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As women’s rights are under increasing pressure worldwide and climate-related crises deepen existing inequalities, UN Women, UNCCD and UN Climate launched the Bonn Hub of the International Gender Champions.

Bonn, Germany, 8 June 2026 – The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today in Bonn, reinforcing their cooperation on land restoration, drought resilience and sustainable rural development at a time when land degradation and water stress are increasingly affecting communities and economies worldwide. The agreement was signed by UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad and GIZ Executive Board Member Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven during a ceremony attended by representatives of UNCCD, GIZ and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Building on longstanding cooperation between UNCCD, GIZ and BMZ, the agreement aims to expand joint work on land restoration, drought resilience and sustainable rural development through technical cooperation, joint initiatives and knowledge exchange. The partnership comes at a time of growing international recognition that desertification, land degradation and drought are not only environmental challenges, but also major risks to food security, water resources, livelihoods, economic stability and resilience. Current estimates indicate that around USD 355 billion per year is needed globally to combat desertification, land degradation and drought, while investment remains significantly below that level.  At the same time, experience from many regions shows that sustainable land management can generate strong environmental and economic returns, with studies estimating benefits ranging from USD 7 to 30 for every dollar invested. “Land degradation and drought are increasingly affecting ecosystems, food systems and communities around the world, with impacts that go far beyond the environment,” said UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad. “No single institution can address these challenges alone. Strengthening partnerships and accelerating implementation on the ground will be essential to build resilience, restore productive landscapes and support sustainable development. The scale of the challenge requires the same scale of ambition and cooperation. This agreement reflects our shared commitment to turning cooperation into practical action.” Through the agreement, UNCCD and GIZ will work together to help scale up practical solutions on land restoration and drought resilience, while promoting knowledge exchange, technical cooperation and new investment opportunities. "Land degradation, climate change and biodiversity loss are interconnected challenges that require integrated solutions. Stopping desertification helps the climate, because farmland and forests store significantly more carbon dioxide than deserts. Our deepened partnership can really make a difference,”  said GIZ's Ingrid Gabriela Hoven.“As Germany’s National Focal Point to the UNCCD, BMZ strongly supports land- and nature-based solutions and underlines the central role of land for synergies between the Rio Conventions,” said BMZ's Kerstin Henke. “Today’s agreement further strengthens collaboration between UNCCD, BMZ and GIZ in securing land, strengthening resilience and building strong partnerships for sustainable development. Ahead of the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to UNCCD , which will take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August 2026, the agreement reflects growing international attention to land restoration and drought resilience as essential to food security, climate resilience and long-term stability. Under the theme “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope,” UNCCD COP17 will provide an important opportunity to accelerate partnerships, mobilize investment and advance practical solutions at the scale required to address global land degradation and drought challenges. GIZ has long supported sustainable development and international cooperation efforts worldwide, including initiatives related to land restoration, rural development and climate resilience. The agreement will help strengthen collaboration between GIZ and UNCCD in support of the Sustainable Development Goals and global efforts to address desertification, land degradation and drought. 

Ya está disponible la acreditación de medios para la decimoséptima sesión de la Conferencia de las Partes (COP17) de la Convención de las Naciones Unidas de Lucha contra la Desertificación (CNULD)La conferencia tendrá lugar del 17 al 28 de agosto de 2026 en Ulán Bator, Mongolia. Se invita a los periodistas a solicitar la acreditación a través de Indico.Ten en cuenta que Indico es la única plataforma a través de la cual los medios de comunicación pueden acreditarse y obtener la autorización para cubrir la COP17. La secretaría de la CNULD no tramita las solicitudes de acreditación enviadas por correo electrónico o postal. No se tramitará ningún material enviado fuera del Sistema de Registro en Línea (ORS).Asegúrate de que todos los documentos cumplan los requisitos especificados y de que los datos del solicitante sean coherentes a lo largo de todo el proceso de solicitud. Ten en cuenta que la participación está sujeta a aprobación y que todas las inscripciones deben ser aprobadas. Revisa tu correo electrónico con regularidad para ver si hay solicitudes de documentación o información adicional que puedan ser necesarias para confirmar tu solicitud. Una vez que se haya confirmado tu inscripción, recibirás una carta de confirmación de inscripción.La información sobre los requisitos de acreditación, los visados, los materiales audiovisuales y el acceso al portal de visados está disponible aquí: Información para los medios de comunicación.Si tiene alguna duda, no dude en ponerse en contacto con nosotros a través de su cuenta de inscripción en línea o en press@unccd.int. En su momento se publicarán más detalles en el sitio web oficial de la COP17. 

Terms of Reference (ToR) for the establishment of an Indigenous Peoples Caucus and a Local Communities Caucus under the Convention

By Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary, UNCCD Antalya – Türkiye

The UNCCD secretariat is launching the second round of the UNCCD Women Delegates Fund (WDF) training ahead of COP17 to support the participation and effective engagement of women delegates in the UNCCD process and negotiations. Building on the successful first WDF training implemented at CRIC23 in Panama City, the programme aims to strengthen women’s leadership, negotiation capacities and meaningful participation in multilateral environmental processes.UNCCD COP17 will convene in Ulaanbaatar from 17–28 August 2026 under the theme “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope.” As the global conference of the only legally binding international treaty addressing land degradation and drought, COP17 is expected to bring together governments, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, scientists, youth, women’s organizations and the private sector to advance solutions for land restoration, drought resilience  and sustainable land management.The Women Delegates Fund contributes to the implementation of the UNCCD Gender Action Plan (GAP), including its Roadmap which aims to strengthen women’s participation and leadership across all levels of UNCCD decision-making and implementation. Through targeted support and capacity-building activities, the WDF seeks to enhance women delegates’ ability to engage effectively in negotiations and contribute meaningfully to the COP17 process.The initiative is open to women delegates from developing country Parties eligible under the UNCCD Special Trust Fund for Participation, with priority given to Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Governments from all Regional Implementation Annexes are invited to nominate one eligible woman delegate from their official COP17 delegation.Selected participants will benefit from:Participation support for COP17Capacity-building and negotiation support activitiesPre-COP briefings and networking opportunities with fellow women delegatesApplications must be submitted by National Focal Points through an official nomination letter, including the CV or short biography of the proposed delegate. Detailed information is available in the right-hand menu