Catalyst for Change
Drynet is a global network of 26 civil society organisations driving collective action for a sustainable future in drylands. We co-create solutions, connect communities, influence policies, and amplify local voices to tackle the urgent challenges of land degradation, drought, and climate change.
Rooted in Local Realities
Drylands are home to some of the world’s most marginalised rural communities – yet they hold a wealth of knowledge and innovation. From the Andes to the Mauritanian desert, from Central Asia to South Africa, Drynet members work directly with these communities to develop practical, cost-effective, and sustainable land-use solutions that are too often overlooked by decision-makers and donors.
Bridging Local and Global
We strengthen the voices of dryland communities by linking their experiences to national, regional, and international decision-making arenas. Through peer learning, advocacy, and knowledge exchange, Drynet ensures that local initiatives influence global platforms such as the UNCCD and add valuable pointers to attaining the SDGs.
As the vital connections between land use, climate change, biodiversity loss, food security, and poverty become more clear, the urgency for inclusive, locally driven solutions has never been greater. Drynet’s mission is clear: to champion sustainable land use and resilient livelihoods, powered by the people who know their lands best.
Drynet members share and exchange knowledge and experiences, develop joint positions, and actively participate in local, national and global development and planning processes. At the heart of this work is a commitment that the voices of those most affected by land degradation are heard and valued in global forums.
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Drynet supports civil society organisations (CSOs) and networks with the knowledge, tools, and visibility they need to influence dryland development policies effectively in the following ways:
1. Knowledge Sharing & Communication
2. Capacity Strengthening
3. Advocacy & Policy Engagement
4. Network Building & Partnerships
Drynet was founded in 2007 when fourteen civil society organisations from around the world joined forces at COP6 with a shared goal: to give local communities a voice in the fight against land degradation and combat dryland degradation through collective action. Its initial mission was to strengthen civil society organizations to play a crucial role in the sustainable management of drylands and to ensure their needs reach policymakers.
Since then, Drynet has grown into a recognised global network advocating for the interests of dryland communities. With a strong presence in global forums such as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), it has successfully transformed community voices into action and policies at the international level.
Drynet is a self-funded, membership-based network. It is governed by a constitution and its members share a set of common values. Members contribute annual fees to support the coordination of network activities.
The highest authority of the network is the General Assembly, composed of all members. The Assembly is responsible for electing the Board and appointing the Network Coordinator.
The Drynet Board meets monthly to guide the network’s activities. Its members serve two-year terms, with the possibility of re-election.
The Drynet Secretariat is hosted by one of the member organisations and manages the day-to-day administrative work under the direction of the Board.
Throughout its history, Drynet’s coordination has rotated among different member organisations and is currently hosted by Indigo development & change in South Africa.
ENDA, Senegal
fatima.kaba@endaenergie.org
AIDER, Peru
msanchez@aider.com.pe?
CAUCE, Argentina cauceecologico@gmail.com
AJESH, Cameroon
h.nnoko@ajesh.org
DYDF, Bangladesh
dydfbd@gmail.com
CARI, France desertification@cariassociation.org
17 key messages emerged after a consultative participatory online process with more than 150 CSO representatives ahead of CRIC23. These messages unite civil society, youth, indigenous peoples and local communities’
The UNCCD Secretariat has announced the selection of Ana di Pangracio (FARN, Argentina) as the alternate CSO observer at the UNCCD Science – Policy Interface (SPI) until COP17. Drynet extends
The primary mission of Drynet is to champion sustainable land use and resilient livelihoods by connecting local drylands communities with global policy platforms, such as the UNCCD, to fight land degradation and desertification.
Drynet was founded in 2007 when fourteen civil society organisations joined forces at COP6 with the shared goal of giving local dryland communities a stronger voice in the fight against land degradation.
Drynet’s main activities include Knowledge Sharing & Communication, Capacity Strengthening for CSOs, Advocacy & Policy Engagement (especially with the UNCCD), and Network Building & Partnerships.
Drynet is a self-funded, membership-based network governed by a General Assembly. The Assembly elects a Board that guides the network, with day-to-day administration managed by a rotating Secretariat hosted by a member organisation.
