بدأت محليًا في إيشفايلر لكنها ستصل للعالم. كانت هذه أول زيارة ميدانية لي كأمينة تنفيذية، وجاءت كإعلان واضح للنوايا: أنا هنا من أجل الأرض. ومشاهدتي لهذا الاستصلاح على أرض الواقع، برفقة هؤلاء المشرّعين الملتزمين، عززت قناعتي. رسالتي لهم وللقادة في كل مكان هي: "اتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لمكافحة التصحر تقف على أهبة الاستعداد لتكون شريككم على الأرض. سنأتي إلى بلدانكم، ونسير في أراضيكم، ونعمل معكم على صياغة متمحورة حول الإنسان تعيد الحياة إلى أراضيكم

Civil society is on the frontline of the land challenge — and they are essential partners for the UNCCD. From farmers’ associations to women’s cooperatives and youth networks, civil society organizations (CSOs) bring local realities to the global stage. The CSOs amplify the lived reality that land degradation is not only an environmental issue but as a direct challenge to livelihoods, food security and the future of our communities. Today, nearly 1,200 are accredited to the UNCCD and their engagement supported and coordinated through the UNCCD CSO Panel. This structure ensures that voices from local communities are heard in international negotiations, connecting grassroots experience with global policymaking on the future of our land.At the heart of the Convention’s work is Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) — the global commitment to balance the amount of healthy and productive land with the land being degraded. The goal is simple but urgent: by 2030, reduce degradation, restore what has been lost and make sure there is no net loss of healthy, productive land.  To turn this ambition into action, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) launched the Medium Size Project “Strengthening Civil Society Role in Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (CS4LDN).”  Backed by two million USD in funding, this three-year initiative is implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and executed by Both ENDS on behalf of the Drynet network, with IUCN also serving as co-executor. The project is carried out in close partnership with the UNCCD CSO Panel, the UNCCD Secretariat and other global stakeholders. Through CS4LDN, civil society organizations are better positioned to influence LDN policy and practice — linking community-driven initiatives with international decision-making. The project focuses on two main areas: Influencing LDN – raising the visibility and policy impact of CSOs in LDN efforts. This includes building skills in advocacy and communication, promoting local initiatives and supporting CSO participation in global forums such as UNCCD COP and CRIC events.Leveraging LDN – Improving CSO access to funding by strengthening fundraising skills and building connections with donors. Activities range from training and donor roundtables to a study on funding barriers, with special focus on challenges faced by CSOs in the Global South.  CS4LDN follows a collaborative, cross-learning approach. Webinars, mentorships and workshops strengthen CSO capacity, while knowledge is shared through an online platform, newsletters and storytelling. A strong focus is placed on amplifying voices from youth- and women-led initiatives. The project is guided by a Project Management Unit (Both ENDS and IUCN) and a Steering Committee that includes the Drynet Board, IUCN, the UNCCD CSO Panel and the UNCCD Secretariat. It will also support CSO consultations and participation in major gatherings, including UNCCD CRIC23 in Panama this December as well as Désertif’actions and UNCCD COP17 in 2026. Photo: © IISD/ENB Anastasia Rodopoulou

The UNCCD, UNDP and the Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, together with WOCAT, invite UNCCD Country Parties to express interest in joining the GEF-funded project: "Scaling the capacity of UNCCD Parties for inclusive decision support in Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)." About the project: This two-year project will support eight to ten selected countries to enhance their capacity to assess, monitor and address land degradation through inclusive, participatory processes. The project will co-develop national LDN Decision Support Systems (LDN-DSS), aligned with SDG target 15.3. Benefits for participating countries: Tailored technical support and capacity buildingCo-development of national LDN-DSSParticipatory mapping of land degradation and restoration trendsAccess to global knowledge exchanges and learning platformsInternational recognition at UNCCD COPs and other global forums Countries with hyper-arid regions and small island developing states are especially encouraged to apply. The full text of the call is available in English, French and Spanish in the menu on the right.  Application deadline: July 4 To apply, complete the application form, including a signed Expression of Interest from your UNCCD National Focal Point. For questions, please contact: Ingrid Teich – ingrid.teich@unibe.ch Phemo Kgomotso – phemo.kgomotso@undp.org National Focal Points of interested country Parties are cordially invited to participate in one of the online information sessions to be held on Monday 23 June:Webinar 1 (English and French)  11:00 AM  CEST: https://unibe-ch.zoom.us/meeting/register/4438c0d9SvOoFXa88xRvEQWebinar 2 (English, French and Spanish)  4:00 PM CEST: https://unibe-ch.zoom.us/meeting/register/Dc-ISTtCSA2jM0N54aszqQ