Committee on Science and Technology

Mandate 

The Committee on Science and Technology (CST) was established as a subsidiary body of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to provide information and advice on scientific and technological matters relating to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought. The CST meets at the same time as the ordinary sessions of the COP. It is multidisciplinary, open to the participation of all Parties, and composed of government representatives.  

Terms of Reference 

The CST is assigned various advisory functions. These include:  

• data and information functions 
• research and review functions 
• functions related to technology, 
• evaluation functions 

It makes recommendations to the COP,  facilitates and strengthens networking at local and national levels to ensure that the needs set out in Articles 16 to 19 of the Convention are addressed. The role and responsibilities of the Committee are supported by the work of the CST Bureau. 

Improving efficiency of the CST 

At COP11 in Windhoek, Namibia, a Science-Policy Interface (SPI) was established to promote dialogue between scientists and policy makers and other actors on desertification/land degradation and drought (DLDD). The mandate of the SPI is to provide the CST with thematic guidance on knowledge sharing requirements, thus helping the Convention to fulfill its mandate.