ENB @ CCD COP-5

The fifth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) for the Convention to Combat Desertification

Geneva, Switzerland, 1-12 October 2001

Version française: BNT

Friday, 5 October 2001
Plenary met in the morning for the NGO dialogue and in the afternoon to adopt the report of the Ad Hoc Group of Experts on legal matters, to hear the CST report and the COW progress report, and to conclude NGO accreditation. The CST met in the morning to adopt the outstanding decisions, and concluded its work. The COW met in the afternoon and began consideration of the review of the Global Mechanism (GM) in CCD implementation. The contact group on legal matters concluded its work, while that on programme and budget resumed its work in an evening session. The contact group on the committee for the review of implementation failed to meet due to delays in the submission of written proposals by regional groups and, with that on programme and budget will continue work over the weekend

Welcoming delegates, COP-5 President Basset noted the importance of dialogue between NGOs and government delegates. Executive Secretary Diallo said the CCD Secretariat valued the opportunity of having such an interface in moving the desertification process forward

Deiter Imhof

Deiter Imhof, Swissaid, highlighted the links between monoculture and desertification, noted the negative effect of capitalistic production on the environment and biodiversity in developing countries and noted the inadequate consideration of land ownership and management anti-desertification efforts and the need for agricultural reform

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Emmanuel Seck, ENDA TM, emphasized: the NGOs role in NAP development; NGOs potential awareness efforts on the CCD towards the WSSD; the need for synergy between the different environmental conventions; and the need to include women in the decision-making process

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Christian Comeliau, IUED, elaborated the world system conceptual framework within which the CCD and sustainable developed are implemented. He elaborating its character, consequences and highlighted policy implications, and called for an evaluation of how the market incorporates basic needs, and for a re-emphasis of social needs

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SWEDEN emphasized that land tenure and women's empowerment are important for CCD implementation

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Presenting on synergy among the Conventions, Venkatt Ramnaya (YFA) and Yves Corriveau (SCS) stressed the need for synergy at international, regional and local levels, demonstrated what has already been achieved by local organizations in attaining a holistic approach and concluded: NGO involvement in current and future CCD work on synergy among the conventions; that the CCD should address concerns arising from other non-Rio multilateral processes such as WTO; and the development of indicators and benchmarks to monitor CSO involvement in the NAPs

Ruth Mubiru, UWTPM, elaborated on the gender, poverty and desertification nexus within the African context raised a number of questions, inter alia, whether men and women engage in activities that result in desertification equally. The strategies she proposed for anti-desertification include education, sensitization and public awareness, capacity building, granting women access to land and education to the girl child

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Maryam Niamir-Fuller, UNDP - GEF, underlined the role of the GEF as the single most important provider of support for global environmental concerns, but highlighted constraints in implementing enabling activities, including, inter alia: lack of adequate capacity at country-level; unrealistic timetables for project implementation; and lack of participation mechanisms

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Rogatien Biao, Benin, stressed the NGOs and civil society roles in CCD implementation. He proposed the creation of North-South NGO partnerships and NGO-governments partnership in preparing for the WSSD, and called on NGOs to launch a public awareness campaign to highlight the links between poverty, environmental disaster and globalization

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Drafting of the report to the Conference of the Parties: The CST met in the morning to conclude adoption of draft decisions for the COP. Discussion addressed the programme of work of the CST, the programme of work for the group of experts, and benchmarks and indicators

On the programme of work of the CST, the EU proposed language to clarify the content of Parties' submissions on best practices, and language to limit the number of intersessional CST Bureau meetings for planning and organizational purposes. CANADA proposed the invitation of reports on innovative research.

On the programme of work for the group of experts, delegates debated the role of regional groups in forwarding Parties' recommendations for consideration by the CST Bureau. SENEGAL proposed that regional or subregional groups synthesize Parties' recommendations for submission to the Secretariat. The US, supported by SWITZERLAND and CANADA, proposed that parties submit directly to the Secretariat to accelerate the process and obtain the broadest possible range of proposals. Incorporating concerns of ERITREA that certain parties would benefit from regional group support, and those of BELGIUM anticipating difficulties in reaching agreement on synthesis within a region, it was decided to adopt a proposal by MOROCCO, with minor changes, so that submissions be solicited from both country parties and relevant organizations

AD HOC Group of Experts on legal matters (AHGE): Noting the approach and Patrick Szell (UK), Chair of the contact group that considered this issue, presented its draft decision on the resolution of the questions of implementation and on arbitration and conciliation procedures, which was adopted ad referendum

Report of the COW: COW Chair Mohammed Jebbari (Iran) reported on the progress of the COW, noting that five meetings had been held to discuss review of implementation. On the Programme and Budget contact group established under the COW, he said no significant progress had been made and that the group will meet again to clarify outstanding issues. On the progress of the review of implementation contact group, CRIC Chair Franklin Moore (US), noted that delegate's views were being compiled into a bracketed/alternative text, with the hope of moving forward with negotiations. Two additional CRIC meetings are scheduled for the weekend

Report on the Global Mechanism: GM Managing Director Per Rydén stressed that the GM needs more financial and human resources to fulfill its growing tasks, which includes: collecting and disseminating information; promoting actions leading to cooperation and coordination; and mobilizing and channeling financial resources. He added that the GM is working to create opportunities with the donor Parties, governments and other partnerships. Welcoming calls for land degradation to become a GEF focal area, he said the GM would assist countries in accessing funds for GEF projects. He also suggested conducting an independent external review of the GM's operational strategy and work for the COP-6 GM review

Report of the CST: Chair Brown said the CST elected its bureau and established a contact group to consider the Annex on the synthesis of the report on ways to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the CST aimed at assisting CST decision-making, and another on the CST's future work. The draft decisions the CST adopted for transmission to the COP are: survey and evaluation of existing networks, institutions, agencies and bodies; roster of independent experts; review and implementation of scientific and technological aspects of national reports; traditional knowledge; early warning systems; dryland degradation assessment (LADA) and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment; improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the CST; future programme of work of the CST; programme of work for the group of experts; and benchmarks and indicators

Lynette Poulton, US Mission, Geneva

The US, noted with regret shared by SWITZERLAND and others that the CST body would be unable to fully debate this matter, proposed empowering the CST Bureau to independently develop a programme of work on a one-time basis. Noting historical precedents, the US further proposed, with the support of NORWAY and FRANCE, that the group of experts operate without terms of reference for the time being

Drafting of the Report to the Conference of the Parties: The CST met in the morning to conclude adoption of draft decisions for the COP. Discussion addressed the programme of work of the CST, the programme of work for the group of experts, and benchmarks and indicators

El Hadji Sene, FAO, reinforced its close links with the CCD to combat desertification, food insecurity and poverty. He noted FAO's cooperation with the GM in launching NAPs, and its continued support for synergies with other Conventions, including Biodiversity and Climate Change

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GM Managing Director Per Rydén stressed that the GM needs more financial and human resources to fulfill its growing tasks, which includes: collecting and disseminating information; promoting actions leading to cooperation and coordination; and mobilizing and channeling financial resources

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	ENB Coverage of previous CCD meetings Secretariat of the Convention to Combat Desertification Fifth Session of the COP website Provisional Agenda Provisional list of Official Documents Report of the Ad Hoc Working Group to COP5 Official Documents of COP4
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