UNCCD CSO Panel identified three priorities for the current biennium:
- Involve civil society in the achievement of land degradation neutrality (LDN).
- Bring to the attention of decision makers the importance of protecting land rights.
- Ensure communication with all stakeholders.
The Panel has adopted a Work Plan for the biennium, committed to create a more conducive environment for civil society organisations’ development. Our Work Plan sets out our best view of how we can most effectively and efficiently engage CSOs in the work of the Convention, draw attention of decision makers to the importance of safeguarding land rights and facilitate coordination, communication and collaboration among the accredited CSOs to ultimately achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN) in all regions. The work plan contains agreed activities for implementation and assumes full utilization of our current resources and capacity, taking into account the needs of different constituencies. The work of CSO Panel for the period of 2020-2022 will focus on following:
➢ CSO Panel and UNCCD processes (governance): Our work will focus on securing CSOs participation and representation in UNCCD, with a collective review of procedures when necessary. We also wish to encourage accreditation of more CSOs, by disseminating widely testimonies from CSOs on benefits of their participation to the Convention.
➢ Communication and information sharing toward accredited CSOs: We will seek to further inform and provide more support for the CSOs, engaging them with focal points, researchers, scientists, CSO-workers, national level policy makers, donors as well as highlight the CSO works and their LDN efforts through UNCCD / CSO panel websites, social media pages and mailing list.
➢ Promote CSO preparation and involvement in CRIC, CST and COP: As members of the CSO panel, we commit to organize preparation of the civil society prior to negotiations carried on in the UNCCD. This period will be very challenging with the uncertainty of holding international meetings and we must make sure that CSOs are not forgotten while adapting organizational modalitiesfor the coming CRIC and COP.
➢ CSO Involvement in implementing COP14 decisions: Our work will focus mainly in seven decisions (2, 4, 5, 12, 14, 26, 31, and New Delhi declaration), and seeks to contribute to the strengthening of the CSOs and its involvement and interaction with other stakeholders to regional, national o subnational level related to land governance, land tenure and sustainable development included in the VGGT adopted in the COP.
➢ Synergies between UNCCD and other UN Conventions: UNCCD has an established mechanism and a network of partners in the entire UN System imbedded in various Treaties, Conventions and Protocols. We have identified them and anticipate participation at international, regional, or national levels working to enhance and strengthen the synergy among the over 27 UN institutions, including Rio Conventions and working report groups such as the IPBES, HLPE, IPCC, IWG on drought, envisaged to attract more action on the ground opportunities for accredited civil society organizations and their ability to procure direct funding to promote the objectives of the convention in all domains.
