SECRETARIAT OF THE CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION SECRETARIAT DE LA CONVENTION SUR LA LUTTE CONTRE LA DESERTIFICATION 1 UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION

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SECRETARIAT OF THE CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION

SECRETARIAT DE LA CONVENTION SUR LA LUTTE CONTRE LA DESERTIFICATION

UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION TO COMBAT

DESERTIFICATION(UNCCD)

UNCCD Secretariat (2003/2008/2011) / revised and completed by Uwe Holtz

MBA – NGO ManagementModule International Politics, 3 December 2011

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DESERTIFICATION is a truly worldwide phenomenon and a major threat to humankind

Land degradation affects one third (even up to 40 %) of the planet’s land surface including parts of Europe

Around one billion people in over 100 countries are directly affected by desertification or are at risk (U.H.: Desertification is a quiet killer, a silent tsunami)

2/3 of Africa is desert or dryland

Income losses of $42 billion/year (because of shrinking soil fertility and productivity losses)

135 million at risk of being displaced (= population of France, Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands together)

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Luc Gnacadja Executive Secretary of the UNCCD:

Today’s global challenges such as the food crisis, the consequences of biofuels on land and food commodities, the water scarcity, the forced migrations and other threats of climate change,

are bringing the global community down to earth, down to the land; they are calling for sound and integrated policies including on sustainable land land management.

(2008)

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Definition Agenda 21 and UNCCD

“Desertification” means land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities.

(Art. 1 UNCCD)

(are not included deserts / hyper-arid zones)

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Cracked earth during drought (Senegal) © UN Photo

Water erosion (Spain) © Dirección General de Conservación de la Naturaleza

Livestock concentrations lead to loss of vegetation (Kenya) © UNCCD

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Sand invading a city (Mauritania) © FAO Photo/ I. Balderi

Dust storm (China) © CCICCD

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The United Nations Convention to Combat The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) came into force in 1996Desertification (UNCCD) came into force in 1996

Secretariat Headquarter in BonnSecretariat Headquarter in Bonn

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UNCCD plays a key role UNCCD plays a key role

in the world’s efforts toin the world’s efforts to eradicate poverty,

achieve sustainable development,

reach the MDGs.

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Holistic approach to development

Preamble

Noting also that desertification is caused by complex interactions among physical, biological, political, social, cultural and economic factors

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German development cooperation

is active in the areas of desertification/erosion control, land resource management, rural development, large-scale reforestation efforts, improved watershed and sustainable forest management.

The German Development Ministry is providing some 200-300 million euros a year for such activities, more than half of which goes to Africa.

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Evaluation from the German perspective

1. The UNCCD has a great strategic potential to improve land use in Africa’s drylands. As an international legal instrument it facilitates inter alia formal recognition of land degradation issues, together with UNFCCC and UNCBD.

2. The UNCCD• can provide a forum to bring together developing and developed countries in

order to exchange experiences and views on both environment and development.

• is an integrative conceptual frame of reference for activities addressing land degradation issues.

• is a commonly agreed framework for policy dialogue on land degradation issues, which assists all partners in shaping future cooperation.

• can be a useful framework and venue for (innovative) partnership-building and participation and

• can serve as an effective and enabling tool contributing to the attainment of the MDGs.

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Space for improvement

1. Ministries that have developed national action programmes in participatory processes have difficulties organising their implementation and mobilising other actors.

2. The circumstance persists that not all ongoing projects and sector strategies on the sustainable use of natural resources in drylands and on combating desertification are integrated into national UNCCD processes and NAP implementation.

3. Improved impact monitoring and a critical mass of local-level implementation projects are essential to render experience available for the implementation process.

4. The creation of new strategic partnerships is a key precondition to enhanced investment in NAP implementation.

5. It is important that desertification remains a priority issue on the agenda of decision-makers.

6. Despite the “chef de file” approach, coordination among donors continues to be inadequate. This ultimately causes losses of synergy and cost-effectiveness.

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Allocation of funds in EU-CSPs (A-envelope / Percentage) Holtz, 2003

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The review of PRSPs and CSPs leads to the conclusion that poverty reduction and country strategies are not sufficiently mainstreamed with anti-desertification needs and that they do not establish the appropriate relationship with the UNCCD objectives and tools despite the often broad-based participatory approaches and the encouraging “aid philosophies”.

Between 1998-2000, less than three per cent of ODA was directed towards objectives of the Rio Conventions - UNCCD, UNCBD, UNFCCC - State and non-state actors, governments and donors share the responsibility for this.

Developing countries themselves have to lay more emphasis on rural development and on combating rural poverty. Parliaments and parliamentarians were not really involved in the consultation, elaboration and decision-making process of PRSPs and CSPs.

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UNCCD – Global Governance

• The UNCCD is an example for “global governance”.

• It is the most postmodern outcome of Rio.

• Intergovernmental post-modernism is setting binding international rules*

*Andreas Rechkemmer: Postmodern Global Governance. The UNCCD, Baden-Baden 2004.

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Eighth round table of Members of Parliament

Buenos Aires, 24 and 25 September 2009

Background document by U. Holtz (2009): Parliamentary contributions to achieving food security and addressing climate change in the drylands under the current economic crisis, in: www.unccd.int/parliament/docs/XM parliament background-eng.pdf

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Ninth round table of Members of ParliamentChangwon (Rep.of Korea), 13/14 October 2011

Background document by U. Holtz (2011): Achieving global sustainability through effective sustainable land management and implementing the UNCCD 10-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention (2008–2018)

> www.unccd.int/parliament/data/cop10/9%20session%20RT%20for%20Parliamentarians%20-%20Oct%202011.pdf

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U. Holtz: Parliamentary Hexagon:the main six functions / powers of Parliaments

power of discourseelective powerelective power

power of oversightpower of oversight treaty and war power

legislative power power of the purse

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Some anti-desertification measures propagated by the UNCCD Parliamentary Round Tables

1. Measures designed to combat desertification directly and to promote sustainable management of natural resources

a) erosion controlb) conservation and sustainable use of land resourcesc) rehabilitation of degraded landd) better land, water and river basin managemente) establishment of sustainable irrigation facilities to secure

stable water suppliesf) sustainable forest management and effective reforestation

programmesg) use of modern and safe bio-technologies to disseminate

drought-resistant species

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Sand fixation with live plants (Senegal) © UN Photo

Watershed integrated management: planting of living fences (Venezuela) © Ministerio de Ambiente Y Recursos Naturales

Stone stories to stop water erosion (Lesotho) © UNCCD

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2. Measures designed to promote indirectly the conservation and sustainable management of natural resources

a) land use planning and adequate land tenure policyb) sustainable agricultural policiesc) sustainable use of scarce natural resources

including renewable sources of energyd) protection of biodiversitye) coping with population pressures

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3. Capacity-building measures and know-how transfer

a) improvement of technical land and water management skillsb) promotion and utilisation of traditional and site-specific

technological knowledge and practicesc) training, environmental education and environmental

informationd) promotion of specific research on the causes and negative

effects of desertificatione) advancement of applied agricultural and biotechnology

researchf) capacity-building such as training sessions and dispatch of

experts to enhance scientific and technical capacity for combating desertification, taking into consideration the special role of women

g) transfer and adaptation of environmentally sound technologiesh) use of state-of-the-art information technologies such as

geographic information systems

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4. Additional measures

a) call upon developed countries, in conformity with the letter and spirit of the UNCCD, to take appropriate actions aimed at relieving the current burden on developing countries, particularly through the promotion of economic reforms aimed at combining growth with human development, equity and social justice by, inter alia, agreeing on the relief of external debt, reducing interest rates and improving the overall trading environment

b) proposal to accompany anti-desertification measures with secured and innovative financing

c) clear orientation of public policies towards addressing the root causes of poverty through participative and democratic processes leading to a real and efficient empowerment of communities, especially women, at the front line of the sustainable development struggle

d) closer collaboration with local communities, non-governmental and community-based organisations and civil society, which carry out grass-roots aid activities and play an important role in combating desertification

e) avoid production and consumption patterns with negative impacts on landf) develop appropriate measures against „land grabbing“

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We, members of parliament,2007:Reaffirm our commitment to sustainable human

development as a universal concept, which incorporates the interdependent and mutually reinforcing pillars, which include - economic development, social development and environmental protection - at local, national, regional and global levels while remaining committed to the indivisibility of human rights and human dignity for all and to democratic systems as well as to democratic global governance with more effective and accountable international and multilateral institutions;

2009: Reaffirm our commitment to do our utmost in strengthening the political will essential for thesuccessful implementation of the UNCCD and for the achievement of sustainable human development at local, national, regional and global levels;

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2007

We underline the relevance of ownership and own efforts in the affected developing country Parties to overcome the problems of desertification and poverty;

We stress the critical role of the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders in national development efforts, as well as in the promotion of the global partnership in the context of the UNCCD implementation process;

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2009

Are alarmed by the continuous trends in and perils of land degradation, soil erosion, drought and impoverishment, particularly in the fragile ecosystems and drylands of developing countries (24 per cent of the global terrestrial area has been degraded in 25 years),

while also admitting success stories in combating desertification at the grassroots level in many countries (almost 16 per cent of that area has been improved);

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2009 Parliamentary Declaration of Buenos Aires

We acknowledge that in addition to the tasks of maintaining peace and avoiding wars between and within countries, our globe is faced with two challenges in this century:

first the fight against poverty and hunger and secondly, climate change through sustainable

development-paths. These challenges are sharpened by the current

economic crisis and cannot be tackled without addressing food security and desertification issues;

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Recognize that the 10-year Strategic Plan and framework targets the use of effective and practical approaches to sustainable land management with synergy as a systemic approach. The main strategic objectives are:

(i) to improve the livelihood of affected populations;(ii) to improve the productivity of affected populations; (iii) to generate global benefits; (iv) to mobilize resources to support the implementation of

the Convention by building effective partnerships between national and international actors.

The Strategy should also be supported by parliaments and the IPU.

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Parliamentary activities related to food security in the drylands start from three baselines:

(a) affected States have the primary role in combating food insecurity;

(b) The participation of affected populations and local communities, particularly women and young people, must be ensured;

(c) developed States must actively support, individually orjointly, suitable efforts of affected developing countries.

The enactment of enabling legislation is a key tool for combating desertification, the protection of human rights, including the right to food, and environmental governance at the national level.

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Because of its relevance to food security, poverty reduction and political stability, as well as to sustainable development and the environment, there is a need for a re-evaluation of agriculture in the political arena; parliamentarians in developed and developing countries have to play their part.

- At least 10 % of national budgets should be allocated to agriculture.

- More countries could benefit if governments and donors were to reverse years of policy neglect and remedy their disinvestment in agriculture and in rural areas.

- Development assistance must be effective, strengthening rather than undermining country efforts to improve governance in agriculture.

- Agricultural protection in donor countries and subsidized agricultural exports often undermine the assistance available to agriculture and efforts in developing countries;

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Parliaments have a responsibility

to work for a food security enabling environment. Policies that improve the security of land use rights

are a prerequisite for SLM.Land tenure regimes play a critical role in ensuring

the right to land, which includes access to an adequate quantity of land of adequate quality for a viable livelihood. Sometimes land reforms and a more equitable land distribution will be necessary.

To maintain the productivity of arable land and top soil fertility, access to water should be secured.

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ClimateThe impact of climate change combined with the global

economic crisis, rising food prices, energy shortages, ecosystem degradation linked to other human causes and demographic change must be managed in a coordinated manner.

The poor and hungry in the drylands are suffering the most from the double blow of desertification and climate change.

The UN is invited seriously to consider setting up an instrument, in accordance with international law, such as an international judiciary body specifically for handling environmental pollution cases and their consequences.

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Desertification and land degradation issues deserve global policy attention and the needs of drylands must be fully integrated into the Copenhagen Protocol.

The initiative for a Global Green New Deal should be supported on condition that sustainable land management becomes an integral part of it and of future climate protection strategies.

A Special International Environment Fund should be created for this purpose.

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The Convention should be better linked with efforts to accomplish relevant objectives under climate change processes and efforts to promote human security, tackle forced migration and prevent conflict.

Institutions have a crucial role to play everywhere. Actions on climate change, development planning and disaster risk reduction must be coordinated . This requires that they are led from the highest political and organizational level.

Participatory democracy, functioning institutions and transparency are needed at all levels for effective adaptation and mitigation.

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Parliaments should strive to ensure that food, agricultural trade and overall trade policies are conducive to fostering food security in particular through a fair, market-oriented, non-speculative world trade system embedded in sustainable, socially balanced and fair globalization.

A UN Parliamentary Assembly could strengthen the effectiveness, transparency, representativeness, plurality and legitimacy of the work of the institutions that compose the UN system. The establishment of a UNPA could also be a centrepiece for parliamentary supervision of the renewed system of international financial and economic governance.

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Declaration: 9th Round Table of Members of ParliamentChangwon, 13 / 14 October 2011

Parliamentarians bear a special responsibility for the protection of natural resources and for global sustainability. Sustainable Land Management (SLM) is an effective measure of a number of important local, regional as well as global benefits and contributes to global sustainability.

Parliaments and governments should to do all they can to effectively integrate measures to prevent and combat desertification as well as to mitigate the effects of natural disasters through relevant policies and programmes, such as land, water and forest management, agriculture, rural development, early warning systems, energy, poverty eradication and sustainable development strategies

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Parliamentarians should give broad support to the premise that a transition to sustainable agriculture and SLM – while acknowledging the crucial role of women and of indigenous knowledge – should be part of the sustainable development solution. They are invited to act as agents of change.

Parliamentarians are encouraged to engage all actors, including local and regional governments, civil society and private sector partners, in the planning and implementation of SLM policies.

Parliaments and governments should be encouraged to

advocate environmental awareness, enlighten the public and strengthen education about desertification, SLM, food waste-reduction measures and coordinated action against environmental degradation.

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International donors have made many commitments to Africa and developing countries in other regions, which they need to keep – a supportive role is to be assumed by Parliaments. Parliaments should help mobilize adequate and predictable financial resources, transfer of technologies and capacity-building.

The parliaments of the developed countries must work for the

increase of official development assistance (ODA), particularly in those countries which did not reach the 0.7 per cent target so far; until 2015 this target must be reached.

Desertification and land degradation issues deserve more

global political attention. There is a need to tackle soil loss of productivity in the post-Kyoto treaty. The initiative for a Global Green New Deal should be supported by parliaments on condition that SLM becomes an integral part of it and of future climate protection strategies in particular for Rio+20.

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Implementation of the Ten-Year Strategy 2008-2018 Parliaments will support by appropriate efforts the realization

of the Ten-Year Strategy, in particular its four strategic objectives: to improve the livelihood of affected populations; to improve the productivity of affected populations; to generate global benefits; to mobilize resources to support the implementation of the Convention through building effective partnerships between national and international actors.

Parliaments can undertake the enactment of enabling legislation and standards as well as its harmonization with the provisions of The Strategy. They can promote corresponding laws and rules of land tenure regimes and international land deals in line with the paradigm of sustainable human development.

Parliaments can ensure that adequate financial resources are allocated to the sectors of relevance to The Strategy.

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Parliaments may ensure that ODA and other sources of foreign aid are brought on budget and are integrated into the country’s own development plans.

Parliaments can monitor executive actions and control of whether The Strategy is on a good road of implementation – i. a. through putting questions and interpellations to the executive, adopting resolutions, setting up special commissions, holding regular hearings and organizing field visits.

Parliaments in developing countries have a special responsibility to look after full accountability and transparency of aid according of the principles established by the Paris Declaration.

In every parliament a national network of MPs and a focal point on UNCCD issues should be established.

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As representatives of the people, Parliamentarians are very often development agents, opinion leaders and also good disseminators of information within society.

They can serve as channels for conveying The Strategy vision and its strategic objectives to the public and the grassroots communities involving local authorities and populations, women and youth, the business sector, NGOs and community-based organizations (CBOs), schools, academics, artists and journalists.

They should ensure that their political parties include in their manifestos and other policy documents, SLM as a matter of priority.

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CSOs in the UNCCD Intergovernmental Process Acknowledged multi-faceted contribution:*

Participation in intergovernmental processes and international programmes and activities (UNCCD, UNFCCC, CBD, etc.)

Implementation partners

Project identification and assessment

Monitoring and evaluation*cf. Dr. Mohamadou-Mansour N’Diaye: The UN and their co-operation with NGOs and CSOs illustrated by the example of UNCCD; lecture given to the MBA NGO Management module “International Politics” on January 29, 2010

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Role of CSOs/NGOs in the UNCCDThe text of the UNCCD calls for the participation of civil

society: Article 3 paragraph (c) on the principles of the UNCCD states

that “the Parties should develop, in a spirit of partnership, cooperation among all levels of government, communities, non-governmental organizations and landholders …..”.

Art. 10 on National action programmes. They shall, i. a.: (f) provide for effective participation at the local, national and

regional levels of non- governmental organizations and local populations, both women and men, particularly resource users….

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Many CSOs/NGOs are innovative and inspiring

They draw up their own management and delivery systems.

They focus on local action and they provide a valuable link between local actions to prevent and stop land degradation/desertification and National Policies (NAPs).

NGOs policies into policy and planning processes is crucial.

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Financing CSOs/NGOs in the context of the UNCCD

National/International Support (UN agencies) to NGOs through their local action programmes

Official Development Aid (ODA) agencies

Other Development partners (WB/EC)

Embassies are good source of information

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Requirements for a qualitative involvement from CSOs

The most prevailing points for high quality involvement of CSOs include:

Motivation to participate in the formulation processes of action programmes

Proven expertise on Desertification, land degradation and drought (DFLDD) issues

Capacities to organise CSOs/NGOs in effective participation processes

Knowledge on UNCCD procedures and potentials

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Civil society is “people”, each of us

We are the ultimate beneficiaries as well as the payers of the price of any collective action, from political decisions to natural disasters

Margaret Mead (1901-1978):“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can

change the world”

Documents

SECRETARIAT OF THE CONVENTION TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION SECRETARIAT DE LA CONVENTION SUR LA LUTTE CONTRE LA DESERTIFICATION 1 UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION