Call for submissions to recognize women-led solutions in drought resilience

Established in 1994, the UNCCD is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention recognizes that addressing and reversing land degradation is one of the key sustainable development priorities for the majority of its affected countries' Parties. UNCCD also recognizes that droughts are the most far-reaching of natural disasters, causing short and long-term economic and ecological losses. To reduce societal vulnerability to droughts, there is a need to overcome the prevailing reactive, post-hazard approach to drought management and move towards proactive risk-management methods that build resilience to drought at the local, national and regional levels. The Convention also prioritizes the importance of ensuring the full and equal participation of both women and men at all levels of combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought.

With the view to strengthening knowledge on gender issues, the UNCCD secretariat has produced several policy-relevant researches and various strategic publications to facilitate debate on a transformative vision for land management policy, planning, governance and practice at global and national scales. In response to Decision 24/COP.15, which approved a “roadmap to guide and accelerate the implementation of the Gender Action Plan through gender-responsive and transformative approaches,” this call will identify and analyze innovative gender-responsive and transformative approaches from many corners of the world. 

For this study, UNCCD and FAO are collaborating in a joint initiative to identify the most innovative and effective women-led initiatives that exemplify the essential role played by women in sustainable land management in drought-prone locations and regions. A report featuring 20 most promising practices will be launched on the International Day of Rural Women on 15 October 2024 and discussed during a session of the UNCCD Gender Caucus at the Conference of Parties (COP16) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 02 to 13 December 2024. 

You can find more detailed information and the submission form via the menu on the right. The case studies should be submitted in English, French or Spanish, using the form by April 1, 2024, to gender [at] unccd.int. The Secretariat may follow up to gather further information on individual projects or case studies.