(4th Meeting) Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention - UNCCD COP17

Distinguished delegates, please take your seats.

Distinguished delegates, take your seats. We will begin in one minute.

I declare open the fourth session of the Committee on the Review of the Implementation of the Convention.

We will continue with the consideration of sub-theme B of the Thank you, Mr. President. I declare open the debate on agenda item four, entitled Report of the World Mechanism on CSD, C3 and facilitation of the participation of the private sector to hear statements from participants. Thank you, Mr. President. I give the floor to the representative of Morocco, please.

Señora Presidenta, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished delegates, it is an honour for me to speak on behalf of the African Group and to thank the secretariat of the Convention, as well as all the technical and financial partners, for their support to African.

Countries in the fight against land degradation and drought.

Sorry, just to interrupt you, we do not have translation currently, so I will ask you to stop for a minute so we can solve the issue and I will ask you to start again. Very sorry. Okay, apparently the translation is back on. I'm very sorry, Morocco, but can you please start your statement on behalf of the African group again?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, it's an honor for me to speak on behalf of the African group and to express my thanks to the Secretariat of the Convention as well as all technical and financial partners for the support of African countries in the fight against land degradation and drought. The issue of financing remains a key issue for the effective implementation of the Convention. African countries on several occasions have underscored the need to significantly increase funding, both regionally as well as nationally. This mobilization is key to realize transformative projects and to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030. The African Group of Negotiators believes that current financing which has been mobilized remains insufficient given the extent of the issues. According to an assessment recently carried out by the global mechanism, only about 25% of the funding necessary to achieve goals have been mobilized. Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, The 17th session of the Conference of the Parties is being held at a key point in time. The last reporting strategic framework highlights the fact that land degradation is progressing at a concerning rate with over 100 million hectares of healthy land which is lost every year between 2015 and 2019. Achieving land degradation neutrality by 2030 requires the restoration of about 1.5 billion degraded land. Drought is increasing in intensity and is more widespread with significant consequences in economic, social and environmental terms. This trend highlights the urgency of stepping up collective action. COP17 must therefore be a true driver to reflect our commitments into specific actions supported by necessary financial means. Against that backdrop, the African Group would like to raise a fundamental question. Does our convention truly have a financial mechanism to live up to the challenges that we face? From our standpoint, the financial architecture at the present time remains insufficiently adapted to the extent of needs. Firstly, the global mechanism is a mechanism to mobilize resources mainly based on voluntary contributions, the amount of which and the timelines are often unpredictable, which makes it difficult for long-term planning. Secondly, the land degradation neutrality fund which is aimed at the private sector primarily and focused on loan mechanisms has in fact made headway but its potential has not been able to meet the extent of needs. Thirdly, the globalization of interventions for the mechanism has not enabled the land restoration programme to benefit from funding in line with needs. It is therefore necessary to further bolster taking into account land degradation in these financing mechanisms. Madam Chair, distinguished delegates, Faced with this finding, the EFAN Group would like to stress the need to significantly strengthen the mobilization of financial resources for land restoration and the fight against drought. In that respect, we would call to draft and implement a genuine strategy for the mobilization of resources together with clear-cut financial objectives with a precise timeline to set up mechanisms to combat drought so as to have a better adapted financial mechanism to the needs of States Parties strengthen cooperation with the Global Environmental Fund so as to increase the funds earmarked to land restoration and ensure the formal involvement of focal points of the UNCCD in relevant governance processes, strengthen and formalize collaboration with the Green Fund for the Climate so as to better mobilize climate resources in order to restore land and to fight against drought. bolster the involvement of the private sector and create the necessary conditions to promote investment on a large scale in land restoration, resilience and the fight against desertification. The African Group remains convinced that the fight against land degradation, desertification and drought is an investment for a collective future. Therefore, we call upon for strengthened, predictable, lasting financing to meet needs that we face. COP17 must make it possible to move on to a next stage and to translate political commitments into specific actions accompanied by the necessary financial resources. The African Group reaffirms its full willingness to constructively contribute to this process and together with all parties and partners work towards obtaining the goals of the Convention. I thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of Morocco, and sorry again for the technical difficulties. I will now give the floor to the representative of the European Union. European Union, you have the floor.

Chair, distinguished delegates and representatives, I'm speaking on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The European Union and its member states thank the Global Mechanism for preparing the report on the progress made in the mobilization of resources for the implementation of the Convention and Sustainable Development Goal 15.3 matters, as well as the facilitation of the involvement of the private sector. We find this document very useful. We welcome the efforts of the Global Mechanism to work on innovative approaches with various projects successfully delivering a proof of concept or approach while proving attractive to the private sector. We encourage the Global Mechanism to continue such activities. We also highlight and support the need to mobilize resources from all sources, including public and private flows. In particular for private finance, more needs to be done and enhance working with multilateral development banks and international financial institutions. We underline the need to mobilize financing from all sources, public and private, domestic and international, including through innovative financing tools in line with the UNCCD financial needs assessment. To this end, we encourage the global mechanism to identify financing opportunities to support affected parties to develop robust, comprehensive resource mobilization strategies, including the repurposing of the environmentally harmful subsidies contributing to desertification, land degradation and drought. The integration of land degradation neutrality and drought resilience objectives into national and subnational fiscal frameworks and development plans. The scaling of performance-based instruments such as sustainability linked bonds and loans, the expansion of blended finance to de-risk private investment, and the recognition of land and drought resilience as a strategic asset class by development finance institutions building on the multilateral development banks common nature of finance taxonomy. Chair, distinguished delegates and representatives, thank you for your attention.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of the European Union. I now give the floor to the representative of Argentina. Argentina, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Good evening to everyone.

Good morning.

First, Republic of Argentina. is in favor of strengthening access to financing for middle-income countries through streamlining prerequisites for access and strengthening capacities for preparation of projects. Argentina therefore highlights the importance that the program approach preserves national ownership, the so-called country ownership. as providing effective leadership from the country in identifying priorities, decision making and planning resources so that initiatives can respond to policies, needs and national circumstances and be coordinated by national, the relevant national institutions. Republic of Argentina would like to ask two questions. First of all, we need more clarity with respect to resources and financing modalities provided to expand the programme, in particular for countries whose star assistance for land degradation is limited. In the case of Argentina, the assignment for the four years of the JEF is up to $1.05 million. Therefore, we'd like clarity as to when it comes to support in reaching LDN targets and their integration within national planning, will it be financed? through national star allocations, global resources or regional resources or other resource outside the star. The second question is related to the fact that Argentina is one of the 18 members of the LGNTSP 2.0 beyond a program for establishing LDN targets. version 2.0 Argentina requests greater clarity with respect to resources and financing modalities provided for to ensure continuity and implementation of processes initiated in the 18 participating countries. So I'd be very grateful if you can answer those questions and thank you. And I thank you.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of Argentina. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Syrian Arab Republic. You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, Madam Chair. We are among the vulnerable countries that were subject to wars that lasted for more than one decade, which had an impact on the people's capacity to be resilient. This has also reduced our national capacity to deal with climate challenges. Syria reiterates that the period of recovery and reconstruction we are going through nowadays requires an exceptional international commitment In this context, we reiterate the statement of the priorities of recovery launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March in cooperation with UN agencies. This is a national reference to organize our partnership with the international community and to determine the sectors that are most in need of assistance. After adopting our land degradation program and linking it to SDGs, we look forward to seeing Syria among the priority countries that benefit from support from UNCCD, global mechanisms, GEF, and others, especially as we enter the second phase of LDN TSP2 and also at the level of national programs in with support provided to other countries going through similar conditions of recovery and reconstruction. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you very much to the distinguished representative of the Syrian Arab Republic. And I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil. Brazil, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Before my reflections on resource mobilization and financing, I just want to indicate as a general matter that we would welcome more clarity on the format of the plenary sessions of CREEC. For instance, yesterday session on resource mobilization, there was a panel which we believe that would be much more suitable for discussion in a side event than a CREEC plenary. I think we need further reflection on how we are dealing with those plenaries since we anticipate very lengthy discussions and negotiation and we will need more time in the contact group. It deserves some merits to understand how we could move forward on that. Now, going back to my statement, firstly, Brazil would like to fully support the intervention made by the distinguished colleague of Morocco in the sense that we think there are many commonalities with our position and theirs. Well, Brazil considers Brazil's mobilization to be central to the effective implementation of the convention. The scale of the challenge requires a level of ambition commensurate with the financial needs identified by the conventions on assessment. The financial needs assessments estimate that approximately 355 billion per year will be required between 2015 and 2030, while projected investments amount to only 77 billion annually, resulting in a financial gap of 278 billion per year. Current investments would therefore need to increase by approximately three and a half times to close this gap. Against this backdrop, Brazil is deeply concerned by the scale of resources currently available through the Global Environmental Facility, the financial mechanism of the Convention. The approximately 440 allocated to the land degradation focal area for the entire JEF9 cycle represent less than 0.2% of the financial gap identified for a single year. These stark contrasts underscore the need for substantial increase in public international finance for the implementation of the convention. Brazil therefore stresses the importance of recalling the commitments of developed country parties under Article 6 and 20 of the convention to mobilize substantial, adequate, timely, and predictable financial resources, including grants and concessional financing. We also emphasize that private and philanthropic finance should complement and not substitute for public international finance and commitments under the convention. Private finance cannot be expected to mobilize the necessary scale in the absence of adequate public finance. Private investors are guided by risk return considerations and will generally be reluctant to invest where risks are high, returns are uncertain, or investments aren't long. These conditions are particularly common in actions to combat desertification and land degradation and to mitigate the fate of drought. Public finance is therefore essential to reduce risks, establish enabling legal and regulatory frameworks, prepare viable projects, and create conditions for private capital to be mobilized at scale. Public finance is therefore essential not only as a source of funding in its own right, but also to create the conditions that make private investment possible, including for guarantees, concession of finance, technical assistance, project preparation, risk sharing instruments, and the establishment of appropriate legal regulatory institutional frameworks. In this regard, public finance should not be understood merely as one additional source of capital, but as a fundamental enabler and catalyst for private investment. Without adequate public resources, many projects addressing desertification, land degradation, and drought, we remain unable to reach financial closer. and the private sector will neither sufficient risk mitigation or the necessary enabling environment to invest at the required scale. This is precisely why private and philanthropic finance should complement and not substitute for the public international finance commitments established under the convention. The convention itself requires developed country parties to mobilize substantial financial resources, including grants and concessional loans, while accounting for mobilization of private sector resources as a complementary avenue. Brazil further supports the strengthening of the global mechanism as an effective platform to facilitate access to finance, project preparation, and resource mobilization, particularly for developing countries. Against this background, Brazil considers the current draft decision for the resource mobilization extremely insufficient and thus unacceptable. Its basis is fundamentally insufficient to respond to the scale of financing challenge identified by the Convention itself. The draft does not adequately reflect the magnitude of the financial gap, does not provide sufficient, more ambitious response in terms of public international finance and does not adequately recall the commitments of developing country parties under the convention. It also risks placing undue emphasis on private and philanthropy finance without ensuring that such resources are additional to and do not substitute for public international finance. In Brazil's view, a decision that fails to address these fundamental elements would not provide adequate basis for effective implementation of the convention, particularly in developing country parties. Finally, Brazil calls for substantial, more ambitious approach to resource mobilization, grounded in the convention, its legal establishment commitments, the financial needs identified by its own assessments, and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. The decision must provide a credible response to the scale of the challenge and ensure that developing country parties have access to adequate additional predictable and sustainable means of implementation. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, distinguished delegates from Brazil. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of China. China, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. With regard to the mobilization of resources and SDG 15.3, China would like to recommend that regional technical centers be given an active role to assist developing countries in identifying data gaps, conducting LDN assessments, and developing implementable land restoration projects. We also recommend incorporating spatially explicit LDN targets, integrated land use planning, and dynamic decision support tools into the entire project preparation process. Furthermore, we recommend that we should use high-resolution remote sensing and long-term time series data to enhance the reliability of project baselines, restoration potential, and outcome verification. with the aim of improving the bankability of projects and the transparency of fund utilization. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of China. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Montenegro. Montenegro, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, Montenegro would like to thank the Global Mechanism for the report and for its continued efforts to strengthen resource mobilization for the implementation of the Convention. We would like to highlight one practical aspect that, in our view, deserves further attention: the link between national priorities and available financing. Countries may have clear priorities, strategies in place, but this does not necessarily mean that they are able to access the financial resources needed for their implementation. The process of identifying the right financing opportunity, approaching the relevant fund or implementing agency, and developing a project proposal that meets specific financing requirements can be challenging. We therefore see value in strengthening the practical links between countries, financing mechanisms and implementing agencies. This could help countries better match their priorities with available financing windows and importantly move from initial project concept to a proposal that has a realistic chance of being financed. We would also like to emphasize this point in relation to drought resilience. Developing national drought plans is an important step, but the real challenge is ensuring the resources required for their implementation. We encourage further efforts to mobilize additional resources, connect countries with relevant financing mechanisms and implementing partners so that drought plans can be translated into concrete investment projects, including in areas such as preparedness, early warning, resilience and risk reduction. In this context, Montenegro sees the continued development of country and multi-country project pipelines as particularly important. Stronger engagement between countries, the global mechanisms, financial institutions and implementing agencies can help bridge the gap between national planning and actual investment on the ground. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of Montenegro. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Burundi. Burundi, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Burundi supports the statement made by Morocco on behalf of the African group. For Burundi, the main challenge is not just lack of available resources, but also the capacity to transform needs into bankable projects, mobilize more national resources, access international finance mechanisms, attract private investment, develop public private partnerships, coordinate financing with biodiversity and climate financing, ensure follow up of resources to be up and ensure proper spending. The COP should therefore take substantive decisions to mobilize significant additional investment to achieve the LDN targets by 2030 for the developing countries and establish clear accessible financing mechanism that mobilization will depend on access to international financing mechanisms with particular attention to blended financing for productive restoration of lands, restoration of forests and river basins as well as innovative water financing mechanisms. The COP should also address on a mobility financial plan seeking and also focus on specific projects. Thank you.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of Burundi. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Yemen. Yemen, you have the floor.

Good morning, everyone. I would like to thank you, Madam Chair, and also to thank Mongolia, the government and its people for the warm hospitality and excellent organization. And this is an indication of the level of success that will be achieved following this conference. Regarding Yemen, I convey to you the greetings of Yemeni people, Yemeni government, and I would like to give you an overview of the challenges we face, major challenges due to desertification, land degradation, climate change and scarcity of water resources and we are facing real challenges in terms of food security. Yemen has been unable to face this challenge because of the conflict in Yemen and because also of the climate change challenges and the vulnerability of infrastructure, as well as the weak preventative mechanisms to face the challenges that are leading to the scarcity of water, land degradation, as well as typhoons and storms that are hitting our coastal cities and having an impact on our fisheries. We are receiving some funding through private sector, or GEF, or the Saudi program, or the World Bank, or the German government, or the Dutch government. We are working also with international organizations such as the FAO, WFAP, and others. But we are facing a problem to receive funding from climate funds because of unaccessible funding channels. Many projects in the field of combating desertification are through climate funds. That's why we call upon you to support Yemen to face all these challenges pertaining to desertification, land degradation and drought. Thank you. as well as depletion of water resources.

I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Equatorial Guinea. Equatorial Guinea, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Equatorial Guinea, on behalf of the group to combatting desertification and drought in Africa, We support fully the statement made by Morocco on behalf of the African group. Madam Chair, delegates, our sub-region reaffirms its commitment to the CCD. We have a sub-regional program to fight desertification. drought and land degradation in Central Africa. That action program is aligned with the 10-year strategies for countries in our sub-region. We have national programs and also we have set our LDN targets. We've made progress also when it comes to various themes. in our development policies. Therefore, mobilisation of financial resources is crucial if we are to properly execute those activities on the ground. Therefore, we urge the financial mechanisms, such as the Green Fund for the Climate, the GEF, etc., to help countries in terms of access to information regarding the convening and the priorities that they have for effective access to financing so as to reduce the complexity and bureaucracy that exists in various finance access mechanisms that we countries have that have suffered land degradation and drought have to work with. We also highlight the Business for Life initiative, B4L, to expand its coverage in terms of its interventions around the world. That initiative, for example, could be important at the Central Africa sub-regional level in order to launch attainment of the LDN targets and also help to create green jobs for youth and for women. We also urge the fund, the resilience fund and other mechanisms to establish early warning systems at country level. I thank you.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of Equatorial Guinea. I will now give the floor to UNDP, which will be speaking from the microphone 266.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's a pleasure for UNDP to take the floor to give an update on progress made in the mobilization of resources for the implementation of the convention. and specifically an update on our ongoing collaboration with the UNCCD Global Mechanism. Through this collaboration, we have contributed to strengthening the integration of UNCCD priorities such as LDN, gender and inclusion, and innovative finance for land degradation neutrality into programming for ecosystem restoration and sustainable land management and rangelands, small island developing states, and conflict affected countries. Through targeted studies and technical assessments, the collaboration is supporting country projects in Angola, Cambodia, Mali, Mongolia, Peru, Sierra Leone, Uzbekistan, among others. And through regional programming on transboundary river basin management in Southern Africa, as well as programs in small island developing states, including to support deployment of micro grants for civil society organizations to strengthen the integration of gender, innovative finance, in the implementation of the UNCCD and other multilateral environmental agreements across diverse ecosystems and landscapes. As part of our support to countries and communities to implement the convention, UNDP connects LDN targets to broader development work at the country level, including countries' integrated national financing frameworks to strengthen domestic resource mobilization, including through public budgets, and we continue to work with governments to strengthen the enabling environment for unlocking domestic private finance, including through de-risking mechanisms and to transform finance to deliver on the goals of SDG 15.3. We look forward to continue our collaboration with the UNCCD Global Mechanism, the GEF, as the financial mechanism for the convention and governments and communities and other partners across the world to address land degradation, desertification and drought. Thank you.

Thank you very much to the representative of UNDP. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Haiti. Haiti, you have the floor.

Madam Chair, thanks to technical support from the, actually we've been able to contribute and implementing commitments under the CCD and international assistance that has helped our efforts to combat desertification. Land degradation hampers sustainable development and undermines food security provision of services by agro systems and living conditions of populations it's a problem that's both local regional and global that affects both arid areas as well as others especially in Haiti that degradation reduces access to water many much the population still don't have safe access to potable water and many have no insufficient sanitation vegetal cover is low. Now, the lack of updated data means that we can't exactly estimate the exact figure. In Haiti, droughts have reached a historic level, affecting millions of people, 62% of the whole population. According to the latest data from the food security clarification data, more than half of Haitians face food heightened food insecurity among them one million people are in situation of an urgent situation immediately prior to famine this crisis has led to an explosion of malnutrition particularly among women and children in Haiti the crisis of IDPs has reached a historic threshold due to the escalation of violence by armed gangs with the fighting over the state structures. Thank you.

I thank you, distinguished delegates of Haiti. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. You have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is grateful for the contributions made to the international funding mechanisms to such as Jeff and the GCF, which enable productive and critical interventions in small island developed states such as ours. St. Vincent and the Grenadines is highly vulnerable to multiple hazards, including dry periods, hurricanes, and volcanic activity. International funding therefore plays a critical role in strengthening our resilience and advancing sustainable development. Such support not only enables the restoration of degraded lands and contributes to our efforts to achieve land degradation neutrality targets, but more importantly, it generates tangible socioeconomic benefits for our people. These investments support sustainable livelihoods, strengthen rural communities, and enhance their capacity to withstand and recover from multiple impacts of climate-related and other environmental hazards. Support to regional mechanisms, such as the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management, is also critical. These mechanisms strengthen the capacity of Caribbean small island developing states to meet their obligations under the UNCCD, while allowing us to address our shared environmental and developmental challenges collectively. However, the reduction in available funding forces us to think harder, realign our priorities, and make difficult choices about where limited resources can have the greatest impact. For countries such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines, every dollar invested in sustainable land management is an investment not only in our environment, but also in our people, our food systems, our rural economies, and the resilience of future generations. We therefore urge the international partners to recognize the unique vulnerabilities of small island developing states and to ensure that financing mechanisms remain accessible, predictable, and responsive to our particular circumstances. We must ensure that the reduction in available resources do not translate into reductions in our ambition, rather, they must encourage us to strengthen partnerships, improve coordination, leverage every available resource to achieve sustainable land management and land degradation neutrality. Thank you.

Thank you very much distinguished representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. The Dominican Republic would like to thank the Global Mechanism for the work and efforts undertaken during this biennium to strengthen resource mobilization and facilitate access to financial mechanism for the implementation of the Convention. As we have highlighted in the previous sessions, Adequate and predictable means of implementations are essential to translating national commitments into concrete actions. In this regard, We consider it important to continue promoting the mobilization of financial resources from diverse sources, including contributions from parties, voluntary contributions, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, as well as a greater engagement of the private sector and financial institutions. We also recognize the value of the land degradation neutrality target setting program. The Dominican Republic participated in the first phase of this process and remains strongly interested in updating its voluntarily national land degradation neutrality targets in accordance with our national priorities and circumstances. We understand that we are currently on the waiting list to participate in the next phase of the program. And on this regard, we will appreciate any information or updates that the global mechanism may wish to share on the status of the process, as well as if possible on the next steps or expected timelines for countries in the waiting list for inclusion. Thank you.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste, you have the floor.

Madam Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the delegation of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of this least developed countries and the small island developing states we express our profound appreciation to the government of Mongolia for hosting this co for fragile Montana Island Nations traditional environmental financial modalities often lack the structural flexibility required to address cascading eliminate climate vulnerabilities. In our geography, a single El Nino induced meteorological drought can severely reverse multi-year land restoration gains within a matter of weeks. The current reliance on fragmented short-term project cycles creates operational discontinuities that compromise the long sustainability of our land degradation neutrality targets. Timor-Leste urges to prioritize the operationalization of innovative risk mitigating financial instruments. We advocate for the expansion of blended finance framework such as the LDN fund and the development of parametric weather indexed insurance mechanism that facilitate proactive anticipatory action prior to the onset of severe ecological shocks. In this context, the government of Timor-Leste enthusiastically welcomes future bilateral, multilateral partnership technical exchange and international accessing to the UNCCD Global Mechanism Fund and GEF's programs deployments aims at comprehensively addressing land degradation, drought and desertification within Asia Pacific and Timor-Leste in particular. We stand fully prepared to co-design and scale target driven initiative that align global capital with local impact. Furthermore, we call for the swift implementation of the GEF's mandate during direct financial allocation to local communities. Streamlining these resources by bypassing unnecessary administrative bottlenecks is essential to empower local governance structures. In Timor-Leste, our environmental governance is anchored in Tara Bandu, a highly effective customary legal framework that ensures community enforced natural resource management. By integrating global financial mechanism within indigenous local community institutional legitimacy and guaranteeing predictable, continuous capital pipelines, we can transform land degradation neutrality from a policy aspiration into a resilient reality on the ground. I thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of Timor-Leste. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. On behalf of the government of Zimbabwe, I wish to highlight that the convention remains relevant in addressing policy gaps, integrated land use planning, and project development around sound land, forestry, and drought management. Zimbabwe humbly submits that it is critically important to support parties in undertaking appropriate technology needs assessment for the implementation of the national drought plans. sustainable land management frameworks, and other UNCCD related strategies in order to strengthen the transfer and acquisition of technology for the implementation of the convention, particularly in developing countries. Financial resources available for the implementation of the convention remain inadequate and increasingly misaligned with the core objective of reducing desertification, land degradation, and drought challenges parties face. It is my appeal for COP17 to consider decisions which promote increased technical and financial support for convention implementation so as to keep pace with the rapidly growing investment requirements resulting in a persistent and widening financing gap from the national and global support to land restoration. Based on the seriousness of the challenges parties are experiencing, The government of Zimbabwe equally supports the establishment of a dedicated and predictable funding windows for land and drought mechanism to support integrated land restoration, drought resilience, sustainable land management and climate resilient livelihoods with simplified access and predominantly grant-based finance. I submit, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, distinguished delegates of Zimbabwe. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Djibouti. Djibouti, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. First and foremost, we fully align with the statement made by the African group and would like to thank the global mechanism for its detailed and insightful report on mobilization of resources. Madam Chair, the report highlights a diagnosis that we share unreservedly. The shortcoming in financing for LDN in the face of drought is not specific, it is structural. The needs run into millions of dollars per year by 2030 when general investment basically covers one fifth. The cost of inaction means that we are also facing a deficit of millions of dollars every year. And drought is caused, damage is caused by drought, but each dollar invested in restoration is important. What we need is profitability of investment and ambition. These are missing. One hundred and twenty five countries are invested in restoring millions of hectares and we need collective funding to do this and this must retain the attention of this committee. We have over six hundred thousand hectares which are in need of funding. and this of course entails the future of our populations. On this basis, may I develop three priorities. Firstly, the nature of financing. My delegation supports the transformative approach set out in the recommendation to make the policy more favorable to land, to gradually reorient mechanisms, develop blended funding and consider land degradation as a real category which should be part of a strategic framework. And may I add my voice to dry land countries, such as is the case for many developing countries. None of the innovation can produce the effects or the resources required because these are not accessible. We call for consensus-based financing and simplified procedures because we need to take into account the weak ability of our countries. Drought in the Horn of Africa is not an abstract threat. It looms over the lives of our communities and year after year endangers their existence. Djibouti supports the initiatives to transform the initiatives into real investment plans. We look forward to the effective implementation of the Global Partnership. of Riyadh for resilience in the face of drought as well as the investment mechanisms supporting it. Lastly, we very much hope that these instruments will become operational and be truly open to dry vulnerable countries, arid countries. We also call for upon a number of initiatives to happen which can help our farmers to deal with climate change. the drafting of projects at this International Year of Pastoralists and Rangelands, my delegation particularly welcomes new flagship programs on rangelands. These are not marginal lands. Our pastoral communities depend on them. Djibouti encourages the Great Green Wall and welcomes the quality of the report so that efforts are fully taken. in terms of investment flows. And we hope to be able to mobilize partnership to draw up projects so as to transform our national priorities in terms of restoration into solid projects which are ready to be funded by the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund. Madam Chair, the transformation of financing that this report sets out is necessary. and has already begun. It means that we need ongoing political will, attention from all bodies, such as those in arid and least developed countries are exposed to. On that basis, Djibouti supports the recommendations put forward in this document. I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished representative of Djibouti. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Iraq. Iraq, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair, ladies and gentlemen. The Republic of Iraq reaffirms its full commitment under the UNCCD, and we affirm that shifting from reactiveness to proactive and sustainable investment is the sole choice before us today. Land deterioration does not represent a transient phenomenon. It is a threat to our sustainability and stability. This is why we have to provide fair and equitable financing and transfer technology. We call for the following. First, facilitate the measures and bureaucratic aspects of access to financing. Second, combat desertification with greater and more sustainable funding. And thirdly, to prioritize transboundary projects to combat sandstorms. Fourthly, ensure concessional lending and funding and ensure that there are clear indicators in measuring the land restoration efforts. And we wish for positive outcomes out of this COP in such a way as to serve all of our agenda items. Thank you.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of Iraq. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Fiji. Fiji, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Fiji stands on the front line of climate emergency. For us, land degradation, coastal erosion and saltwater intrusions are not abstract metrics. They create daily disruptions to our biodiversity, food security and rural livelihoods. Achieving land degradation neutrality under SDG 15.3 is central to our survival.

While we acknowledge the.

Documented global progress in resource mobilization, Fiji highlights with deep concern the persistent barriers that we encounter. The compounding shocks of recent years have left vulnerable economies facing severe physical constraints and high debt burdens. This drastically limits our capacity to finance sustainable land management out of national budget. Fiji remains firmly committed to restoring our land, but we cannot walk this path alone. We humbly request equitable, unhindered and rapid financial flows to turn our national LDN targets into realities on the ground. I thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of Fiji. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guatemala. Guatemala, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Before beginning, Guatemala would like to extend its sincere thanks to the government and people of Mongolia for their warm hospitality and for the efforts made in organizing the Conference of the Parties. Guatemala would like to stress the importance of acknowledging the specific feature and vulnerability of countries and regions which are highly exposed to climate change and recurring drought. For Guatemala, this vulnerability is particularly obvious in the southern corridor in South America, where climate phenomena such as El Nino can intensify prolonged periods of drought, irregular patterns of rainfall and their impact on water resources and agricultural production as well as food security. These recurring events show that drought cannot be addressed simply as an emergency once its impacts have materialised. That is why we believe that strengthening a proactive approach based on risk management, including early warning systems, climate monitoring, preparation, anticipation and climate resilience to water resources are necessary. Guatemala fosters the convention through various governance mechanisms and inter-institutional mechanisms and multi-sectoral initiatives which make it possible to focus on scientific knowledge and local communities, risk management and land planning. I would highlight the inter-institutional technical expert for the management of land and the national board on restoration of forests, which coordinates actions and strengthens resilience to drought. At the same time, international efforts should recognise the various national circumstances and vulnerability levels and capacities of developing countries in particular, which are highly exposed to these phenomena, and should go hand in hand with specific measures and predictable financing, strengthening technological capacity, and access to climate information, which is relevant. Therefore, we support the strengthening of the implementation of the framework so as to bolster resilience to drought, ensuring at the same time that countries must adapt to their own realities and take measures. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of Guatemala. and now I will invite the distinguished representative of the Philippines to take the floor Philippine you have the floor.

Thank you Madam chair the Philippines welcomes the report of the global mechanism and acknowledges its continuing efforts to support resource mobilization for the implementation of the convention and the achievement of sustainable development goal target 15.3. We recognize that countries face differing circumstances and capacities in translating national priorities into viable and investment ready programs and projects. In this regard, we encourage the global mechanism within its mandate and in cooperation with relevant partners to continue providing country-driven technical support for project development, resource mobilization, and access to appropriate financing mechanisms. For the Philippines, Support for science-based sustainable land management, soil health, land restoration, proactive drought management, water resource management, and early warning systems remains important. Financing arrangements should respond to national and local priorities and consider the needs of vulnerable and land dependent communities. Particular attention should be given to ensuring that mobilized resources prioritize implementation on the ground so that interventions deliver tangible benefits directly to farmers and vulnerable communities. The Philippines also recognizes the potential contribution of the private sector in complementing public and grant-based resources. Such participation should be responsible, transparent, and consistent with national policies, priorities, and applicable environmental and social safeguards. Public and grant financing remains particularly important for interventions that deliver substantial environmental and social benefits, but may not provide immediate financial returns. We encourage continued cooperation among the global mechanism, parties, financial institutions, development partners, and other relevant stakeholders to help translate financing opportunities into practical, inclusive, transparent, and measurable actions toward land degradation neutrality and drought resilience. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of the Philippines. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Mozambique. Mozambique, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam.

Chair. Mozambique, first of all, would like to express its very profound gratitude to the Government of Mongolia for its warm hospitality and the significant efforts undertaken to organize the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties, that is to say, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and also the Global Mechanism. We would also like to sincerely thank the secretariat of the convention for the tireless work done, its commitment and its efforts in preparing for this conference and also its ongoing support to the parties in the implementation of the convention. Mozambique fully supports the position put forward by the Kingdom of Morocco speaking on behalf of the African group and wishes to highlight the fact that for our country and for Southern Africa the issue of financing is of paramount importance. A high number of our population lives in rural areas and relies directly on land and farming forests and grazed lands and other natural resources for its livelihoods. Therefore, land degradation and drought are not only environmental challenges but also pose a direct threat to the livelihoods and food security of the resilience of rural communities. Mozambique supports the fact that financing must be appropriate, predictable and accessible. And above all, it must specifically go to the local communities and the land, in particular small scale farmers, women, young people as well. Land cannot be restored without investing into the population who lives on the land and relies on it. For Mozambique, supporting rural communities means that we need to strengthen their capacities and sustainably manage land and grapple with drought as well as protect their livelihoods and build a future which would be resilient. Restoring land also means restoring livelihoods and assisting our communities on the African continent. I thank you.

Thank you very much, distinguished delegate of Mozambique. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chad. Chad, you have the.

Madam Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, on behalf of the Chadian delegation, first and foremost, I would like to express our sincerest thanks to the Mongolian government and people for their warm welcome in this beautiful city of Ulaanbaatar. I'd also like to thank the UNCCD Secretariat. I'd like to thank them for organizing this quick session. Chad finds itself at the forefront of the devastating effects as a result of climate change and we reaffirm our full commitment to combating desertification, land degradation and drought. In Chad, Land isn't simply an economic resource. Our food security depends on it, as well as survival of our communities. And in face of the regression of Chad and the advance of the desert and the recurring nature of external droughts, our country is undertaking significant efforts to attain land degradation neutrality. Against this backdrop, Chad is actively part of the targets and incorporates these into its national policies and local development programs. strengthening actions when it comes to the Great Wall Initiative for the Sahara and the Sahel, undertaking major projects which focus on the integrated water resources, the restore of ecosystems which have been degraded, and resilience in the face of drought. However, the extent of the challenges face exceed national capacities. That is why Chad would like to launch an urgent appeal to the international community for simplified and increased access to climate and biodiversity financing. These are vital to move from theoretical commitments to large scale actions on the ground. as well as the effective transfer of technology and strengthen capacities for survival. In environmental terms, we need to have reliable data collection, strengthen solidarity when it comes to risk management of drought and early warning is necessary. Madam Chair, land degradation isn't a fatality in and of itself. By restoring our land, we are restoring life, the hope and the better of our populations. Chad is fully mobilized and stands together with the international community to ensure that the sustainable land management ensures peace and prosperity in the long term. I thank you.

Thank you, distinguished delegates from Chad. I will now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Algeria. Algeria, you have the floor. Can we give the floor? Yeah, thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We would like to extend our thanks to the Global Mechanism for this valuable report put forward before the CRIC. Madam Chair, my delegation is concerned regarding the structural financial gap that was highlighted in the report. that amounts to $278 billion annually. It reminds that Africa is the continent that is in greatest need of financing. Hence, we call upon the international community to meet its need to African countries to facilitate access to funding and to increase blended financing and to work more closely with international financing institutions. Hence, we call the global mechanisms to pursue efforts to mobilize financial and sustainable means in order to extend a hand of help to the countries in need for them to draft their own plans and policies to enhance resilience and to face sandstorms in a manner that goes in line with their national priorities and their ability for resilience. We stress the importance of improving institutional capacities and financial capacities of countries in order for them to expand on bankable projects, especially for the best interest of the most vulnerable. We stress the importance of accelerating the implementation of the global plan regarding the sandstorm as it leaves direct negative impacts on all aspects of life in our part of the world. In conclusion, we reiterate our support to the global mechanism and we hope that this session would lead to practical recommendations that bridge the financial gap and improve resilience by our countries to face land degradation, drought and desertification. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of Algeria. I think we have exhausted the list of speakers under this sub-item. I see that the distinguished representative of Uganda would like to take the floor. Uganda, you have the floor.

Thank you, Madam Chair and distinguished delegates. Uganda aligns itself with the statement delivered by Morocco on behalf of the African group. We recognize that adequate, predictable and accessible finances fundamental to translating our commitments under the conventions into action on the ground. The persistent financing gap for combating desertification, land degradation and drought remains one of the principal constraints to achieving sustainable development goal 15, target 15.3 on land neutrality and strengthening resilience to drought. We welcome the progress made by the global mechanism in strengthening resource mobilization, developing financing tools, supporting country led investment pipelines, and facilitating engagement with the private sector. However, the financing gap remains a major constraint to implementation. Uganda therefore calls for financial architecture that is adequate, predictable, accessible, additional and responsive to the circumstances of affected developing country parties with particular attention to African countries. There is need to strengthen access to existing multilateral financing mechanisms, access requirements, co-financing conditions, and project development procedures should be more accessible to countries with limited institutional and financial capacity. We recognize the need to increase grant and concessional financing for restoration and drought resilience. We encourage financial institutions and development partners to increase the availability of grants and concessional finance, guarantees and other risk sharing instruments for sustainable land management in line with Article 21 of the convention, which calls for maximizing the availability of funding for affected developing country parties, particularly those in Africa, and promote multiple source financing approaches. We call for strengthening of country ownership and national financing mechanisms. We support the continued strengthening of the global mechanisms country led support so that parties can develop credible investment pipelines, identify appropriate financing instruments and connect national priorities with potential public and private investors. The achievement of SDG 15.3 cannot be treated as a stand alone environmental objective. It should be reflected in agriculture investments, infrastructure development, water management, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and road development financing. We therefore encourage financing institutions to recognize sustainable land management and land degradation neutrality as a cross-cutting investment that contributes simultaneously to multiple sustainable development goals. There is need to scale up innovative financing while safeguarding equity and country ownership. Uganda welcomes work on the innovative instruments including resilient related finance, insurance, green bonds, blended finance and private sector investment. However, innovation should complement but not substitute public and international support for developing countries. We encourage the development of financing instruments that mobilize private sector capital while reducing risk for smallholder farmers, pastoralists, local communities, and other vulnerable users. The implementation of the convention requires stronger bridge between commitments, national plans, and actual financial flows. We therefore support strengthening of the monitoring of financial flows for land degradation, degradation neutrality and SDG 15.3, including better information on availability, accessibility and effectiveness of finance. This therefore enables parties to identify remaining gaps and ensure that resources reach the countries and communities where they are needed most. As we approach 2030, we must move decisively from ambition to implementation. Healthy land is the foundation of food security, resilient livelihoods and sustainable development. Financing land restoration is therefore financing development itself. Uganda therefore calls on parties to strengthening enabling environment for developing countries to mobilize domestic and international resources, improve access to financial mechanisms, expand ex concessional and grant financing and leverage private sector investment. Uganda stands ready to work constructively with parties and the global mechanism financing institutional involvement partners towards a stronger, more accessible and more effective financing architecture for the implementation of SDG 5.3. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of Uganda. I think that now we have exhausted the list of speakers under this sub-item. So I will give the floor to the representative of the Global Mechanism to answer some of the comments and questions.

Thank you, Chair. Distinguished delegates, we acknowledge all the issues and recommendations made by parties, many of which are consistent with the report. I would like to first address the concern raised with regards to the panel discussions. So the purpose of the panels is to facilitate a focused exchange of views and perspectives and to inform the committee's consideration of the issues before it. One final panel session is planned for this afternoon during the joint CRIC/CST plenary on the issue of national reporting. At the same time, we fully recognize that given the amount of work before the Committee and the need to make progress on the draft decisions, sufficient time for negotiations in the contact groups is particularly important. We will therefore continue to monitor progress closely with a view to ensuring that the contact groups have the necessary time to advance and conclude their work. Then in terms of the numerous recommendations that came, you will note that The report concludes that the financing gap for land restoration and drought resilience is structural and the investment case is clear. However, a greater increase in investment cannot be achieved under a business as usual approach. A paradigm shift in financing is necessary, possible, and we believe is already taking shape and does require considerable strengthening of our capacity to respond. As noted, The DLDD thematic area faces considerable underfunding as has been highlighted, particularly with regards to the decreased allocations from the JEV. And we will continue to work with countries to support resource mobilization from different sources of funding. In this context, the financing gap, we recognize the importance of continuing to work with all partners to close the gap and develop the required financing strategies and alongside developing financing vehicles such as the drought resilience investment facility and the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership. We are also developing tools that support countries in developing national strategies and investment plans for mobilizing resources such as the financing toolbox. To bridge this gap further, we warmly welcome all suggestions and insights that are being provided by parties to complement the mechanisms we are already working on. I think That summarizes most of the questions, but I'm going to hand over to my colleague Pedro to complement. Thank you.

Thank you, Chair. Good morning, colleagues. So, yes, I want to address some of the questions by distinguished delegates of Argentina and Dominican Republic regarding funds for the second phase of target setting program and also the way ahead. So as you may recall, the scope of the second phase of target setting program was shaped based on a mandate received by the decision of the COP15, inviting countries to review and update their targets. And this mandate was renewed or extended in the last COP. Based on that mandate, as you know, the global mechanism works very hard in mobilizing voluntary contributions since this mandate doesn't come with a core funding associated to it. we were able to mobilize resources thanks to Changwon Initiative for the Republic of Korea, also the Government of Canada, to support initially 15 countries in this endeavor. And later we were able to expand this to 18 countries thanks to additional resources mobilized by the GM in collaboration with the G20 Global Online Initiative. So as we stand today, these 18 countries have engaged in this second phase of the program. and are moving forward with finalizing the process. Most of them has finalized, as you can see in our reports, and are now advancing into turning these new targets into implementation projects and shaping up different initiatives in this regard. We have established an open-ended waiting list for any country that is willing or interested in receiving support to review and update the LDN targets. the GM remains committed to continue working with partners and potential donors that are interested in supporting this line of work. So as resources may become available, we will be able to respond to those requests for those countries in the waiting list. But I also want to highlight that countries also have opportunities to engage in this work right away, particularly under GF9. Any country can use part of the star allocations whenever they're proposing projects to the Jeff and they can include these activities within any proposal that they want to make. So this is something that also country parties have as a really readily available opportunity. And then also further reflection to the indications from the colleague from Argentina as countries move forward with these targets towards implementation, of course the Jeff as the main financing mechanism of the convention remains a key area for financing, but we continue working with multiple partners and different initiatives, cross-sectorial initiatives actually, to open new doors and new mechanisms to access financing. I think a good example is what our colleague Valentin from WMO presented yesterday and the partnership that we have established with them that is facilitating access to adaptation fund resources in many countries. also in the region, particularly in GRULAC, also to highlight we have established new partnerships, for instance with CAF, that also are allowing us to open new doors for countries to explore other additional financing windows. Thank you.

Distinguished delegates, I also want to clarify the issue of the regional centres. Just to note that The regional centers are currently associated with the reporting and these are supported through the global support program four. So in terms of the efforts of the global mechanism in project preparation and resource mobilization, we are working more with partners, so particularly agencies that are accredited to the GCF, GEF implementing agencies. agencies accredited with the adaptation fund as well as the MDBs and any other bilaterals but the regional centers currently are not engaged in any sort of formal way on the resource mobilization efforts and this is also because there is a cost and they all operate on a cost recovery basis so even when we're doing the engaging them on the reporting has to be finances available for their time to do that work. Thank you.

Thank you very much, representatives of the global mechanism. We have thus concluded this stage of our consideration of sub-item B of agenda item 4. So before adjourning this meeting, I wish to remind participants that a joint meeting of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention and the Committee on Science and Technology will be held this afternoon, Wednesday 19th of October, at 3pm in this hall. The meeting is now adjourned.