UNCCD – Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention – CRIC19 expected to be out of intensive care early next year!

The UNCCD has announced that CRIC19, initially planned for 2020, is now scheduled to take place on 10-12 February 2021 at the World Conference Centre in Bonn, Germany. CRIC 19 is the nineteenth session of the UNCCD Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention, and is a crucial inter-sessional meeting that provides Parties with the opportunity to assess how the implementation of the Convention is progressing, and to prepare draft decisions to be presented to the next COP.

A full programme of activities is planned, including updates on the voluntary LDN target setting process, the Land Degradation Neutrality Fund and implementation of the Drought Initiative. The IWG on drought under the UNCCD will present its interim report and information on capacity-building as well as the reporting and review process of the UNCCD will be reviewed.

CSOs should prepare for the planned series of interactive dialogues on the key topics on the agenda as these provide civil society with a focused opportunity to present the Parties with views coming “from the ground”.

Ahead of the CRIC, a training fair for national focal points will take place on 8 February followed by meetings of the Parties of the regional implementation annexes on 9 February.

Who knows what the state of the world will be by February next year? The pandemic is not showing any signs of being in retreat, and much as many of us have learned to live with the risk of infection, travelling to Bonn in six months’ time might not be a reasonable option.

Watch this space! We will share information about logistics for the CRIC with Drynet members as it becomes available.