The African Union Commission Semi-arid Food Grain Research and Development (SAFGRAD) has organized, in collaboration with the host country Egypt, United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Arabe Fund for Technical to African Countries (AFTAAC), The African Union Development Agency – Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD) and The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) a preparatory meeting for the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17).

The meeting, which was held 2-4 June 2026, serves in preparation for the 17th session of the Conference and the meetings of its subsidiary bodies, scheduled to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in August 2026.The meeting is exceptional importance and pivotal value for the African continent, this session comes at a time when desertification, drought, and land degradation are escalating due to climate change, posing a direct threat to food security, peace, and stability in Africa, which is the region most affected by these phenomena globally.

The meeting also coincides with a crucial stage of deliberations and reviews concerning the draft drought protocol. The African Union Commission, through sponsoring this three-day meeting, seeks to enable National Focal Points (NFPs) and stakeholders within the African Group of Negotiators (AGNs) to review the agenda of the UN conference and familiarize themselves with the issues under discussion. This includes identifying the continent's priorities and concerns to influence final decisions, developing strategies for building strong alliances with negotiators from other regions, and strengthening the link between science and policy by engaging science and technical correspondents to bolster the scientific basis of the negotiations.

The meeting aims to produce a set of key outcomes that will benefit African environmental action. These include agreeing on a common agenda and unified negotiating positions for the Ulaanbaatar conference, thoroughly reviewing the drought protocol, and agreeing on the formation of negotiating teams. A diverse range of stakeholders are involved in shaping this vision, including the African Group of Negotiators, African regional institutions, regional economic communities, UN agencies, civil society organizations, international non-governmental organizations, and environmental journalists. This continental movement comes with the direct support and coordination of key partners, led by the African Union Commission and Egypt as the host country and the Chair of the African Group.

In his opening remarks, the Chair of AGN thanked the AUC and the host country for organizing this important event which will facilitate the AGNs for having an African common position that will be raised in COP 17.

In his address, his excellency Mr. Ambassador Mohanad Saleh Laagouzy Assistant of the Secretary General of the League of Arab States and Director General of the Arab Fund for Technical Assistance to the African Countries (AFTAAC) conveyed the greetings of Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, to the attendees, emphasizing the League's commitment, through the Arab Fund for Technical Assistance to African Countries, to supporting Arab-African cooperation and strengthening joint action to address the environmental and developmental challenges facing the continent, He stressed the importance of the ongoing partnership between his organization and the AU-SAFGRAD in the areas of capacity building and the exchange of technical expertise.

On behalf of the UNCCD secretariat Mme Lamizana Birgue opened expressed the sincere gratitude to the organizers, She emphasized that Africa should strengthen its capacity to influence the global agenda on the regional priorities,  She pointed out that Africa stand on the front line of land degradation and drought, Yet, it is also a continent of solutions, naming the Great Green Wall, and national land restoration programs as these programs demonstrate that millions of hectares can be restored and that communities can regain hope, livelihood, and prosperity.

In his speech Dr. Ahmed Elmekass AU-SAFGRAD Coordinator, convey the warm greetings from H.E. Mr. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, blue economy and sustainable Environment of the African Union Commission, he also extend the sincere gratitude of the African Union Commission to the government and people of the Arab Republic of Egypt for hosting this preparatory meeting for UNCCD COP 17,  He also highlighted the role of AUC in supporting Land Degradation, Desertification and Climate change through number of resolutions and decisions made by the Heads of State and Government among which CAADP, the Kampala Declaration, the Great Green Wall Initiative and Agenda 2063. He also pointed out that this meeting provides an important platform for African stakeholders to review the COP17 agenda, identify Africa’s priorities, and strengthen common negotiation positions. It also promotes engagement between negotiators and members of the Committee on Science and Technology, whose role is essential in generating science-based solutions for sustainable land management across Africa.

In her statement, Dr. Ghada Hegazy, representative of the minister of agriculture and land reclamation of Egypt conveyed the greetings of the Minister to the participants and emphasized the Egyptian state's commitment to supporting joint African action and strengthening coordination among the member state to address the challenges of desertification, drought, and land degradation. pointed out that land, water, and food security issues have become among the most prominent challenges facing the African continent in light of accelerating climate change, stressing that combating desertification is not only an environmental issue, but also a developmental and economic priority directly linked to achieving stability and improving the livelihoods of local communities.

For further information:

Mamadou Koutou - Senior Research and Programe Officer, African Union’s Semi- Arid Food Grains Research and Development office (African Union-SAFGRAD), Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development, (DARBE) African Union Commission Email: koutoum@africanunion.org

For media inquiries:

Molalet Tsedeke, Media Centre Coordinator, Information Communication Directorate (ICD) Tel. +251-115182014; WhatsApp+251-911-630631; Email: ; molalett@africaunion.org