Decision 8/COP.9 requested the secretariat to generate advocacy policy frame- works on thematic issues in order to address the adverse impacts of DLDD, and to regularly inform affected countries and other key stakeholders on such proceed- ings that may be useful in the implementation of action programmes.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions on “Combatting sand and dust storms” adopted in 2015 (A/RES/70/195) and 2016 (A/RES/71/219), respectively, acknowledge that SDS represents a severe impediment to the sustainable development of affected developing countries and the well-being of their peoples. The UNGA resolutions emphasize the need to strengthen the leadership role of the United Nations system in promoting international cooper- ation to mitigate and contain SDS. The UNCCD, in collaboration with WMO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) produced a Global Assess- ment of Sand and Dust Storms, in response to UNGA resolution A/RES/70/195.

Based on decisions 9/COP.10, 9/COP.11 and 9/COP.12, the secretariat, in collab- oration with UNEP and WMO, developed the draft policy framework for sand and dust storms (PFSDS) below.