By Emmanuel Seck, ENDA Energie, IWG-FSF Member
COP17 in Ulaanbaatar marked a significant moment in the process of setting out the future course of the UNCCD when the final report of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the Future Strategic Framework (IWG-FSF) of the Convention was formally adopted on the COP’s penultimate day. Progress on the post-2030 strategic framework was finally achieved following an initial deadlock regarding this agenda item.
The Conference of the Parties officially took note of the final report, its recommendations, its draft vision and its structural elements. These elements include, among others, proactive drought management, resilience and preparedness, land tenure, food security, sustainable land and water management, an integrated approach, synergy, and the inclusion of whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches. The vision set out by the IWG-FSF is of “a world where healthy and sustainably managed land enhances resilient and inclusive human well-being and food security, supports ecosystem services, and enables societies to cope with drought and other growing pressures on land.”
COP17 decided to renew and extend the mandate of the Intergovernmental Working Group for the 2026–2028 biennium. This extension aims to finalise the development of the post-2030 strategic framework proposal and continue work on indicators supporting this UNCCD framework, while also considering effective ways to communicate the Convention’s impact.
Beyond the decisions regarding the Future Strategic Framework of the UNCCD, it is essential to define the role of the UNCCD within the international sustainable development architecture post-2030. During the COP, discussions also focused on future goals and targets, indicators, coherence with the SDGs and other Rio Conventions, and means of implementation.
A key issue highlighted was the future framework’s ability to reflect the priorities of affected countries and to ensure that the new mechanism does not simply result in increased monitoring and reporting obligations.
