Notifications to parties and observers

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

Distribution: To United Nations Secretariat units and bodies, specialized agencies and related organizations and intergovernmental organizations accredited as observers to the Conference of the Parties. The secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) would like to inform that the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17), the twenty-fourth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC24) and the seventeenth session of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST17) to the UNCCD will take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August 2026. The secretariat of the UNCCD has the honour to invite the representatives of your organization to participate in COP17 under the overarching theme “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope”. Regional in person consultations of affected country Parties of the Convention’s regional implementation annexes for Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Northern Mediterranean and Central and Eastern European country Parties in preparation to COP17 will be convened in Ulaanbaatar prior to the session from 15 to 16 August 2026, at the COP17 venue. Regional virtual consultations meetings will be implemented from 26 March until 9 July 2026. During the initial segment, from 17 to 21 August, in addition to the CST17 and CRIC24 sessions, the Committee of the Whole (COW) would initiate its work. In order to ensure the effectiveness of the civil society input in the deliberations of the COP, two half-days of open dialogue sessions have been planned on 20 August in the morning and 24 August in the afternoon. Also, in line with decision 36/COP.16 paragraph 2 and further to the request in decision 25/COP.16 paragraph 8, the convening of the Gender Caucus and other mandated events are included in programme of work. The High-Level Segment will take place during the second week of the COP, starting with a Heads of States Summit that will be organized by the Government of Mongolia on 23 August. The ministerial segment will follow, including ministerial dialogues and high-level special events that will be organized under thematic days, starting on August Monday 24 with Finance Day, Tuesday 25 with Water Day, Wednesday 26 Land and People Day, Thursday 27 Food Systems and Soil Health Day. During these days the agenda includes among others the following official events: on Monday (a) Ministerial Dialogue on innovative financial mechanisms for healthy land and drought resilience, and (b) the Business for Land Forum; on Tuesday (c) Ministerial Dialogue on accelerating drought resilience, (d) Special High Level event on Sand and Dust Storms; on Wednesday (e) Ministerial Dialogue on the Restoration of Rangelands and the well-being of Pastoralists’ Communities, (f) Youth Forum, (g) Gender Caucus, (h) Special Event on Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Caucuses; on Thursday (i) Special Ministerial and High-Level event on Food Systems and Soil Health. During the thematic days, other high-level meetings, forums and side events will take place as part of an ambitious Riyadh-Ulaanbaatar Action Agenda for COP17, which is conceived as a platform to accelerate action and showcase solutions, innovations on finance, policy, coalitions, partnerships, technologies, operations in value chains to restore degraded land, manage and protect water, proactively manage drought, support food security, and build resilience economies and societies. The events will include the participation of political leaders, country delegates, representatives of financial institutions, CEO’s, mayors, academia, civil society organizations, parliamentarians, indigenous and local communities. Specific information about the thematic days and the events will be uploaded at https://www.unccd.int/cop17. During the concluding segment, the COP will consider all decisions not previously adopted. It will decide inter alia on the programme of work and date and venue of the eighteenth session of the COP and of the twenty-fifth session of the CRIC and any further decision on the matter taken during the current session. In order to assist delegations in preparing for the conference, a provisional agenda and relevant documents for the session will be made available on the UNCCD website. All relevant information for participation at COP17 will be made available on the UNCCD COP17 webpage at the following link: https://www.unccd.int/cop17/participate and on the host country COP17 website: https://unccdcop17.org. Please also note that COP17 will be a paperless session. Accordingly, official pre-session documents for COP17/CRIC24/CST17 sessions will be made available on the UNCCD website and the UNCCD Conference app. Official documents prepared in session will also be posted on the website and the Conference app. Limited quantities may be printed on site on demand only. Online registration will be available from 1 May 2026 on this link: https://indico.un.org/e/unccd-cop17. All participants are required to upload an official nomination letter confirming their capacity to attend the COP17 session. For more information on the online registration, please refer to the UNCCD COP17 webpage. The secretariat would like to draw your attention that participants are responsible for getting their own visas, hotel reservations and any type of health or other insurance they may need. Participants requiring visas must therefore obtain these from the Embassies or Consulates of Mongolia in their country or through electronic means, before their departure to Ulaanbaatar. Additional information on the session will be communicated in due course. Sincerely yours, Yasmine Fouad Executive Secretary 

The UNCCD Youth Caucus has announced the selection of Rico Rau and Tiffany Marcelle as its new Global Focal Points (GFPs), following an open and competitive nomination process. The call for nominations was launched on 15 October and closed on 29 October, receiving a total of 45 nominations from youth representatives across all regions. Candidates were assessed against eligibility criteria outlined in the call, including age requirements, demonstrated engagement within the UNCCD process, alignment with the Convention’s mandate, and affiliation with UNCCD-accredited organizations. Following this assessment, a short list of candidates who fully met the criteria was identified. In line with the Youth Caucus’ commitment to balanced geographical representation, and considering that the previous Global Focal Points, Ms. Juliet Grace Luwedde represented the Africa region, and Ms. Esha Mitra represented the Asia region — the selection team agreed to appoint: Tiffany Marcelle (Dominica, Caribbean Youth Environment Network – CYEN), representing the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region Rico Rau (Germany, Isha Foundation), representing the Europe / WEOG region Both selected candidates demonstrated strong alignment with the UNCCD mandate, active engagement within the UNCCD Youth Caucus, and solid experience working with accredited organizations and international youth processes. As Global Focal Points, Tiffany Marcelle and Rico Rau will provide overall coordination and strategic guidance for the Youth Caucus, supporting youth representation, strengthening regional coordination, and advancing collective action on land restoration, land degradation, and drought resilience. Global Focal Points are elected by Youth Caucus members and are accountable for ensuring that the mandate of their role is effectively implemented. The UNCCD Youth Caucus and the UNCCD Secretariat also expressed its appreciation to the outgoing leadership, Ms. Juliet Grace Luwedde, for her dedicated service and contributions to strengthening the visibility and impact of youth engagement within the UNCCD process. Learn more about the UNCCD Youth Caucus.

Information on the COP 16 President’s Initiative on Drought Resilience

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), through its Global Mechanism (GM), is inviting qualified alternative asset managers to express their interest in partnering to co-develop and promote the Drought Resilience Investment Facility (DRIF). The DRIF presents a new chapter in international cooperation on drought resilience with public leadership and private investment joining forces to protect livelihoods, restore land and secure water for future generations. The selected partner will ultimately serve as the Fund Manager, helping to establish and lead this innovative global financing vehicle.About the Drought Resilience Investment Facility DRIF is a flagship blended finance facility being developed under the Innovative Finance Pillar of the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) and designed to mobilize public and private capital for large-scale, drought-resilient investments in vulnerable countries. DRIF will invest in revenue-generating drought-resilient infrastructure spanning three sectors: water infrastructure, agriculture-related infrastructure and nature-based solutions (green infrastructure). A dedicated Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) will operate alongside the investment fund to help originate and prepare a pipeline of bankable projects and to support post-investment capacity building.The DRIF will be housed within the Luxembourg Earth Impact Fund (LEIF) and operate under a regulated framework, such as Luxembourg Part II SICAV, where the Management Company plays a crucial role.Role of the Fund ManagerThe Partner’s responsibilities will span three phases and will be implemented in close coordination with the GM and relevant governance bodies:Phase 1: Implement and Finance – Legal structuring and acting as an anchor investorPhase 2: Manage – Full fund management servicesPhase 3: Promote – Promoter servicesApplication RequirementsTo be considered for pre-qualification, interested firms must demonstrate strong institutional capacity and a proven track record in impact and blended finance. Eligible applicants should meet the following criteria:Authorized to act as a qualified alternative asset manager with an excellent international reputationDemonstrated familiarity with impact investment management and ability to operate in emerging markets (LMIC and UMIC).Experience working with specialized investment advisors, DFIs, donor agencies and PPP structuresProven experience in financial structuring (senior debt, quasi-equity), complex blended vehicles and Venture Capital (VC) strategiesRobust and dedicated team with relevant track record and network; willingness to manage or coordinate a TAF is an assetConfirmed interest in the DRIF concept and capacity to act as Fund Manager and Fund promoterSubmission detailsApplications shall be submitted in English via email to drif@unccd.int by 14 November 2025 and structured as follows:Letter of expression of interest, including the name and address of the applicant firm, contact person and details (email and phone)Brief presentation of the firm (maximum three pages) describing legal form, ownership, Assets under management (AUM) and relevant capabilitiesOverview of fund management experience and references relevant to DRIF and blended finance (maximum three pages)Initial comments (maximum two pages) on Phase 1-3 scope, fund structure within LEIF and approach to specialized advisorsShortlisted candidates will be informed and invited to submit full proposals in accordance with the RFP schedule (indicative: 14 November 2025)Additional informationFor full details, consult the call for expression of interest for the provision of fund management and promoter services. We look forward to receiving applications from dynamic, committed asset managers who are ready to play a meaningful role in advancing global drought resilience.

The UNCCD is pleased to announce that the new version of the Performance Review and Assessment of Implementation System (PRAIS), launched in August 2025, is ready for the upcoming 2026 UNCCD national reporting process.    In summary, PRAIS has been streamlined and enhanced through key innovations such as a country overview dashboard, expanded user roles to support teamwork, peer-to-peer chat, improved validation tools, flexible data sourcing and clearer delineation of reporting obligations to enhance the user experience. These updates are in response to requests made by Parties.   Tentative reporting deadlines   Tentative deadlines for submission of national reports are set as follows: November 2026 for Strategic Objective (SO) 1 and February 2027 for the remaining SOs. The CRIC Bureau in consultation with the Executive Secretary will monitor progress and may adjust this timeline, if necessary.  Technical support for Parties   In line with decision 2/COP.16, partner regional institutions will provide technical support to Parties during the reporting process, including the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission (JRC), the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC), the Partnership Initiative on Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) and the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS). Additional partnerships are being explored and consultants will fill any remaining support gaps.    A phased approach   Although the launch of PRAIS marks the beginning of the 2026 UNCCD reporting process, capacity-building and support services will be rolled out in phases, depending on the availability of funding. The phased approach is outlined below:  Phase 1 (ongoing): PRAIS launch with supporting documentation and online help desk (https://support.unccd.int); Phase 2 (December 2025): Training of Trainers in Panama for regional institutions and consultants; Phase 3 (January – April 2026): Regional in-person training for national focal points and reporting officers; Phase 4 (February - March 2026): Release of e-learning video tutorials; Phase 5 (January 2026 – February 2027): Ongoing technical backstopping and quality assurance of national reports before final submission. Following the conclusion of national reporting, the CRIC will review and analyze the submitted information at its twenty-fifth session.  In view of the phases mentioned above, Parties are encouraged to finalize arrangements and begin utilizing enabling environment funds made available by the Global Environment Facility at national level so that stakeholders can be notified and prompted to start collecting necessary data and information for integration into PRAIS.   Reporting team preparation  To begin preparations, Parties are encouraged to assemble their reporting teams under the leadership of the designated reporting officer. Each team member should have a separate PRAIS account, log into https://reporting.unccd.int and familiarize themselves with the system functions and reporting forms and review the supporting documentation.   Unless formally communicated otherwise, the UNCCD secretariat will consider that the national reporting officer from the 2022 reporting process remains in place for the 2026 reporting round. If a change is needed, the National Focal Point should submit either their own expression of interest or the contact details of the nominated individual to the secretariat via email at reporting@unccd.int.  Supporting documents to assist with reporting include:  Available now:  Addendum to the Good Practice Guidance on SDG Indicator 15.3.1 (advanced unedited version)  UNCCD Reporting Manual (updated for the 2026 reporting process and available in all UN languages)  Updated PRAIS 4 User Manual  Coming soon:  Updated e-learning video tutorials (in all UN languages)  Good Practice Guidance for National Reporting on Strategic Objective 5  For any questions regarding the reporting process or modalities, please contact the technical team via the help desk or write directly to reporting@unccd.int.  

The secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) presents its compliments to the Parties and Observer States to the Convention and has the honour to inform that the twenty-third session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 23) to the UNCCD will take place at the Panama Convention Center, in Panama City, Panama from 1 to 5 December 2025. Consultations of affected country Parties of the Convention’s regional implementation annexes for Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Northern Mediterranean and Central and Eastern Europe in preparation for CRIC 23 will be convened on 30 November 2025, at the Panama Convention Center. Further information on the regional consultations will be shared in a separate communication. In due consideration of the above, the secretariat of UNCCD has the honour to invite your Government to participate in CRIC 23. The provisional agenda (ICCD/CRIC(23)/1) and the pre-session documentation will be made available on the UNCCD website in due time. In line with decision 13/COP16, at CRIC 23, Parties will review the effective implementation of the Convention at national, subregional and regional levels. To this end, updates on the implementation of voluntary land degradation neutrality targets and related implementation efforts and the ensured follow-up on policy frameworks identified by the Conference of the Parties at its sixteenth session will be presented at CRIC23. The status of development and promotion of activities for targeted capacity-building to further the implementation of the Convention will be also considered by the session. A report on the status of improving the procedures for communication of information as well as the quality and formats of reports to be submitted to the Conference of the Parties as mandated by decision 4/COP16, will be also presented at CRIC23. The Intergovernmental Working Group on Future Strategic Framework of the Convention will present its interim report for consultation to Parties, intergovernmental organizations and regional groups at CRIC23. Also, in line with decision 20/COP.16 OP8, the CRIC23 will consider priorities for science–policy guidance with the aim of enabling Parties to provide initiative to and feedback on the work of the Science-Policy Interface, with particular attention to contributing to the content of each flagship report. Distribution: To Parties and Observer States through their Diplomatic Missions accredited to the Federal Republic of Germany, National Focal Points and Permanent Missions accredited to UNOG.Through its decision 25/COP.16 the Parties requested that Gender Caucus be convened as part of the official programme of work of the CRIC23 as a vehicle for identifying bottlenecks in the implementation of the Gender Action Plan and for sharing best practices in advancing gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment, and encouraging the participation and engagement of women and girls from Indigenous Peoples, local communities, youth and civil society organizations. In accordance with requests made by Parties, the session will facilitate interactive exchanges among Parties and their development partners on topics selected by the Bureau of the CRIC. In order to assist delegations in preparing for the conference, a document entitled “Information for participants” (ICCD/CRIC(23)/INF.1) is made available on the UNCCD website. As per past practice, CRIC 23 will be a paperless session. Accordingly, official documents of the session and its daily journal will not be printed and distributed. All such documents will be made available on the UNCCD website and app. The secretariat would be grateful if your Government would kindly nominate the representative(s) who will attend CRIC 23. Online registration will be available from 15 September 2025 at the following link. For more information on the online registration, please refer to the document “Information for participants” (ICCD/CRIC(21)/INF.1). The secretariat would like to kindly recall that participants are responsible for getting their own visas, hotel reservations and any type of health or other insurance they may need. Participants requiring visas must apply online by filling-up the visa application form at https://lara.migracion.gob.pa and uploading a scanned copy of a facial photo and their passport bio-data page. A quick guide with step-by-step instructions on how to apply will be published on the UNCCD CRIC 23 webpage as soon as possible.The secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification avails itself of the opportunity to renew to the Parties and Observer States to the Convention the assurances of its highest consideration. 

The UNCCD is launching a call for expressions of interest to identify qualified representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs) and private sector entities to serve on the Steering Committee of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership (RGDRP).This is an opportunity for leading actors in drought resilience, climate adaptation and sustainable land and water management to help shape the strategic direction and governance of a global partnership dedicated to shifting the response to drought from reactive crisis management to proactive risk reduction.About the RGDRPThe RGDRP is the leading international platform focused on advancing global drought resilience. It supports 74 countries—primarily low-income and lower-middle-income economies—in strengthening their capacity to manage and reduce drought risks. The Partnership mobilizes finance, fosters knowledge exchange and promotes inclusive development through its three operational mechanisms: the Readiness Facility, the Investment Facility and the Knowledge Bank.The Steering Committee is the RGDRP’s highest decision-making body. It brings together 12 representatives from UN agencies, donors, beneficiary countries, technical organizations, civil society and the private sector to ensure inclusive, transparent and accountable governance.Who can apply?We are seeking one primary and one alternate representative each from:1. Civil society organizations (CSOs)Eligible applicants include CSOs, NGOs and organizations representing women, youth, indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups, accredited to the UNCCD and active in drought resilience or related fields.2. Private sector entitiesEligible applicants include companies, industry associations, or business platforms engaged in climate-smart innovation, sustainable land and water management, blended finance, or public-private partnerships in drought-prone regions.Role and responsibilitiesSelected representatives will:Serve a three-year term (as primary or alternate representative)Participate in two Steering Committee meetings annually (in person or virtually)Contribute to strategic decision-making, investment planning, and policy coordinationRepresent their broader constituency and ensure continuity through the alternate systemHow to applyApplicants must submit a completed application form (choose the appropriate form based on your category from the menu on the right):Applications must be submitted in English by 18 August 2025 to: secretariat@unccd.int and globalmechanism@unccd.intAdditional InformationFor full details, consult the terms of reference of the RGDRP steering committee.We look forward to receiving applications from dynamic, committed actors who are ready to play a meaningful role in advancing global drought resilience.

The UNCCD Secretariat invites accredited civil society organizations to nominate one candidate to the Science–Policy Interface (SPI). The elected nominee will serve as alternate CSO observer for 2025-2026, supporting Manon Albagnac, and will become full CSO observer for 2027-2028. The SPI supplies policy-relevant science on desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD), and in 2025-2026 will steer the third Global Land Outlook and pilot fast-track assessments.Nominees must demonstrate DLDD expertise; experience at science–policy interfaces and in translating scientific, local and Indigenous knowledge for civil society and policy makers; familiarity with UNCCD procedures; fluent English and reliable internet access. The observer is expected to uphold SPI principles, participate in meetings, contribute to the work programme, relay information between the SPI and CSOs, and promote SPI outputs. Service is voluntary, but nominees must secure written employer support for the time and effort required.To nominate, CSOs must email cso@unccd.int by 24:00 CEST on 28 July 2025 with a completed application, the candidate’s two-page English CV, a nomination letter from the accredited CSO describing its mandate and governance, and an employer commitment letter. All valid nominations will be reviewed by the CSO Panel, accredited CSOs will then vote between 11 and 28 July 2025, and results will be posted on the UNCCD website and CSO Google Group. The full call text and the application form—are available in the right-hand side menu.

Inclusive land tenure governance and ensuring that human and legitimate land rights are respected and safeguarded is vital for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). Without accessible and transparent grievance and accountability mechanisms, negative social, economic or environmental impacts may undermine efforts to achieve LDN and other development goals, especially at the local level. Decision 28/COP.16 of the UNCCD recognized the importance of accountability and grievance mechanisms in addressing land tenure issues. It called for the Secretariat and the Global Mechanism to enhance awareness of existing mechanisms, ensuring the widest possible reach among stakeholders.In response, the UNCCD-FAO Initiative on land tenure is developing a Compendium of accountability and grievance mechanisms related to land tenure to raise awareness on the diverse range of existing mechanisms, highlighting best practices in formal, informal and customary systems used across various levels — from local, national, regional to international — around the world.Call for submissionsTo support this initiative, the UNCCD and FAO are seeking case studies, reports, policy briefs, guidelines or any other written materials related to accountability, grievance or dispute resolution mechanisms at the local, municipal, provincial and national levels.These can include state-based judicial and non-judicial mechanisms, non-state-based mechanisms – customary, traditional, CSO-led or local mechanisms – regional or international mechanisms, business-led mechanisms and any other innovative and hybrid mechanisms.The submission must clearly outline:Relevance to land tenure and desertification, land degradation and droughtType of grievance or alternative dispute resolution mechanismInclusivity, accessibility and affordabilityEffectiveness and impactLong-term viability and sustainabilityHow to contributeDownload and fill out the submission form from the menu on the right. The deadline for initial submissions is 30 September 2025. You will receive a confirmation that your submission has been received. The submissions will be screened based the completeness and quality of the information provided, and the criteria above. A submission does not mean a guaranteed inclusion in the Compendium. Please to sure to provide your contact information for any follow-up. Your contribution will help shape a global resource that promotes the adoption of inclusive, accessible and transparent grievance and accountability mechanisms as a means to achieving LDN and other land restoration goals.