The project “Strengthening Civil Society Role in Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality” is a Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded initiative implemented by IUCN in partnership with Drynet and Both ENDS. It aims to strengthen the capacity and recognition of civil society organisations (CSOs) worldwide to develop a more inclusive and effective approach to achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).
Launched at the UNCCD COP16, the 36-months project empowers civil society organisations (CSOs) across five world regions to influence LDN policy and mobilise funding for locally-led solutions. The project marks an important step toward placing local voices and knowledge at the heart of sustainable land management solutions. As such, the project reflects the GEF’s commitment to a whole-of-society approach.
CSOs have access to training and materials to enable them to advocate more effectively for inclusive LDN policies, raise the visibility of community-driven restoration efforts, and shape decision-making at national and global levels, including within UNCCD processes such as CRIC and COP.
The project boosts CSOs’ access to finance by building fundraising capacity, facilitating
connections with donors and investors, and organizing an LDN Donor Roundtable to unlock support for community-based initiatives.
The project follows a collaborative “cross-pollination” approach that fosters mentorships, knowledge exchange, and storytelling to strengthen the expertise of civil society, especially youth and women-led groups. It also provides practical tools, such as webinars, newsletters and an online platform, to ensure long-term institutional change and visibility.
At UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Drynet and its partners turned side event rooms into spaces of genuine dialogue, where local knowledge met global policy, and community voices shaped the
The final 19 Key Messages reflect civil society positions, priorities, and recommendations gathered through a series of participatory and inclusive consultation processes coordinated by the UNCCD CSO Panel. The process
Six of the twelve mentees in the first cohort of the CS4LDN mentorship programme reveal what the mentorship process means to them and what LDN represents in their various local
The full name of the Drynet GEF Project is “Strengthening Civil Society Role in Achieving Land Degradation Neutrality,” commonly referred to as CS4LDN.
The two main components are “Influencing LDN,” which focuses on policy advocacy and visibility for CSOs, and “Leveraging LDN,” which aims to secure funding for locally-led land degradation neutrality projects.
The CS4LDN project was officially launched in December 2024 during the UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and follows a cross-pollination approach involving the Implementing Agency IUCN, the lead co-Executing Agency Both ENDS, and Drynet members, alongside other relevant CSOs.
