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Highlights from Monday, 18 December
 The
Plenary convened throughout the day for the special segment on the
implementation of the Convention and heard two statements from Prime
Ministers, and 27 by ministers, high-level officials and
representatives of UN bodies and specialized agencies. The ad hoc working group on the review of CCD implementation (AHWG) met
to consider the African regional report, four sub-regional reports,
and five country reports. It also heard a report by the CST on its
work and its contribution to the AHWG.
Above photo: The dias of the morning plenary composed of (L-R)
CCD Executive Secretary Hama Arba Diallo, H.E. Mr. Pakalitha
Masisili (Prime Minister of Lesotho), H.E. Mr. Hama Amadou (Prime
Minister of Niger), COP-4 President Zamba Bartjargal, Secretary of
the Meeting, H.E. Mrs. Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul (Minister for
Economic Cooperation and Development) and Mrs. Bärbel Dieckmann,
Lord Mayor of Bonn
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RealAudio of Hama Arba Diallo's plenary statement to follow soon
REPORT
BY THE CST: Chair Olarewanju Smith (Canada), reported
on the contribution of the Committee on Science and Technology
(CST) to the AHWG, as mandated by the COP. He highlighted a CST
draft decision that takes note of concerns regarding the lack of
scientific and technological information, particularly
indicators and benchmarks, in the national reports. The decision
encourages Parties to include such information and requests the
Secretariat to revise the Help Guide to aid Parties to better
reflect the activities of their scientific communities in their
national reports.
Representative from SADC
outlined its regional coordination units, focussing on the
Environment and Land Management Sector. The areas addressed are:
capacity building and institutional strengthening; promotion of
early warning systems; cooperation in the sustainable management
of shared resources; development and transfer of technologies;
information sharing and exchange; development of alternative
energy; and socio-economic issues. He noted efforts to establish
a donor hub to facilitate coordination. 
