The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will be held from August 17-28, 2026, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. As part of its engagement, the Global Environment Facility will co-host Finance Day on August 24 and convene two side events. Details of the GEF’s participation can be found below.
Present and Future of GEF Support to UNCCD: From GEF-8 to GEF-9
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The objective of the side event is to reflect on the successful implementation of GEF-8 over the last four years in relation to support for the implementation of the UNCCD and provide insights on programming objectives related to tackling land degradation and drought in the upcoming GEF-9 strategy.
The event will feature the UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary to provide opening remarks as well as speakers from Mexico and Djibouti sharing approaches and experiences in meeting their commitments under the UNCCD through GEF-funded projects; youth and civil society stakeholders providing brief perspectives as actors or beneficiaries of GEF-funded projects. A facilitated discussion will allow for exchange of lessons and challenges with a view to garner key information for the GEF to address countries’ needs and to achieve a sustainable future on land.
From Data to Decisions: Leveraging GEF Global Activities to Strengthen UNCCD Reporting and Achieve Land Degradation Neutrality
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This side event will showcase how parties to the UNCCD use their reporting and opportunities provided by GEF global projects into a strategic mechanism for achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).
Operational synergies among key GEF investments, including the UNCCD Global Support Programme, Trends.Earth (Conservation International), FAO’s reporting pilot and land governance projects, and the UNDP’s LDN decision support work will be featured. Together, these initiatives form an integrated continuum—from data generation and methodological innovation to reporting support, policy integration, and governance reform. Through short project presentations, panel discussion, and country perspectives, the session will identify practical ways to combine tools, address remaining gaps, and strengthen coordination across agencies.
GEF Participation at the COP
All times below in Ulaanbaatar Time (UTC+8).
Event times and locations subject to change. Please visit the UNCCD website for the latest information.
