Almost all member countries of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification have prepared National Action Plans or Strategies to Combat Desertification. The requisite strategies and plans were aligned with the global development agenda under the Millennium Development Goals and subsequently Sustainable Development Goals. The alignment facilitated in ensuring resources for implementing the provisions of the plans and strategies at national and international level.

At the 13^th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 13) held in 2017 the UNCCD 2018−2030 Strategic Framework was adopted. All Parties to the convention were encouraged to apply the strategic framework in their national policies, programmes, plans and processes relating to desertification/land degradation and drought. The Strategic Framework has three main components: a vision, strategic objectives and an implementation framework. This side event will focus on describing the key components of the framework and progress made towards mainstreaming in the national plans and policies.

Objectives

The process of avoiding, halting, and reversing land degradation expands over decades. It requires long term strategic planning at national and international level. The specific objectives of organizing this side event are to have;

• Better understanding of prevailing strategic frameworks that support combating desertification at global scale.
• Knowledge about the factors that limit implementation of strategies and action plans related to desertification and drought
• An overview of Strategic Plan to Combat Desertification and Drought of Saudi Arabia and other countries.
• Information about support provided by private sector, academia and civil society organizations in implementing such strategic plans in Saudi Arabia and other countries.

Speakers

• Ermias Betemariam, Land Health Scientist-Soils, CIFOR-ICRAF
• Mansour Sulaiman Alhawas, Director of Desertification Department, National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, Saudi Arabia
• Ramzi Hjeily, Expert Strategic Planning, Strategy & Co., Saudi Arabia
• Rami Ibrahim Alsakran, General Manager Employment, Deputyship of Human Capability Development
• Ghulam Qadir Shah, Member Climate Change Authority, Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Pakistan