Women, youth, and marginalized communities often play a central role in managing and conserving land resources, and our meaningful involvement can significantly enhance the effectiveness of land restoration efforts. However, women and youth, especially young women, are often disadvantaged when it comes to ownership and access to land, undermining our indispensable contributions to food security and their communities. Actively addressing gender and age disparities in land tenure systems ensures that the diverse needs and perspectives of all community members are considered, leading to more sustainable and equitable environmental outcomes. 

In this event, speakers will uncover some of the key barriers for women and youth to access and manage land in their communities, and discuss strategies to overcome these challenges. 

To highlight the importance of inclusive and sustainable land management, speakers will showcase climate-smart, resilient agricultural models that are gender-responsive. These models can offer significant adaptation and mitigation benefits, accelerate progress towards Land Degradation Neutrality, improve living conditions for vulnerable populations, and bolster community resilience against the impacts of drought. 

With a special focus on land tenure, participants will gain insights into the opportunities and challenges of mainstreaming gender and youth in restoration programs, and the critical role that women, youth and marginalized communities play in restoring degraded land. 

By fostering a people-centered approach to land management, this event aims to mobilize global action, strengthen women’s land rights, promote youth engagement, and build partnerships that can drive the implementation of the UNCCD and contribute to the outcomes of COP16. 

Speakers:

• Leigh Winowiecki, Soil and Land Theme Lead, CIFOR-ICRAF and Co-lead of Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health 
• Genna Tesdall, Director, YPARD 
• Grace Magny-Fokam, UNCCD Land Heros
• Fadimata Walet Abdallah,  Assn Tin Hinan, member from Mali of the International Land Coalition (ILC) 
• Glindys Virginia Luciano, Action On Food & YOUNGO Food and Agriculture WG
• Juliette Grace Luwedde, UNCCD Youth Caucus 
• Camilla Steinböck, WOCAT-UNCCD “Gender-responsive SLM” Activities Lead, WOCAT 
• Nicoline de Haan, Director, CGIAR Gender Impact Platform (tbd)