The 2026 International Desertif’actions Summit, to be held from 25 to 28 March 2026 in Djerba (Tunisia), is organised by CARI, UNCCD, and OSS.
The main theme of this edition focuses on the resilience of territories in the face of crises, particularly droughts.
The summit aims to:
- Raise the alarm about the accelerating degradation of land.
- Build advocacy based on concrete and relevant solutions in order to influence decisions at COP17.
- Share knowledge and experience, as well as scientific knowledge on drought risk prevention and mitigation.
- Raise public awareness of the challenges of combating desertification and sustainable land management.
This event brings together a diverse range of stakeholders — scientists, NGOs, local authorities, farmers’ organisations and institutions — with a common goal: to strengthen the resilience of regions in the face of climate challenges.
With just a few months to go before the summit, preparations are already well underway, with several key stages demonstrating strong collective momentum: preparatory workshops, themed webinars, press cartoon competitions, etc.
If you would like to contribute to the development of advocacy, exchange ideas with stakeholders in the field, and make your voice heard, there is still time to register to participate in the Summit!
To register : https://www.helloasso.com/associations/cari/evenements/desertif-actions-2026-register
Registration is now open and the provisional programme has been unveiled: join the movement!
The event offers three days of debates, themed workshops, plenary sessions and opportunities for discussion. The summit concludes with a day open to the general public.
The three days of the Summit are dedicated to specific themes:
- 25 March | Droughts: findings and challenges
- 26 March | Improving the resilience of territories
- 27 March | On the way to COP17
A provisional programme is available.
Find it here : https://desertif-actions.org/en/programming/
Preparatory workshops
In 2025, around twenty preparatory workshops were organised in different countries. These enabled analyses, recommendations and feedback from the field to be gathered.
Workshop reports are available here. : https://desertif-actions.org/en/find-the-workshop-reports-from-the-desertifactions-preparatory-workshops/
A series of thematic webinars
As part of the preparations for the Summit, a series of four webinars was organised to fuel multi-stakeholder dialogue and jointly develop relevant advocacy messages. These discussions identified concrete solutions, particularly around:
- The role of local authorities in regional drought management;
- The role of pastoralism, with a focus on mobility as a driver of resilience;
- The transformation of agricultural and livestock systems in the face of climate constraints;
- Water management at the regional level.
Webinar replays and transcripts are available here. : https://desertif-actions.org/en/four-webinars-to-strengthen-the-resilience-of-regions-facing-droughts/
An international press cartoon competition
The fourth press cartoon competition was a resounding success, with 272 cartoonists from 53 countries taking part! This competition, which highlights the theme of pastoral mobility, “Pastoralism, mobility at the heart of balance”, powerfully illustrates the challenges of pastoralism in arid areas and demonstrates how much this subject unites and inspires.
The selected works will be exhibited during the Summit in Djerba, with the awards ceremony scheduled for 27 March 2026.
The 30 selected works can be viewed here. : https://desertif-actions.org/en/pastoralism-in-bubbles-and-feathers-the-huge-success-of-the-desertifactions-2026-competition/
