The Conference of the Parties,
Reaffirming the objective of the Convention in article 2, which is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa,
Recalling that the 2018–2030 Strategic Framework of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification recognizes that drought, land degradation and desertification are challenges of a global dimension and contribute to and aggravate economic, social and environmental problems such as poverty, poor health, lack of food security, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, reduced resilience to climate change and forced migration,
Noting the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Special Report on Drought 2021 and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Climate Change and Land 2019, both of which assessed information on the change in the frequency and intensity of drought in some regions and the role of land-based interventions to mitigate and adapt to drought,
Recognizing that droughts are becoming more common, intense, severe and extended, with dire impacts on livelihoods, ecosystems and economies,
Recalling decision 7/COP. 13, decision 29/COP. 13 and decision 23/COP.14,
Deeply concerned about the combined, devastating impacts of drought and the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the most vulnerable communities,
Noting with appreciation the active involvement of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the World Meteorological Organization and numerous other partners in the measures to address drought under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification,
Commending the secretariat, the Global Mechanism and their partners on the results achieved in implementing the Drought Initiative,
Welcoming with appreciation the report by the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought on effective policy and implementation measures for addressing drought under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification as contained in document ICCD/COP/15/20,
1. Invites Parties to increase their commitment to pursue effective policies and partnerships on drought, with relevant sectors and stakeholders, particularly Indigenous peoples and local communities, women, youth, civil society and the private sector, as appropriate, to enhance the implementation of a wider holistic and integrated approach for improved resilience of communities and ecosystems;
2. Also invites Parties, with the assistance of regional institutions, as relevant, in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, to support and increase the utilization of information from monitoring, early warning and action systems for decision-making at national, subnational and local levels to enhance the drought resilience of ecosystems, societies and economies;
3. Further invites the secretariat to support, upon request, the affected country Parties to enhance their capacity to assess the effectiveness of strategic actions addressing drought, subject to the availability of resources;
4. Encourages Parties, regional organizations and other stakeholders working on drought to share their knowledge of and experiences with relevant, innovative and transformative tools for inclusion in the Drought Toolbox, and requests the secretariat, subject to the availability of resources and in cooperation with partner organizations, to further update and enhance the functionality of the Drought Toolbox, as well as continue related capacity-building;
5. Invites all Parties, multilateral and bilateral partners, and international financing mechanisms to scale up and facilitate effective financing for the implementation of drought risk reduction and resilience-building measures at all levels;
6. Requests the secretariat and the Global Mechanism, in collaboration with partners and regional institutions, to continue to assist Parties in preparing and implementing genderresponsive national drought plans or other policy instruments related to drought and promoting regional collaboration on drought policies and strategies as a cost-effective means to support national action;
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17. Also requests the secretariat to support and facilitate the effective functioning of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought, subject to the availability of resources;
18. Decides that the secretariat, in consultation with the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, will nominate the representatives mentioned in subparagraphs 15 (h)–(j) above;
19. Also decides that the composition of the group will encourage gender balance and membership with specific policy knowledge and adequate experience;
20. Encourages the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought to conduct its proceedings both through in-person meetings and virtual engagement, as necessary;
21. Requests the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought to prepare a progress report for consultation with Parties at the twenty-first session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention;
22. Also requests that the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought prepare a final report for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its sixteenth session, including its findings. 23. Further requests the secretariat to report on the implementation of this decision at future sessions of the Conference of the Parties.
