The Desertification Working Group (DWG) aims to promote dialogue and consultation between the various stakeholders to facilitate the emergence of joint initiatives designed to protect the land and propose sustainable solutions to the degradation of natural and economic resources in arid zones, particularly in Africa.
In 2024, the GTD pursued its actions based on three specific objectives:
- To influence decision-making at national and international level.
- To support the actions and build the capacities of its members.
- To raise public awareness.
Participation in COP16 of the UNCCD
This year was marked by preparations for and participation in the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which took place from December 02 to 13, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ahead of COP16, the GTD organized a COP16 preparatory workshop to enable its members and other French CSOs involved in issues relating to the fight against desertification in drylands to discuss and prepare collective recommendations for COP16. The focus was on drought, and more specifically on the management of crises caused by this climatic phenomenon, before (prevention), during and after (resilience) the crisis. Elements of background and field experience were shared and discussed in order to inform civil society’s positions on the issue of drought management and the relevance of agroecological approaches to foster the resilience of ecosystems, including populations, to the impacts of droughts.
During COP16, the GTD pursued its advocacy actions, strengthened its partnerships and forged new links with other development networks and players. As part of its efforts to mobilize local and regional authorities within the UNCCD, the GTD encouraged the participation of a representative of the Metropole of Montpellier and a representative of the Nouakchott region (Mauritania). Furthermore, in partnership with one of its members, the DANAYA association, the GTD organized a side event on the “role of local authorities in sustainable land management and the resilience of populations in the face of drought”.
COP16 also provided an opportunity to pursue and strengthen cooperation with French public authorities on issues relating to combating desertification (CCD) and sustainable land management (SLM).
The Great Green Wall Initiative
Within the framework of the Great Green Wall (GGW) initiative, the GTD has followed events linked to the initiative to keep abreast of its latest advances, support the actions of civil society actors carried out within this framework, and work with the platforms of the Sahel Desertification Network (ReSaD) to put forward arguments for the effective involvement of Sahelian CSOs in the implementation and achievement of GGW objectives.
Sahelian civil society actors continue to structure their advocacy actions through the establishment of informal working groups, such as the GMV Non-State Actors Working Group, active since early 2024, and in which the GTD participates.
Supporting the resilience of populations and territories to droughts
An in-depth study on “Drought and Agroecology”, based on research and bibliographic synthesis work exploring scientific literature, reports from international organizations and the Desertification Convention, was launched in 2024.
This study is divided into 3 main parts, providing information on:
- Defining the phenomenon of drought
- Drought management
- The role of agro-ecological practices in drought management
A webinar inviting all GTD members was held to present the initial results of the study. A time for exchange allowed participants to react and give their points of view by contributing elements from the field and specific to their area of expertise.
- A summary version of the study will be published and widely distributed in 2025.
Meetings with the public
To raise awareness of the issues surrounding the fight against desertification and sustainable land management among the public, the GTD, in conjunction with CARI, is carrying out activities on a local scale, participating in and contributing to several local events:
- Setting up a stand on safeguarding oases at the Festiv’EAU (organized by the association La Source de Roussières on March 23, 2024, in Viols-en-Laval)
- Hosting a round table on local food and setting up a stand to discover products from the Maghreb and West Africa trade at the Festiv’ALIM (organized by the association La Source de Roussières on September 27 and 28, 2024 in Viols-en-Laval)
- Debate evening organized in partnership with the Franco-Malian association Tazunt, as part of the 34th edition of the Quinzaine des Solidarités Internationales (International Solidarity Fortnight) on the population’s situation in Northern Mali, with testimonials from inhabitants of the Kidal and Timbuktu regions (November 20, 2024).
A new GTD member
In 2024, the GTD welcomed the Experts Solidaires association to its membership. This network of experts, created in 2011 and active since 2013, aims to give partners in the South access to expertise provided on a voluntary basis, in the fields of water and sanitation, food security, housing and urban planning, the environment and energy.
