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Following a key decision at COP16 in Riyadh in December 2024, the process to shape the future direction of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is now officially underway. The COP Bureau has approved the Terms of Reference for the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Future Strategic Framework (IWG-FSF), paving the way for nominations. The IWG-FSF will lead the development of a post-2030 strategy for the Convention. Its mandate includes identifying key elements, including possible goals and targets, for the future strategic framework, and conducting a thorough analysis of the current indicators used in national reporting.  Building on the milestones of the 2018–2030 Strategic Framework, the IWG-FSF will also consider lessons from its midterm evaluation, insights from the IWG on Drought and broader UN indicators, such as the Sustainable Development Goals. Each regional annex will nominate three representatives. In addition, the group will include five technical experts: one each from civil society and international organizations and three independent experts. The deadline to nominate civil society representatives is 26 May 2025The deadline to nominate independent science experts is 13 June 2025The deadline to nominate regional representatives is 4 July 2025 Final appointments will be made within two months of the Terms of Reference approval. The approved Terms of Reference will be shared with Parties through the UNCCD national focal points and science and technology correspondents. The IWG-FSF is expected to deliver an interim progress report at the 23rd session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 23) in December 2025.  

Each year, the fashion industry produces over 60 million tonnes of clothing, making it a major contributor to global pollution and climate change—and deeply intertwined with the land it relies on. From fibre production to garment disposal, its impact on land, water and biodiversity is undeniable. Yet few realize that the very fibres in our clothing have profound effects on the land they come from. Over 40 per cent of textiles come from cotton and cellulosic fibres—crops that require intensive land and chemical use.Without intervention, the fashion industry is projected to use 35 per cent more land by 2030—an area equivalent to 115 million hectares—roughly the size of Ethiopia—highlighting the urgent need for sustainable land management practices.Beyond the connection between fashion and land, issues of land tenure and gender are crucial to driving meaningful change. Of the approximately 300 million people employed in fashion, women make up over 65 per cent of the industry’s workforce, particularly in the production stages. In rural areas, they play a vital role in growing, harvesting and processing the natural fibres that fuel the sector. Yet despite their contributions, only one in five landowners is a woman. Without secure land rights, women are often excluded from key decisions on how land is used and managed. Research shows, however, that when women do own the land they work on, they are more likely to invest in sustainable practices—helping to combat land degradation and adapt to climate challenges."Women comprise nearly half of the world’s agricultural workforce, producing 60–80 per cent of the food grown in developing countries, so are poised to lead on sustainable land management practices while keeping their families and communities fed. Despite their vital role, it is alarming to note that fewer than one in five landowners is female. Without land rights, women are not fully engaged in decisions on land use and management. However, studies show that when women own the land they work on, this encourages their dedication to land stewardship to fight land degradation and cope with climate shocks.” — UNCCD Her Land publicationIndigenous peoples, local communities and smallholder farmers are also disproportionately affected by land-use changes driven by fashion supply chains. These communities often lose access to ancestral lands and livelihoods to make way for cash crops and grazing pastures. As climate impacts and social inequalities deepen, a new narrative is emerging—one where gender equality, sustainable land management and circular production patterns intersect.Women-led initiatives are already at the forefront of this shift—advocating for responsible fibre production, promoting sustainable alternatives, improving labour conditions and empowering women, especially in rural and marginalized communities.One such initiative is Tujikuze—a women-led Kenyan enterprise focused on sustainable, circular fashion. By using locally sourced, biodegradable materials and empowering young women through training and employment, Tujikuze exemplifies how fashion can serve both people and the planet. Their model promotes community resilience, environmental stewardship and economic opportunity—showing that ethical fashion is not only possible but already in motion.Tujikuze was among the inspiring examples shared at the recent event “Women leading change: Shaping a sustainable future in fashion,”  held on the margins of the Regional Forum for Sustainable Development. Organized by the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, UNECE, ITC Ethical Fashion Initiative, ILO, UNIDO, UNCCD and the UN Office for Partnerships, the event brought together global advocates and entrepreneurs to spotlight the transformative role of women in shaping a more equitable and sustainable fashion sector—and to highlight the industry’s deep connection to the land and natural resources.One central message was underscored: land degradation, gender injustice and unsustainable fashion are interconnected. A people-centered, land-conscious and gender-equal approach is essential to reversing the industry’s harm. Fashion can no longer be separated from the land that sustains it.To heal our relationship with nature, we must redesign our wardrobes from the ground up.

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.