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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE INCD

The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for the elaboration of an international convention to combat desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa (INCD) is a product of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. While the idea of a convention to combat desertification had been discussed throughout the UNCED preparatory process it was only in Rio where language was adopted, requesting the United Nations General Assembly to establish an intergovernmental negotiating committee for the purpose of negotiating the convention.

The General Assembly, during its 47th Session in 1992, adopted a series of decisions that dealt with follow-up to the Rio Summit, including resolution 48/188 calling for the establishment of the INC with a view to finalizing a convention by June 1994. This resolution,among other things, decided that there would be one organizational session and five substantive sessions of the INCD; the UN Secretary-General would establish an expert group to advise the ICPD Secretariat on technical matters related to desertification; and the INC would establish a special voluntary fund to ensure developing country participation in the negotiation process.