Launch of the Co-ordination Unit of the Convention to Combat Desertification in Africa

Marrakech, 14/11/2016 (MAP) – The Co-ordination Unit of the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was launched on Monday in Marrakech, as part of the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The announcement of the UNCCD’s launch was made during a press conference by Abdelâdim Lhafi, COP22 Commissioner and High Commissioner of Morocco for Water, Forests, and the Fight Against Desertification and Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary, UNCCD.

« I am very pleased to announce this launch in the fight against Desertification and the co-agreement between Morocco and UNCCD », stated Lahfi, adding that “It is our intention during the Moroccan Presidency to find real solutions to this problem. »

« We are delighted that this has been actioned at COP22, » said Barbut «as regards timeline, I hope to return to Morocco in Spring 2017 for the official launch. »

The UNCCD is a convention to mitigate the effects of drought through National Action Programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international co-operation and partnerships Agreements. The issue of desertification addresses issues including natural resources, the eco-system, particularly erosion and productivity of soil, and migration.

The role of the new Partnership will be to co-ordinate over 50 African countries and enable them to take a communal approach to soil degradation.

During the conference, Barbut discussed finance, saying that funding is not an issue but that Big Donors need to be found to support related issues. Another issue that needed to be addressed is capacity building and the need for human skill development.

The convention stemmed from a direct a recommendation of the Rio Conference’s Agenda 21 and came into force December 1996.