Undertaking an analysis of the gender impacts of de- sertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) requires looking at the socio-economic issues that affect women and men differently when the land is degraded or when drought occurs. It means looking at how they are impacted, as well as at the coping mechanisms that they are able to develop in a given socio-cultural and economic context.

This study, commissioned by the UNCCD Secretar-iat, sheds light on the most relevant problems, as well as solutions, associated to how DLDD affect women and men differently, with an overall impact on the environment and on societies. Its purpose to inform decision-making processes that relate to gender equality in the context of the UNCCD, spe- cifically around the formulation of concrete policies and measures towards the implementation of the UNCCD’s Gender Action Plan.

By the adoption of the Gender Action Plan back in COP 13 (2017), Parties to the Convention already ac- knowledged the specific role of women in land res- toration and sustainable land management, as well as the importance of gender equality as a guiding principle in all policies and decisions associated to the fulfilment of the objectives of the Convention.