UNCCD 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16)
Image
Event Details
DATE
02 - 13 December 2024
LOCATION
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| Time | Event | Venue | About |
| MONDAY, 2 DECEMBER - WORLD LEADERS CLIMATE ACTION SUMMIT | |||
| 11:00-12:00 | About the GEF Small Grants Programme | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | This event will provide an overview of the GEF Small Grants Programme at the UNDP. It will discuss the application process, eligibility requirements and will provide examples of SGP projects and experiences in 3 SGP Country Programmes- Vietnam, Mauritius, Tunisia. |
| 14:30-15:30 | ICCA- Increasing direct financial support to Indigenous Peoples and local communities’ territories and areas (ICCAs) for ecosystem restoration | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | This side event will review the progress of the Global ICCA Support Initiative (GSI), funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and delivered through the UNDP-implemented GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP). It will highlight the importance of local action, and the role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities on leading successful conservation and land restoration efforts around the world. |
| TUESDAY, 3 DECEMBER - WORLD LEADERS CLIMATE ACTION SUMMIT | |||
| 9:00-10:30 | Launch of the G7 Hub on the Sustainable Use of Land | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | The G7 Hub on the Sustainable Use of Land implemented by UNDP will be launched to advance global land-based targets, promote synergies, and enhance collaboration. The event will feature discussions, presentations, and a commitment by G7 members to foster sustainable land use practices. |
| 11:00-12:30 | Financing Large-Scale Nature-Based Solutions for a Sustainable Future | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | The side event explores green bonds, carbon markets, and renewable energy solutions, to close the funding gap for nature-based solutions, advancing land restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable development. The event will also explore solutions to challenges such as developing standardized metrics, ensuring high project integrity, and designing blended financial models to integrate NbS with renewable energy. It aims to identify actionable pathways to close the NbS funding gap, advance the COP16 goals of land restoration and resilience, and contribute to achieving global sustainability targets. |
| 11:00-12:00 | Tea and seeds from around the world | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | This event will explore SGP projects from round the world focused on sustainable tea productions, led by local communities, with a focus on marketing and strengthening value chains. Featuring Jordon, Mauritius and Peru. |
| 14:30-15:30 | Living in harmony with nature: Community Development and Knowledge Management for the Satoyama Initiative Programme | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | The Community Development and Knowledge Management for the Satoyama Initiative (COMDEKS) was launched in 2011 as a flagship program of the Satoyama Initiative, a global initiative that aims to realize societies in harmony with nature through conservation and sustainable management of socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes. It will also highlight the role of local actors, civil society and local communities on designing and implementing innovative, inclusive, sustainable and locally-lead solutions that address the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It will also discuss the linkages between poverty reduction, local resilience and empowerment, and ecosystem restoration. Restoring humanity’s relationship with nature is urgently needed to address multiple global crises and accelerate progress towards the SDGs. Featuring Vietnam, Morocco and Peru. |
| 14:00-16:00 | Powering the Planet: Innovative Energy Finance for Sustainable Land and Water Solutions | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | |
| 15:00-16:30 | High-level COP16 Event: ‘Harnessing the Power of the Market’, including the session ‘Announcing the Global Takaful Alliance’ | Action Agenda Dome | This two-part session will explore innovative financial and market mechanisms to combat land degradation and desertification. |
| WEDNESDAY, 4 DECEMBER - LAND DAY | |||
| 09:00-10:30 | Making Finance Work for Our Planet: the land Restoration Impact Fund | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | |
| 11:00-12:30 | Building Farming Communities’ Financial Resilience to Drought and Desertification | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | The Global Takaful Alliance is a public-private initiative that aims to build the financial resilience in Muslim-majority countries and communities through takaful solutions. The Alliance aims to build the financial resilience of 100 million climate vulnerable people by 2030. |
| 13:00-14:30 | Green Financing Platform (GFP) for Arab States to Accelerate finance towards Green and Inclusive Transition | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is working closely with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) to establish the Green Financing Platform (GFP) for the Arab States. The GFP aims to support countries in creating fiscal space, enhancing sustainable finance infrastructure, and facilitating project-level transactions. By providing technical assistance, capital, and policy support, the GFP seeks to accelerate the flow of sustainable finance and green initiatives across the region. |
| 14:30-15:30 | Her Land, Her Rights: Empowering women through land restoration | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | This event will highlight the crucial role that women play in land restoration and sustainable land management at the local level. Peru, Maldives and Zimbabwe will share examples of women led projects paving the way on gender inclusive restoration and conservation efforts. |
| 17:00-18:30 | Land Restoration, Food Security, and Community Resilience in Humanitarian and Development Interventions - KSA CO & KSrelief | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | The proposed side event at COP16 will provide a platform for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) to showcase its commitment to accelerating action on prevention, land restoration, drought resilience and green transition beyond its own borders. KSrelief, with the support of partners like UNDP on the ground, is at the forefront of addressing desertification and land degradation through various joint projects aimed at restoring ecosystems, enhancing resilience, and building capacity. |
| THURSDAY, 5 DECEMBER - AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS DAY | |||
| 09:00- 10:00 | Innovative Adaptation Strategies for Decertified Lands | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | The event will highlight successful case studies of desertification mitigation and land restoration and share knowledge and practices that can be replicated in different regions facing desertification. It will foster partnerships and collaborations between governments, NGOs, private sector and local communities and explore the role of technology, local knowledge, and policy frameworks in combating desertification. |
| 11:00-12:30 | Unlocking the Potential of Islamic Finance for Land Restoration & Drought Resilience | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | The event will showcase Green Sukuk research, highlight gender inclusion in sustainable finance, and feature diverse voices from finance, government, and environmental sectors. This side event will explore the untapped potential of Islamic finance to drive land restoration and drought resilience, aligning with UNCCD COP16 objectives. |
| 11:00-12:00 | Enhancing food security and ecosystem restoration through agro-ecological practices | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | Food and water security remain critical issues affecting local communities around the world. Through financial and technical support from GEF SGP, communities are finding innovative and locally appropriate solutions to address these challenges. Sustainable community-led agro-ecological practices are helping to address food security and enhance ecosystem restoration. National Coordinators from Jordan, Mexico and Peru will share their experiences and present learnings on this topic. |
| 12:30-13:30 | Coffee as a nexus for the Rio conventions | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | |
| 13:00- 14:30 | Nature for Development Action Kit for Accelerating Post COP Actions | ||
| 14:30-15:30 | Community-based climate adaptation (CBA) | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | The Community Base Adaptation programme is a long term SGP partnership programme funded by the Government of Australia since 2011. This event will highlight the CBA programme and its focus on building climate resilience and reducing the vulnerability of local communities in SIDS and the Asia Pacific Region. Country examples will be presented from Mauritius, Maldives and Vietnam. |
| 15:00-16:30 | Adaptation Planning to Combat Land Degradation and Revitalizing Ecosystems | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | This side event will serve as a platform to explore innovative and integrated strategies that can revitalize ecosystem-based adaptation while delivering multiple benefits across resilience and sustainable land management. It will also advocate for joined-up strategies to mobilize and leverage finance, enabling countries to address the intersecting challenges of desertification, land degradation, and climate change effectively. The event will bring together policy makers and practitioners from several regions, representing governments, development financial institutions and international organizations. |
| FRIDAY, 6 DECEMBER - GOVERNANCE DAY | |||
| 9:00-10:30 | Women, Climate, Land and Displacement: Opportunities for inclusive resilience building in the Arab States | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | The event will build on research study commissioned jointly by UNDP, UNHCR, UN Women and Arab Water Council on the nexus of climate change, displacement and gender equality drawing on the realities in Arab states where the intersection of climate change, displacement and gender equality represents a multifaceted challenge with significant implications. |
| 11:00-12:30 | Revitalizing Date Palm Cultivation in Basra Province to Combat Land Degradation in Southern Iraq | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | The side event organized by UNDP Iraq and Government of Iraq will bring together relevant stakeholders to inform about Iraq’s Plan to Combat Desertification by revitalizing the date palm trees and associated value chain development in Iraq, starting from Basra. This side event will also be an opportunity to spotlight UNDP Iraq and GoI’s innovative approaches and strategies that address climate change, desertification, rural economy, poverty, employment, and economic diversification challenges in Iraq. |
| 13:00-14:30 | Curbing corruption: Water Governance and Land Degradation, Drought and Desertification | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | Research shows that corruption drains up to 30% of the water sector’s funds annually, undermining efforts to meet water and sanitation goals. This side event aims to highlight the urgent need for transparency and accountability in water resource management. |
| 14:30-15:30 | Rangelands and pastoralist: promoting nature and climate positive actions around the world | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | The United Nations has declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, reflecting the important role healthy rangelands play in creating a sustainable environment, economic growth and resilient livelihoods for communities across the world. This event will share SGP experiences on this topic and how pastoralist communities can contribute to climate and nature solutions around the world. |
| 15:00-16:30 | Environmental Justice as a tool to curb desertification and its effects on communities | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | This event explores how effective legal protection and judicial remedies can be employed to address and respond to land degradation, climate change, and desertification. Experts will discuss strengthening legal frameworks, specialized environmental courts, the use of human rights mechanisms, the role of environmental police and inspectors and community participation to promote the right to a healthy environment. |
| SATURDAY, 7 DECEMBER - PEOPLE’S DAY | |||
| 09:00-10:30 | Role of youth in the 3 Rio Conventions | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | The three Rio Conventions — the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) — address interdependent challenges related to the sustainability of Earth systems. The Conventions aim to halt biodiversity loss, limit global warming to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels, and achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN), respectively. |
| 11:00-12:30 | Youth4Climate: Finance, empower, and celebrate youth led climate action for sustainable development | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | In 2024, Y4C will award up to 1.5 million USD to 50 youth-led solutions in five areas: nature assets, food and agriculture, sustainable energy, climate and environmental literacy, sustainable consumption and production. Youth4Climate will support the COP16 participation of 10 awardees whose innovative solutions contribute to land restoration through the use of digital tools, people- and planet-centred design, and participatory models. This spotlight and award ceremony is an opportunity to meet and learn from these young innovators. |
| 13:00- 14:30 | Land Breakthroughs: Financing Youth-Led Local Solutions for Global Resilience | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | The event highlights the role of youth in addressing land degradation and building resilience to global challenges. Through an intergenerational dialogue, it focuses on small grant programmes, explores innovative financing, and strategic partnerships to scale impactful, youth-driven solutions. |
| 14:00-15:00 | Saudi Youth Society: MoU Signing Ceremony | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | |
| 15:00-16:40 | The Ripple Effect: Harnessing Systems for Drought-Proofing the Future - Session 2 | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | |
| 15:00-16:30 | Balancing the Scales: Unleashing Landscape Finance and Policy to Empower Locally Led Desertification Solutions | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | |
| 17:00-18:30 | Youth as Change Agents for a Resilient Sahel & Beyond | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | This side event seeks to provide a platform to discuss and foster local innovative solutions and facilitate cross-learning and knowledge exchange on shared challenges in the Sahel and Arab regions, aimed at harnessing the potential of young people through economic, social, digital, and political empowerment to drive sustainable development and enhance community resilience in both regions. |
| MONDAY, 9 DECEMBER – SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION DAY | |||
| 11:00-12:30 | UNDP's Aqua Innovation Challenge for Drought Resilience - Launch Event | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | Concept launch for donors to fund seed capital and wraparound mentoring for freshwater innovators in the developing world to build drought resilience with – UNDP’s Aqua Innovation Challenge. Homegrown freshwater solutions that are transformative, replicable, scalable and livelihood generating. |
| 11:00-12:00 | Arid and semi-arid ecosystem restoration in Arab States | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | This event will focus on locally led ecosystem restoration in the Arab States featuring examples from Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. |
| 13:00- 14:30 | Resilience Against Sand & Dust Storms | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | This side event aims to advance the UN General Assembly’s resolution for global cooperation in enhancing early warning and action systems for SDS forecasting in the context of Africa through AUC’s Africa Multi- Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS). |
| 14:30-15:30 | Youth & climate | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | SGP is systematically working to empower young people through its grant-making process, actively encouraging the participation of young individuals and youth-led organizations to enable this group to make change in their own communities. While active engagement and participation of youth is a key first step, SGP goes beyond that by working with partners to bring youth voices to the global stage and making targeted investments to address key youth priorities. This event will highlight SGP youth led initiatives to address the climate crisis. |
| 16:00-17:00 | Misk Youth: Misk SDGs Challenges 2024 1st Prize Winners - Harnessing Mycelium for Organic Farming & Sustainable Growth | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | |
| 15:00- 16:30 | Accelerating the Green Transition with Digital Public Infrastructure | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | The side event will explore how Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which has already demonstrated remarkable impact in sectors such as health and education, can be harnessed to speed up climate adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk resilience in countries. |
| TUESDAY, 10 DECEMBER – RESILIENCE DAY | |||
| 10:00-11:00 | Understanding the socioeconomic, Environmental, and Health Impacts of the Bodélé Depression Dust on Neighbouring communities in Lake Chad Region | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | The session will explore the multifaceted challenges related to the Bodélé depression’s dust, which go beyond environmental degradation, affecting the livelihoods and security of pastoral communities. An integrated approach that combines local adaptation measures, regional collaboration and international support will be discussed in order to mitigate the negative impacts of dust storms while promoting sustainable development and climate security in the Sahel region. |
| 11:00-12:00 | Strengthening governance mechanism at the local level | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | Over the last 30 years a key emphasis of the SGP has been on strengthening local-led governance structures to enhance the role of local communities, Indigenous Peoples and civil society on inclusive decision making and advocacy. This event will showcase some of the successful models that SGP Country Programmes have been using to ensure participatory decision making at the local level. |
| 12:00-13:15 | Land Degradation in Sudan: The current situation, proposed actions and best practices | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | |
| 13:15-14:30 | Bio energy, desertification and climate change in Sudan | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | |
| 14:30-15:30 | SGP Landscape/Seascape approaches- learning in the landscape- building on 30 years of SGP knowledge and experiences | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | Over the course of the last thirty years, comprising seven successive Operational Phases, the GEF SGP has progressively tested, refined and mainstreamed its landscape/seascape approach to achieve greater impact. Through a number of global partnerships including COMPACT, COMDEKS and the Global ICCA Support Initiative (ICCA GSI), the GEF SGP has adopted a focused landscape/seascape approach which has assisted the SGP to enhance cost efficiencies and leverage new sources of funding. The benefits of the approach have included: (i) improved ecological outcomes working at a landscape scale to encompass ecosystems; (ii) enhanced impact by clustering of SGP projects, building stronger linkages among them; (iii) practical benefits from a common country strategy, aligned with NBSAPs, including SGP projects located closer to one another allowing for more efficient monitoring and follow up; and (iv) long-term potential through increased sustainability, suited to the needs of mainstreaming, acceleration platforms and access to new forms of finance, including payments for ecosystem services. This event will highlight the learnings and experiences from SGP’s landscape/seascape approach over the last 30 years. |
| 15:00-16:30 | Leveraging civil society in building community resilience to droughts in the Sahel & Beyond | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | This side event will focus on the vital role of inclusion, as a part of initiatives related to droughts and desertification, especially through women-led civil society organizations in enhancing community resilience to drought. |
| WEDNESDAY, 11 DECEMBER – FINANCE DAY | |||
| 11:00-12:30 | PISTA: Climate Finance for Nature-Positive and Climate-Resilient Food System | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | |
| 11:00-12:00 | Our Land, Our Future: supporting Indigenous Peoples and local communities on sustainable land management | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | Aligned with the UNCCD COP16 theme Our Land, Our Rights, this event will showcase how local communities and Indigenous Peoples are working to address interconnected issues of land degradation and ecosystem restoration through nature and climate positive solutions grounded in local culture and traditional knowledge. |
| 15:00-16:30 | Syria Foresight | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | |
| 17:00-18:30 | Land Restoration and Food Resilience in Yemen | UNDP Pavilion (Blue Zone) | UNDP will present the findings of the UNDP study titled “Land Restoration and Food Resilience in Yemen” aiming to assess current land degradation, evaluate policies, and explore Nature-Based Solutions for sustainable agriculture to inspire action against land degradation and enhance food security in fragile contexts such as Yemen. The study explores pathways to address drought and water scarcity and sheds light on how climate change and environmental degradation exacerbate economic under-development and security crises, particularly affecting agriculture, which is Yemen’s primary source of income and employment. |
| THURSDAY, 12 DECEMBER | |||
| 11:00-12:00 | Youth as Change Agents for a Resilient Sahel & Beyond | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | |
| 14:00-15:00 | Leveraging civil society in building community resilience to droughts in the Sahel & Beyond' | UNDP Local Action/SGP pavilion (Green zone) | |
