United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification United Nations 

      Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries Experiencing Serious 
      Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa


      Part I: Introduction
      Part II: General Provisions
      Part III: Action Programmes, Scientific and Technical Cooperation and 
      Supporting Measures 
      Part IV: Institutions
      Part V: Procedures
      Part VI: Final Provisions
      Annex I: Regional Implementation Annex for Africa 
      Annex II: Regional Implementation Annex for Asia 
      Annex III: Regional Implementation Annex for Latin America and the 
      Caribbean 
      Annex IV: Regional Implementation Annex for the Northern Mediterranean 



      United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries 
      Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa
      The Parties to this Convention, 
      Affirming that human beings in affected or threatened areas are at the 
      centre of concerns to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of 
      drought, 
      Reflecting the urgent concern of the international community, including 
      States and international organizations, about the adverse impacts of 
      desertification and drought, 
      Aware that arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas together account for a 
      significant proportion of the Earth's land area and are the habitat and 
      source of livelihood for a large segment of its population, 
      Acknowledging that desertification and drought are problems of global 
      dimension in that they affect all regions of the world and that joint 
      action of the international community is needed to combat desertification 
      and/or mitigate the effects of drought, 
      Noting the high concentration of developing countries, notably the least 
      developed countries, among those experiencing serious drought and/or 
      desertification, and the particularly tragic consequences of these 
      phenomena in Africa, 
      Noting also that desertification is caused by complex interactions among 
      physical, biological, political, social, cultural and economic factors, 
      Considering the impact of trade and relevant aspects of international 
      economic relations on the ability of affected countries to combat 
      desertification adequately, 
      Conscious that sustainable economic growth, social development and poverty 
      eradication are priorities of affected developing countries, particularly 
      in Africa, and are essential to meeting sustainability objectives, 
      Mindful that desertification and drought affect sustainable development 
      through their interrelationships with important social problems such as 
      poverty, poor health and nutrition, lack of food security, and those 
      arising from migration, displacement of persons and demographic dynamics, 
      Appreciating the significance of the past efforts and experience of States 
      and international organizations in combating desertification and 
      mitigating the effects of drought, particularly in implementing the Plan 
      of Action to Combat Desertification which was adopted at the United 
      Nations Conference on Desertification in 1977, 
      Realizing that, despite efforts in the past, progress in combating 
      desertification and mitigating the effects of drought has not met 
      expectations and that a new and more effective approach is needed at all 
      levels within the framework of sustainable development, 
      Recognizing the validity and relevance of decisions adopted at the United 
      Nations Conference on Environment and Development, particularly of Agenda 
      21 and its chapter 12, which provide a basis for combating 
      desertification, 
      Reaffirming in this light the commitments of developed countries as 
      contained in paragraph 13 of chapter 33 of Agenda 21, 
      Recalling General Assembly resolution 47/188, particularly the priority in 
      it prescribed for Africa, and all other relevant United Nations 
      resolutions, decisions and programmes on desertification and drought, as 
      well as relevant declarations by African countries and those from other 
      regions, 
      Reaffirming the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development which 
      states, in its Principle 2, that States have, in accordance with the 
      Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the 
      sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own 
      environmental and developmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure 
      that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage 
      to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of 
      national jurisdiction, 
      Recognizing that national Governments play a critical role in combating 
      desertification and mitigating the effects of drought and that progress in 
      that respect depends on local implementation of action programmes in 
      affected areas, 
      Recognizing also the importance and necessity of international cooperation 
      and partnership in combating desertification and mitigating the effects of 
      drought, 
      Recognizing further the importance of the provision to affected developing 
      countries, particularly in Africa, of effective means, inter alia 
      substantial financial resources, including new and additional funding, and 
      access to technology, without which it will be difficult for them to 
      implement fully their commitments under this Convention, 
      Expressing concern over the impact of desertification and drought on 
      affected countries in Central Asia and the Transcaucasus, 
      Stressing the important role played by women in regions affected by 
      desertification and/or drought, particularly in rural areas of developing 
      countries, and the importance of ensuring the full participation of both 
      men and women at all levels in programmes to combat desertification and 
      mitigate the effects of drought, 
      Emphasizing the special role of non-governmental organizations and other 
      major groups in programmes to combat desertification and mitigate the 
      effects of drought, 
      Bearing in mind the relationship between desertification and other 
      environmental problems of global dimension facing the international and 
      national communities, 
      Bearing also in mind the contribution that combating desertification can 
      make to achieving the objectives of the United Nations Framework 
      Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and 
      other related environmental conventions, 
      Believing that strategies to combat desertification and mitigate the 
      effects of drought will be most effective if they are based on sound 
      systematic observation and rigorous scientific knowledge and if they are 
      continuously re-evaluated, 
      Recognizing the urgent need to improve the effectiveness and coordination 
      of international cooperation to facilitate the implementation of national 
      plans and priorities, 
      Determined to take appropriate action in combating desertification and 
      mitigating the effects of drought for the benefit of present and future 
      generations, 
      Have agreed as follows:



      PART I
      INTRODUCTION
      Article 1
      Use of terms 
      For the purposes of this Convention: 
      (a) "desertification" means land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry 
      sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic 
      variations and human activities; 
      (b) "combating desertification" includes activities which are part of the 
      integrated development of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas 
      for sustainable development which are aimed at: 
      (i) prevention and/or reduction of land degradation; 
      (ii) rehabilitation of partly degraded land; and 
      (iii) reclamation of desertified land; 
      (c) "drought" means the naturally occurring phenomenon that exists when 
      precipitation has been significantly below normal recorded levels, causing 
      serious hydrological imbalances that adversely affect land resource 
      production systems; 
      (d) "mitigating the effects of drought" means activities related to the 
      prediction of drought and intended to reduce the vulnerability of society 
      and natural systems to drought as it relates to combating desertification; 

      (e) "land" means the terrestrial bio-productive system that comprises 
      soil, vegetation, other biota, and the ecological and hydrological 
      processes that operate within the system; 
      (f) "land degradation" means reduction or loss, in arid, semi-arid and dry 
      sub-humid areas, of the biological or economic productivity and complexity 
      of rainfed cropland, irrigated cropland, or range, pasture, forest and 
      woodlands resulting from land uses or from a process or combination of 
      processes, including processes arising from human activities and 
      habitation patterns, such as: 
      (i) soil erosion caused by wind and/or water; 
      (ii) deterioration of the physical, chemical and biological or economic 
      properties of soil; and 
      (iii) long-term loss of natural vegetation; 
      (g) "arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas" means areas, other than 
      polar and sub-polar regions, in which the ratio of annual precipitation to 
      potential evapotranspiration falls within the range from 0.05 to 0.65; 
      (h) "affected areas" means arid, semi-arid and/or dry sub-humid areas 
      affected or threatened by desertification; 
      (i) "affected countries" means countries whose lands include, in whole or 
      in part, affected areas; 
      (j) "regional economic integration organization" means an organization 
      constituted by sovereign States of a given region which has competence in 
      respect of matters governed by this Convention and has been duly 
      authorized, in accordance with its internal procedures, to sign, ratify, 
      accept, approve or accede to this Convention; 
      (k) "developed country Parties" means developed country Parties and 
      regional economic integration organizations constituted by developed 
      countries.



      Article 2
      Objective 
      1. The objective of this Convention is to combat desertification and 
      mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought 
      and/or desertification, particularly in Africa, through effective action 
      at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership 
      arrangements, in the framework of an integrated approach which is 
      consistent with Agenda 21, with a view to contributing to the achievement 
      of sustainable development in affected areas. 
      2. Achieving this objective will involve long-term integrated strategies 
      that focus simultaneously, in affected areas, on improved productivity of 
      land, and the rehabilitation, conservation and sustainable management of 
      land and water resources, leading to improved living conditions, in 
      particular at the community level. 



      Article 3
      Principles 
      In order to achieve the objective of this Convention and to implement its 
      provisions, the Parties shall be guided, inter alia, by the following: 
      (a) the Parties should ensure that decisions on the design and 
      implementation of programmes to combat desertification and/or mitigate the 
      effects of drought are taken with the participation of populations and 
      local communities and that an enabling environment is created at higher 
      levels to facilitate action at national and local levels; 
      (b) the Parties should, in a spirit of international solidarity and 
      partnership, improve cooperation and coordination at subregional, regional 
      and international levels, and better focus financial, human, 
      organizational and technical resources where they are needed; 
      (c) the Parties should develop, in a spirit of partnership, cooperation 
      among all levels of government, communities, non-governmental 
      organizations and landholders to establish a better understanding of the 
      nature and value of land and scarce water resources in affected areas and 
      to work towards their sustainable use; and 
      (d) the Parties should take into full consideration the special needs and 
      circumstances of affected developing country Parties, particularly the 
      least developed among them.



      PART II
      GENERAL PROVISIONS
      Article 4
      General obligations 
      1. The Parties shall implement their obligations under this Convention, 
      individually or jointly, either through existing or prospective bilateral 
      and multilateral arrangements or a combination thereof, as appropriate, 
      emphasizing the need to coordinate efforts and develop a coherent 
      long-term strategy at all levels. 
      2. In pursuing the objective of this Convention, the Parties shall: 
      (a) adopt an integrated approach addressing the physical, biological and 
      socio-economic aspects of the processes of desertification and drought; 
      (b) give due attention, within the relevant international and regional 
      bodies, to the situation of affected developing country Parties with 
      regard to international trade, marketing arrangements and debt with a view 
      to establishing an enabling international economic environment conducive 
      to the promotion of sustainable development; 
      (c) integrate strategies for poverty eradication into efforts to combat 
      desertification and mitigate the effects of drought; 
      (d) promote cooperation among affected country Parties in the fields of 
      environmental protection and the conservation of land and water resources, 
      as they relate to desertification and drought; 
      (e) strengthen subregional, regional and international cooperation; 
      (f) cooperate within relevant intergovernmental organizations; 
      (g) determine institutional mechanisms, if appropriate, keeping in mind 
      the need to avoid duplication; and 
      (h) promote the use of existing bilateral and multilateral financial 
      mechanisms and arrangements that mobilize and channel substantial 
      financial resources to affected developing country Parties in combating 
      desertification and mitigating the effects of drought. 
      3. Affected developing country Parties are eligible for assistance in the 
      implementation of the Convention.



      Article 5
      Obligations of affected country Parties 
      In addition to their obligations pursuant to article 4, affected country 
      Parties undertake to: 
      (a) give due priority to combating desertification and mitigating the 
      effects of drought, and allocate adequate resources in accordance with 
      their circumstances and capabilities; 
      (b) establish strategies and priorities, within the framework of 
      sustainable development plans and/or policies, to combat desertification 
      and mitigate the effects of drought; 
      (c) address the underlying causes of desertification and pay special 
      attention to the socio- economic factors contributing to desertification 
      processes; 
      (d) promote awareness and facilitate the participation of local 
      populations, particularly women and youth, with the support of 
      non-governmental organizations, in efforts to combat desertification and 
      mitigate the effects of drought; and 
      (e) provide an enabling environment by strengthening, as appropriate, 
      relevant existing legislation and, where they do not exist, enacting new 
      laws and establishing long-term policies and action programmes. 



      Article 6
      Obligations of developed country Parties 
      In addition to their general obligations pursuant to article 4, developed 
      country Parties undertake to: 
      (a) actively support, as agreed, individually or jointly, the efforts of 
      affected developing country Parties, particularly those in Africa, and the 
      least developed countries, to combat desertification and mitigate the 
      effects of drought; 
      (b) provide substantial financial resources and other forms of support to 
      assist affected developing country Parties, particularly those in Africa, 
      effectively to develop and implement their own long-term plans and 
      strategies to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought; 
      (c) promote the mobilization of new and additional funding pursuant to 
      article 20, paragraph 2 (b); 
      (d) encourage the mobilization of funding from the private sector and 
      other non-governmental sources; and 
      (e) promote and facilitate access by affected country Parties, 
      particularly affected developing country Parties, to appropriate 
      technology, knowledge and know-how.



      Article 7
      Priority for Africa 
      In implementing this Convention, the Parties shall give priority to 
      affected African country Parties, in the light of the particular situation 
      prevailing in that region, while not neglecting affected developing 
      country Parties in other regions.



      Article 8
      Relationship with other conventions 
      1. The Parties shall encourage the coordination of activities carried out 
      under this Convention and, if they are Parties to them, under other 
      relevant international agreements, particularly the United Nations 
      Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological 
      Diversity, in order to derive maximum benefit from activities under each 
      agreement while avoiding duplication of effort. The Parties shall 
      encourage the conduct of joint programmes, particularly in the fields of 
      research, training, systematic observation and information collection and 
      exchange, to the extent that such activities may contribute to achieving 
      the objectives of the agreements concerned. 
      2. The provisions of this Convention shall not affect the rights and 
      obligations of any Party deriving from a bilateral, regional or 
      international agreement into which it has entered prior to the entry into 
      force of this Convention for it.



      PART III
      ACTION PROGRAMMES, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND SUPPORTING 
      MEASURES
      Section 1: Action programmes
      Article 9
      Basic approach 
      1. In carrying out their obligations pursuant to article 5, affected 
      developing country Parties and any other affected country Party in the 
      framework of its regional implementation annex or, otherwise, that has 
      notified the Permanent Secretariat in writing of its intention to prepare 
      a national action programme, shall, as appropriate, prepare, make public 
      and implement national action programmes, utilizing and building, to the 
      extent possible, on existing relevant successful plans and programmes, and 
      subregional and regional action programmes, as the central element of the 
      strategy to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. 
      Such programmes shall be updated through a continuing participatory 
      process on the basis of lessons from field action, as well as the results 
      of research. The preparation of national action programmes shall be 
      closely interlinked with other efforts to formulate national policies for 
      sustainable development. 
      2. In the provision by developed country Parties of different forms of 
      assistance under the terms of article 6, priority shall be given to 
      supporting, as agreed, national, subregional and regional action 
      programmes of affected developing country Parties, particularly those in 
      Africa, either directly or through relevant multilateral organizations or 
      both. 
      3. The Parties shall encourage organs, funds and programmes of the United 
      Nations system and other relevant intergovernmental organizations, 
      academic institutions, the scientific community and non-governmental 
      organizations in a position to cooperate, in accordance with their 
      mandates and capabilities, to support the elaboration, implementation and 
      follow-up of action programmes. 



      Article 10
      National action programmes 
      1. The purpose of national action programmes is to identify the factors 
      contributing to desertification and practical measures necessary to combat 
      desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. 
      2. National action programmes shall specify the respective roles of 
      government, local communities and land users and the resources available 
      and needed. They shall, inter alia: 
      (a) incorporate long-term strategies to combat desertification and 
      mitigate the effects of drought, emphasize implementation and be 
      integrated with national policies for sustainable development; 
      (b) allow for modifications to be made in response to changing 
      circumstances and be sufficiently flexible at the local level to cope with 
      different socio-economic, biological and geo-physical conditions; 
      (c) give particular attention to the implementation of preventive measures 
      for lands that are not yet degraded or which are only slightly degraded; 
      (d) enhance national climatological, meteorological and hydrological 
      capabilities and the means to provide for drought early warning; 
      (e) promote policies and strengthen institutional frameworks which develop 
      cooperation and coordination, in a spirit of partnership, between the 
      donor community, governments at all levels, local populations and 
      community groups, and facilitate access by local populations to 
      appropriate information and technology; 
      (f) provide for effective participation at the local, national and 
      regional levels of non- governmental organizations and local populations, 
      both women and men, particularly resource users, including farmers and 
      pastoralists and their representative organizations, in policy planning, 
      decision-making, and implementation and review of national action 
      programmes; and 
      (g) require regular review of, and progress reports on, their 
      implementation. 
      3. National action programmes may include, inter alia, some or all of the 
      following measures to prepare for and mitigate the effects of drought: 
      (a) establishment and/or strengthening, as appropriate, of early warning 
      systems, including local and national facilities and joint systems at the 
      subregional and regional levels, and mechanisms for assisting 
      environmentally displaced persons; 
      (b) strengthening of drought preparedness and management, including 
      drought contingency plans at the local, national, subregional and regional 
      levels, which take into consideration seasonal to interannual climate 
      predictions; 
      (c) establishment and/or strengthening, as appropriate, of food security 
      systems, including storage and marketing facilities, particularly in rural 
      areas; 
      (d) establishment of alternative livelihood projects that could provide 
      incomes in drought prone areas; and 
      (e) development of sustainable irrigation programmes for both crops and 
      livestock. 
      4. Taking into account the circumstances and requirements specific to each 
      affected country Party, national action programmes include, as 
      appropriate, inter alia, measures in some or all of the following priority 
      fields as they relate to combating desertification and mitigating the 
      effects of drought in affected areas and to their populations: promotion 
      of alternative livelihoods and improvement of national economic 
      environments with a view to strengthening programmes aimed at the 
      eradication of poverty and at ensuring food security; demographic 
      dynamics; sustainable management of natural resources; sustainable 
      agricultural practices; development and efficient use of various energy 
      sources; institutional and legal frameworks; strengthening of capabilities 
      for assessment and systematic observation, including hydrological and 
      meteorological services, and capacity building, education and public 
      awareness. 



      Article 11
      Subregional and regional action programmes 
      Affected country Parties shall consult and cooperate to prepare, as 
      appropriate, in accordance with relevant regional implementation annexes, 
      subregional and/or regional action programmes to harmonize, complement and 
      increase the efficiency of national programmes. The provisions of article 
      10 shall apply mutatis mutandis to subregional and regional programmes. 
      Such cooperation may include agreed joint programmes for the sustainable 
      management of transboundary natural resources, scientific and technical 
      cooperation, and strengthening of relevant institutions.



      Article 12
      International cooperation 
      Affected country Parties, in collaboration with other Parties and the 
      international community, should cooperate to ensure the promotion of an 
      enabling international environment in the implementation of the 
      Convention. Such cooperation should also cover fields of technology 
      transfer as well as scientific research and development, information 
      collection and dissemination and financial resources. 



      Article 13
      Support for the elaboration and implementation of action programmes 
      1. Measures to support action programmes pursuant to article 9 include, 
      inter alia: 
      (a) financial cooperation to provide predictability for action programmes, 
      allowing for necessary long-term planning; 
      (b) elaboration and use of cooperation mechanisms which better enable 
      support at the local level, including action through non-governmental 
      organizations, in order to promote the replicability of successful pilot 
      programme activities where relevant; 
      (c) increased flexibility in project design, funding and implementation in 
      keeping with the experimental, iterative approach indicated for 
      participatory action at the local community level; and 
      (d) as appropriate, administrative and budgetary procedures that increase 
      the efficiency of cooperation and of support programmes. 
      2. In providing such support to affected developing country Parties, 
      priority shall be given to African country Parties and to least developed 
      country Parties.



      Article 14
      Coordination in the elaboration and implementation of action programmes 
      1. The Parties shall work closely together, directly and through relevant 
      intergovernmental organizations, in the elaboration and implementation of 
      action programmes. 
      2. The Parties shall develop operational mechanisms, particularly at the 
      national and field levels, to ensure the fullest possible coordination 
      among developed country Parties, developing country Parties and relevant 
      intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, in order to avoid 
      duplication, harmonize interventions and approaches, and maximize the 
      impact of assistance. In affected developing country Parties, priority 
      will be given to coordinating activities related to international 
      cooperation in order to maximize the efficient use of resources, to ensure 
      responsive assistance, and to facilitate the implementation of national 
      action programmes and priorities under this Convention.



      Article 15
      Regional implementation annexes 
      Elements for incorporation in action programmes shall be selected and 
      adapted to the socio- economic, geographical and climatic factors 
      applicable to affected country Parties or regions, as well as to their 
      level of development. Guidelines for the preparation of action programmes 
      and their exact focus and content for particular subregions and regions 
      are set out in the regional implementation annexes.



      Section 2: Scientific and technical cooperation
      Article 16
      Information collection, analysis and exchange 
      The Parties agree, according to their respective capabilities, to 
      integrate and coordinate the collection, analysis and exchange of relevant 
      short term and long term data and information to ensure systematic 
      observation of land degradation in affected areas and to understand better 
      and assess the processes and effects of drought and desertification. This 
      would help accomplish, inter alia, early warning and advance planning for 
      periods of adverse climatic variation in a form suited for practical 
      application by users at all levels, including especially local 
      populations. To this end, they shall, as appropriate: 
      (a) facilitate and strengthen the functioning of the global network of 
      institutions and facilities for the collection, analysis and exchange of 
      information, as well as for systematic observation at all levels, which 
      shall, inter alia: 
      (i) aim to use compatible standards and systems; 
      (ii) encompass relevant data and stations, including in remote areas; 
      (iii) use and disseminate modern technology for data collection, 
      transmission and assessment on land degradation; and 
      (iv) link national, subregional and regional data and information centres 
      more closely with global information sources; 
      (b) ensure that the collection, analysis and exchange of information 
      address the needs of local communities and those of decision makers, with 
      a view to resolving specific problems, and that local communities are 
      involved in these activities; 
      (c) support and further develop bilateral and multilateral programmes and 
      projects aimed at defining, conducting, assessing and financing the 
      collection, analysis and exchange of data and information, including, 
      inter alia, integrated sets of physical, biological, social and economic 
      indicators; 
      (d) make full use of the expertise of competent intergovernmental and 
      non-governmental organizations, particularly to disseminate relevant 
      information and experiences among target groups in different regions; 
      (e) give full weight to the collection, analysis and exchange of 
      socio-economic data, and their integration with physical and biological 
      data; 
      (f) exchange and make fully, openly and promptly available information 
      from all publicly available sources relevant to combating desertification 
      and mitigating the effects of drought; and 
      (g) subject to their respective national legislation and/or policies, 
      exchange information on local and traditional knowledge, ensuring adequate 
      protection for it and providing appropriate return from the benefits 
      derived from it, on an equitable basis and on mutually agreed terms, to 
      the local populations concerned.



      Article 17
      Research and development 
      1. The Parties undertake, according to their respective capabilities, to 
      promote technical and scientific cooperation in the fields of combating 
      desertification and mitigating the effects of drought through appropriate 
      national, subregional, regional and international institutions. To this 
      end, they shall support research activities that: 
      (a) contribute to increased knowledge of the processes leading to 
      desertification and drought and the impact of, and distinction between, 
      causal factors, both natural and human, with a view to combating 
      desertification and mitigating the effects of drought, and achieving 
      improved productivity as well as sustainable use and management of 
      resources; 
      (b) respond to well defined objectives, address the specific needs of 
      local populations and lead to the identification and implementation of 
      solutions that improve the living standards of people in affected areas; 
      (c) protect, integrate, enhance and validate traditional and local 
      knowledge, know-how and practices, ensuring, subject to their respective 
      national legislation and/or policies, that the owners of that knowledge 
      will directly benefit on an equitable basis and on mutually agreed terms 
      from any commercial utilization of it or from any technological 
      development derived from that knowledge; 
      (d) develop and strengthen national, subregional and regional research 
      capabilities in affected developing country Parties, particularly in 
      Africa, including the development of local skills and the strengthening of 
      appropriate capacities, especially in countries with a weak research base, 
      giving particular attention to multidisciplinary and participative socio- 
      economic research; 
      (e) take into account, where relevant, the relationship between poverty, 
      migration caused by environmental factors, and desertification; 
      (f) promote the conduct of joint research programmes between national, 
      subregional, regional and international research organizations, in both 
      the public and private sectors, for the development of improved, 
      affordable and accessible technologies for sustainable development through 
      effective participation of local populations and communities; and 
      (g) enhance the availability of water resources in affected areas, by 
      means of, inter alia, cloud-seeding. 
      2. Research priorities for particular regions and subregions, reflecting 
      different local conditions, should be included in action programmes. The 
      Conference of the Parties shall review research priorities periodically on 
      the advice of the Committee on Science and Technology.



      Article 18
      Transfer, acquisition, adaptation and development of technology 
      1. The Parties undertake, as mutually agreed and in accordance with their 
      respective national legislation and/or policies, to promote, finance 
      and/or facilitate the financing of the transfer, acquisition, adaptation 
      and development of environmentally sound, economically viable and socially 
      acceptable technologies relevant to combating desertification and/or 
      mitigating the effects of drought, with a view to contributing to the 
      achievement of sustainable development in affected areas. Such cooperation 
      shall be conducted bilaterally or multilaterally, as appropriate, making 
      full use of the expertise of intergovernmental and non-governmental 
      organizations. The Parties shall, in particular: 
      (a) fully utilize relevant existing national, subregional, regional and 
      international information systems and clearing-houses for the 
      dissemination of information on available technologies, their sources, 
      their environmental risks and the broad terms under which they may be 
      acquired; 
      (b) facilitate access, in particular by affected developing country 
      Parties, on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential 
      terms, as mutually agreed, taking into account the need to protect 
      intellectual property rights, to technologies most suitable to practical 
      application for specific needs of local populations, paying special 
      attention to the social, cultural, economic and environmental impact of 
      such technology; 
      (c) facilitate technology cooperation among affected country Parties 
      through financial assistance or other appropriate means; 
      (d) extend technology cooperation with affected developing country 
      Parties, including, where relevant, joint ventures, especially to sectors 
      which foster alternative livelihoods; and 
      (e) take appropriate measures to create domestic market conditions and 
      incentives, fiscal or otherwise, conducive to the development, transfer, 
      acquisition and adaptation of suitable technology, knowledge, know-how and 
      practices, including measures to ensure adequate and effective protection 
      of intellectual property rights. 
      2. The Parties shall, according to their respective capabilities, and 
      subject to their respective national legislation and/or policies, protect, 
      promote and use in particular relevant traditional and local technology, 
      knowledge, know-how and practices and, to that end, they undertake to: 
      (a) make inventories of such technology, knowledge, know-how and practices 
      and their potential uses with the participation of local populations, and 
      disseminate such information, where appropriate, in cooperation with 
      relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations; 
      (b) ensure that such technology, knowledge, know-how and practices are 
      adequately protected and that local populations benefit directly, on an 
      equitable basis and as mutually agreed, from any commercial utilization of 
      them or from any technological development derived therefrom; 
      (c) encourage and actively support the improvement and dissemination of 
      such technology, knowledge, know-how and practices or of the development 
      of new technology based on them; and 
      (d) facilitate, as appropriate, the adaptation of such technology, 
      knowledge, know-how and practices to wide use and integrate them with 
      modern technology, as appropriate.



      Section 3: Supporting measures
      Article 19
      Capacity building, education and public awareness 
      1. The Parties recognize the significance of capacity building -- that is 
      to say, institution building, training and development of relevant local 
      and national capacities -- in efforts to combat desertification and 
      mitigate the effects of drought. They shall promote, as appropriate, 
      capacity- building: 
      (a) through the full participation at all levels of local people, 
      particularly at the local level, especially women and youth, with the 
      cooperation of non-governmental and local organizations; 
      (b) by strengthening training and research capacity at the national level 
      in the field of desertification and drought; 
      (c) by establishing and/or strengthening support and extension services to 
      disseminate relevant technology methods and techniques more effectively, 
      and by training field agents and members of rural organizations in 
      participatory approaches for the conservation and sustainable use of 
      natural resources; 
      (d) by fostering the use and dissemination of the knowledge, know-how and 
      practices of local people in technical cooperation programmes, wherever 
      possible; 
      (e) by adapting, where necessary, relevant environmentally sound 
      technology and traditional methods of agriculture and pastoralism to 
      modern socio-economic conditions; 
      (f) by providing appropriate training and technology in the use of 
      alternative energy sources, particularly renewable energy resources, aimed 
      particularly at reducing dependence on wood for fuel; 
      (g) through cooperation, as mutually agreed, to strengthen the capacity of 
      affected developing country Parties to develop and implement programmes in 
      the field of collection, analysis and exchange of information pursuant to 
      article 16; 
      (h) through innovative ways of promoting alternative livelihoods, 
      including training in new skills; 
      (i) by training of decision makers, managers, and personnel who are 
      responsible for the collection and analysis of data for the dissemination 
      and use of early warning information on drought conditions and for food 
      production; 
      (j) through more effective operation of existing national institutions and 
      legal frameworks and, where necessary, creation of new ones, along with 
      strengthening of strategic planning and management; and 
      (k) by means of exchange visitor programmes to enhance capacity building 
      in affected country Parties through a long-term, interactive process of 
      learning and study. 
      2. Affected developing country Parties shall conduct, in cooperation with 
      other Parties and competent intergovernmental and non-governmental 
      organizations, as appropriate, an interdisciplinary review of available 
      capacity and facilities at the local and national levels, and the 
      potential for strengthening them. 
      3. The Parties shall cooperate with each other and through competent 
      intergovernmental organizations, as well as with non-governmental 
      organizations, in undertaking and supporting public awareness and 
      educational programmes in both affected and, where relevant, unaffected 
      country Parties to promote understanding of the causes and effects of 
      desertification and drought and of the importance of meeting the objective 
      of this Convention. To that end, they shall: 
      (a) organize awareness campaigns for the general public; 
      (b) promote, on a permanent basis, access by the public to relevant 
      information, and wide public participation in education and awareness 
      activities; 
      (c) encourage the establishment of associations that contribute to public 
      awareness; 
      (d) develop and exchange educational and public awareness material, where 
      possible in local languages, exchange and second experts to train 
      personnel of affected developing country Parties in carrying out relevant 
      education and awareness programmes, and fully utilize relevant educational 
      material available in competent international bodies; 
      (e) assess educational needs in affected areas, elaborate appropriate 
      school curricula and expand, as needed, educational and adult literacy 
      programmes and opportunities for all, in particular for girls and women, 
      on the identification, conservation and sustainable use and management of 
      the natural resources of affected areas; and 
      (f) develop interdisciplinary participatory programmes integrating 
      desertification and drought awareness into educational systems and in 
      non-formal, adult, distance and practical educational programmes. 
      4. The Conference of the Parties shall establish and/or strengthen 
      networks of regional education and training centres to combat 
      desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. These networks shall 
      be coordinated by an institution created or designated for that purpose, 
      in order to train scientific, technical and management personnel and to 
      strengthen existing institutions responsible for education and training in 
      affected country Parties, where appropriate, with a view to harmonizing 
      programmes and to organizing exchanges of experience among them. These 
      networks shall cooperate closely with relevant intergovernmental and 
      non-governmental organizations to avoid duplication of effort.



      Article 20
      Financial resources 
      1. Given the central importance of financing to the achievement of the 
      objective of the Convention, the Parties, taking into account their 
      capabilities, shall make every effort to ensure that adequate financial 
      resources are available for programmes to combat desertification and 
      mitigate the effects of drought. 
      2. In this connection, developed country Parties, while giving priority to 
      affected African country Parties without neglecting affected developing 
      country Parties in other regions, in accordance with article 7, undertake 
      to: 
      (a) mobilize substantial financial resources, including grants and 
      concessional loans, in order to support the implementation of programmes 
      to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought; 
      (b) promote the mobilization of adequate, timely and predictable financial 
      resources, including new and additional funding from the Global 
      Environment Facility of the agreed incremental costs of those activities 
      concerning desertification that relate to its four focal areas, in 
      conformity with the relevant provisions of the Instrument establishing the 
      Global Environment Facility; 
      (c) facilitate through international cooperation the transfer of 
      technology, knowledge and know-how; and 
      (d) explore, in cooperation with affected developing country Parties, 
      innovative methods and incentives for mobilizing and channelling 
      resources, including those of foundations, non- governmental organizations 
      and other private sector entities, particularly debt swaps and other 
      innovative means which increase financing by reducing the external debt 
      burden of affected developing country Parties, particularly those in 
      Africa. 
      3. Affected developing country Parties, taking into account their 
      capabilities, undertake to mobilize adequate financial resources for the 
      implementation of their national action programmes. 
      4. In mobilizing financial resources, the Parties shall seek full use and 
      continued qualitative improvement of all national, bilateral and 
      multilateral funding sources and mechanisms, using consortia, joint 
      programmes and parallel financing, and shall seek to involve private 
      sector funding sources and mechanisms, including those of non-governmental 
      organizations. To this end, the Parties shall fully utilize the 
      operational mechanisms developed pursuant to article 14. 
      5. In order to mobilize the financial resources necessary for affected 
      developing country Parties to combat desertification and mitigate the 
      effects of drought, the Parties shall: 
      (a) rationalize and strengthen the management of resources already 
      allocated for combating desertification and mitigating the effects of 
      drought by using them more effectively and efficiently, assessing their 
      successes and shortcomings, removing hindrances to their effective use 
      and, where necessary, reorienting programmes in light of the integrated 
      long- term approach adopted pursuant to this Convention; 
      (b) give due priority and attention within the governing bodies of 
      multilateral financial institutions, facilities and funds, including 
      regional development banks and funds, to supporting affected developing 
      country Parties, particularly those in Africa, in activities which advance 
      implementation of the Convention, notably action programmes they undertake 
      in the framework of regional implementation annexes; and 
      (c) examine ways in which regional and subregional cooperation can be 
      strengthened to support efforts undertaken at the national level. 
      6. Other Parties are encouraged to provide, on a voluntary basis, 
      knowledge, know-how and techniques related to desertification and/or 
      financial resources to affected developing country Parties. 
      7. The full implementation by affected developing country Parties, 
      particularly those in Africa, of their obligations under the Convention 
      will be greatly assisted by the fulfilment by developed country Parties of 
      their obligations under the Convention, including in particular those 
      regarding financial resources and transfer of technology. In fulfilling 
      their obligations, developed country Parties should take fully into 
      account that economic and social development and poverty eradication are 
      the first priorities of affected developing country Parties, particularly 
      those in Africa. 



      Article 21
      Financial mechanisms 
      1. The Conference of the Parties shall promote the availability of 
      financial mechanisms and shall encourage such mechanisms to seek to 
      maximize the availability of funding for affected developing country 
      Parties, particularly those in Africa, to implement the Convention. To 
      this end, the Conference of the Parties shall consider for adoption inter 
      alia approaches and policies that: 
      (a) facilitate the provision of necessary funding at the national, 
      subregional, regional and global levels for activities pursuant to 
      relevant provisions of the Convention; 
      (b) promote multiple-source funding approaches, mechanisms and 
      arrangements and their assessment, consistent with article 20; 
      (c) provide on a regular basis, to interested Parties and relevant 
      intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations, information on 
      available sources of funds and on funding patterns in order to facilitate 
      coordination among them; 
      (d) facilitate the establishment, as appropriate, of mechanisms, such as 
      national desertification funds, including those involving the 
      participation of non-governmental organizations, to channel financial 
      resources rapidly and efficiently to the local level in affected 
      developing country Parties; and 
      (e) strengthen existing funds and financial mechanisms at the subregional 
      and regional levels, particularly in Africa, to support more effectively 
      the implementation of the Convention. 
      2. The Conference of the Parties shall also encourage the provision, 
      through various mechanisms within the United Nations system and through 
      multilateral financial institutions, of support at the national, 
      subregional and regional levels to activities that enable developing 
      country Parties to meet their obligations under the Convention. 
      3. Affected developing country Parties shall utilize, and where necessary, 
      establish and/or strengthen, national coordinating mechanisms, integrated 
      in national development programmes, that would ensure the efficient use of 
      all available financial resources. They shall also utilize participatory 
      processes involving non-governmental organizations, local groups and the 
      private sector, in raising funds, in elaborating as well as implementing 
      programmes and in assuring access to funding by groups at the local level. 
      These actions can be enhanced by improved coordination and flexible 
      programming on the part of those providing assistance. 
      4. In order to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of existing 
      financial mechanisms, a Global Mechanism to promote actions leading to the 
      mobilization and channelling of substantial financial resources, including 
      for the transfer of technology, on a grant basis, and/or on concessional 
      or other terms, to affected developing country Parties, is hereby 
      established. This Global Mechanism shall function under the authority and 
      guidance of the Conference of the Parties and be accountable to it. 
      5. The Conference of the Parties shall identify, at its first ordinary 
      session, an organization to house the Global Mechanism. The Conference of 
      the Parties and the organization it has identified shall agree upon 
      modalities for this Global Mechanism to ensure inter alia that such 
      Mechanism: 
      (a) identifies and draws up an inventory of relevant bilateral and 
      multilateral cooperation programmes that are available to implement the 
      Convention; 
      (b) provides advice, on request, to Parties on innovative methods of 
      financing and sources of financial assistance and on improving the 
      coordination of cooperation activities at the national level; 
      (c) provides interested Parties and relevant intergovernmental and 
      non-governmental organizations with information on available sources of 
      funds and on funding patterns in order to facilitate coordination among 
      them; and 
      (d) reports to the Conference of the Parties, beginning at its second 
      ordinary session, on its activities. 
      6. The Conference of the Parties shall, at its first session, make 
      appropriate arrangements with the organization it has identified to house 
      the Global Mechanism for the administrative operations of such Mechanism, 
      drawing to the extent possible on existing budgetary and human resources. 
      7. The Conference of the Parties shall, at its third ordinary session, 
      review the policies, operational modalities and activities of the Global 
      Mechanism accountable to it pursuant to paragraph 4, taking into account 
      the provisions of article 7. On the basis of this review, it shall 
      consider and take appropriate action. 



      PART IV
      INSTITUTIONS
      Article 22
      Conference of the Parties 
      1. A Conference of the Parties is hereby established. 
      2. The Conference of the Parties is the supreme body of the Convention. It 
      shall make, within its mandate, the decisions necessary to promote its 
      effective implementation. In particular, it shall: 
      (a) regularly review the implementation of the Convention and the 
      functioning of its institutional arrangements in the light of the 
      experience gained at the national, subregional, regional and international 
      levels and on the basis of the evolution of scientific and technological 
      knowledge; 
      (b) promote and facilitate the exchange of information on measures adopted 
      by the Parties, and determine the form and timetable for transmitting the 
      information to be submitted pursuant to article 26, review the reports and 
      make recommendations on them; 
      (c) establish such subsidiary bodies as are deemed necessary for the 
      implementation of the Convention; 
      (d) review reports submitted by its subsidiary bodies and provide guidance 
      to them; 
      (e) agree upon and adopt, by consensus, rules of procedure and financial 
      rules for itself and any subsidiary bodies; 
      (f) adopt amendments to the Convention pursuant to articles 30 and 31; 
      (g) approve a programme and budget for its activities, including those of 
      its subsidiary bodies, and undertake necessary arrangements for their 
      financing; 
      (h) as appropriate, seek the cooperation of, and utilize the services of 
      and information provided by, competent bodies or agencies, whether 
      national or international, intergovernmental or non-governmental; 
      (i) promote and strengthen the relationship with other relevant 
      conventions while avoiding duplication of effort; and 
      (j) exercise such other functions as may be necessary for the achievement 
      of the objective of the Convention. 
      3. The Conference of the Parties shall, at its first session, adopt its 
      own rules of procedure, by consensus, which shall include decision-making 
      procedures for matters not already covered by decision-making procedures 
      stipulated in the Convention. Such procedures may include specified 
      majorities required for the adoption of particular decisions. 
      4. The first session of the Conference of the Parties shall be convened by 
      the interim secretariat referred to in article 35 and shall take place not 
      later than one year after the date of entry into force of the Convention. 
      Unless otherwise decided by the Conference of the Parties, the second, 
      third and fourth ordinary sessions shall be held yearly, and thereafter, 
      ordinary sessions shall be held every two years. 
      5. Extraordinary sessions of the Conference of the Parties shall be held 
      at such other times as may be decided either by the Conference of the 
      Parties in ordinary session or at the written request of any Party, 
      provided that, within three months of the request being communicated to 
      the Parties by the Permanent Secretariat, it is supported by at least one 
      third of the Parties. 
      6. At each ordinary session, the Conference of the Parties shall elect a 
      Bureau. The structure and functions of the Bureau shall be determined in 
      the rules of procedure. In appointing the Bureau, due regard shall be paid 
      to the need to ensure equitable geographical distribution and adequate 
      representation of affected country Parties, particularly those in Africa. 
      7. The United Nations, its specialized agencies and any State member 
      thereof or observers thereto not Party to the Convention, may be 
      represented at sessions of the Conference of the Parties as observers. Any 
      body or agency, whether national or international, governmental or 
      non-governmental, which is qualified in matters covered by the Convention, 
      and which has informed the Permanent Secretariat of its wish to be 
      represented at a session of the Conference of the Parties as an observer, 
      may be so admitted unless at least one 
      third of the Parties present object. The admission and participation of 
      observers shall be subject to the rules of procedure adopted by the 
      Conference of the Parties. 
      8. The Conference of the Parties may request competent national and 
      international organizations which have relevant expertise to provide it 
      with information relevant to article 16, paragraph (g), article 17, 
      paragraph 1 (c) and article 18, paragraph 2(b). 



      Article 23
      Permanent Secretariat 
      1. A Permanent Secretariat is hereby established. 
      2. The functions of the Permanent Secretariat shall be: 
      (a) to make arrangements for sessions of the Conference of the Parties and 
      its subsidiary bodies established under the Convention and to provide them 
      with services as required; 
      (b) to compile and transmit reports submitted to it; 
      (c) to facilitate assistance to affected developing country Parties, on 
      request, particularly those in Africa, in the compilation and 
      communication of information required under the Convention; 
      (d) to coordinate its activities with the secretariats of other relevant 
      international bodies and conventions; 
      (e) to enter, under the guidance of the Conference of the Parties, into 
      such administrative and contractual arrangements as may be required for 
      the effective discharge of its functions; 
      (f) to prepare reports on the execution of its functions under this 
      Convention and present them to the Conference of the Parties; and 
      (g) to perform such other secretariat functions as may be determined by 
      the Conference of the Parties. 
      3. The Conference of the Parties, at its first session, shall designate a 
      Permanent Secretariat and make arrangements for its functioning.



      Article 24
      Committee on Science and Technology 
      1. A Committee on Science and Technology is hereby established as a 
      subsidiary body of the Conference of the Parties to provide it with 
      information and advice on scientific and technological matters relating to 
      combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought. The 
      Committee shall meet in conjunction with the ordinary sessions of the 
      Conference of the Parties and shall be multidisciplinary and open to the 
      participation of all Parties. It shall be composed of government 
      representatives competent in the relevant fields of expertise. The 
      Conference of the Parties shall decide, at its first session, on the terms 
      of reference of the Committee. 
      2. The Conference of the Parties shall establish and maintain a roster of 
      independent experts with expertise and experience in the relevant fields. 
      The roster shall be based on nominations received in writing from the 
      Parties, taking into account the need for a multidisciplinary approach and 
      broad geographical representation. 
      3. The Conference of the Parties may, as necessary, appoint ad hoc panels 
      to provide it, through the Committee, with information and advice on 
      specific issues regarding the state of the art in fields of science and 
      technology relevant to combating desertification and mitigating the 
      effects of drought. These panels shall be composed of experts whose names 
      are taken from the roster, taking into account the need for a 
      multidisciplinary approach and broad geographical representation. These 
      experts shall have scientific backgrounds and field experience and shall 
      be appointed by the Conference of the Parties on the recommendation of the 
      Committee. The Conference of the Parties shall decide on the terms of 
      reference and the modalities of work of these panels.



      Article 25
      Networking of institutions, agencies and bodies 
      1. The Committee on Science and Technology shall, under the supervision of 
      the Conference of the Parties, make provision for the undertaking of a 
      survey and evaluation of the relevant existing networks, institutions, 
      agencies and bodies willing to become units of a network. Such a network 
      shall support the implementation of the Convention. 
      2. On the basis of the results of the survey and evaluation referred to in 
      paragraph 1, the Committee on Science and Technology shall make 
      recommendations to the Conference of the Parties on ways and means to 
      facilitate and strengthen networking of the units at the local, national 
      and other levels, with a view to ensuring that the thematic needs set out 
      in articles 16 to 19 are addressed. 
      3. Taking into account these recommendations, the Conference of the 
      Parties shall: 
      (a) identify those national, subregional, regional and international units 
      that are most appropriate for networking, and recommend operational 
      procedures, and a time frame, for them; and 
      (b) identify the units best suited to facilitating and strengthening such 
      networking at all levels.



      PART V
      PROCEDURES
      Article 26
      Communication of information 
      1. Each Party shall communicate to the Conference of the Parties for 
      consideration at its ordinary sessions, through the Permanent Secretariat, 
      reports on the measures which it has taken for the implementation of the 
      Convention. The Conference of the Parties shall determine the timetable 
      for submission and the format of such reports. 
      2. Affected country Parties shall provide a description of the strategies 
      established pursuant to article 5 and of any relevant information on their 
      implementation. 
      3. Affected country Parties which implement action programmes pursuant to 
      articles 9 to 15 shall provide a detailed description of the programmes 
      and of their implementation. 
      4. Any group of affected country Parties may make a joint communication on 
      measures taken at the subregional and/or regional levels in the framework 
      of action programmes. 
      5. Developed country Parties shall report on measures taken to assist in 
      the preparation and implementation of action programmes, including 
      information on the financial resources they have provided, or are 
      providing, under the Convention. 
      6. Information communicated pursuant to paragraphs 1 to 4 shall be 
      transmitted by the Permanent Secretariat as soon as possible to the 
      Conference of the Parties and to any relevant subsidiary body. 
      7. The Conference of the Parties shall facilitate the provision to 
      affected developing countries, particularly those in Africa, on request, 
      of technical and financial support in compiling and communicating 
      information in accordance with this article, as well as identifying the 
      technical and financial needs associated with action programmes.



      Article 27
      Measures to resolve questions on implementation 
      The Conference of the Parties shall consider and adopt procedures and 
      institutional mechanisms for the resolution of questions that may arise 
      with regard to the implementation of the Convention. 



      Article 28
      Settlement of disputes 
      1. Parties shall settle any dispute between them concerning the 
      interpretation or application of the Convention through negotiation or 
      other peaceful means of their own choice. 
      2. When ratifying, accepting, approving, or acceding to the Convention, or 
      at any time thereafter, a Party which is not a regional economic 
      integration organization may declare in a written instrument submitted to 
      the Depositary that, in respect of any dispute concerning the 
      interpretation or application of the Convention, it recognizes one or both 
      of the following means of dispute settlement as compulsory in relation to 
      any Party accepting the same obligation: 
      (a) arbitration in accordance with procedures adopted by the Conference of 
      the Parties in an annex as soon as practicable; 
      (b) submission of the dispute to the International Court of Justice. 
      3. A Party which is a regional economic integration organization may make 
      a declaration with like effect in relation to arbitration in accordance 
      with the procedure referred to in paragraph 2 (a). 
      4. A declaration made pursuant to paragraph 2 shall remain in force until 
      it expires in accordance with its terms or until three months after 
      written notice of its revocation has been deposited with the Depositary. 
      5. The expiry of a declaration, a notice of revocation or a new 
      declaration shall not in any way affect proceedings pending before an 
      arbitral tribunal or the International Court of Justice unless the Parties 
      to the dispute otherwise agree. 
      6. If the Parties to a dispute have not accepted the same or any procedure 
      pursuant to paragraph 2 and if they have not been able to settle their 
      dispute within twelve months following notification by one Party to 
      another that a dispute exists between them, the dispute shall be submitted 
      to conciliation at the request of any Party to the dispute, in accordance 
      with procedures adopted by the Conference of the Parties in an annex as 
      soon as practicable. 



      Article 29
      Status of annexes 
      1. Annexes form an integral part of the Convention and, unless expressly 
      provided otherwise, a reference to the Convention also constitutes a 
      reference to its annexes. 
      2. The Parties shall interpret the provisions of the annexes in a manner 
      that is in conformity with their rights and obligations under the articles 
      of this Convention.



      Article 30
      Amendments to the Convention 
      1. Any Party may propose amendments to the Convention. 
      2. Amendments to the Convention shall be adopted at an ordinary session of 
      the Conference of the Parties. The text of any proposed amendment shall be 
      communicated to the Parties by the Permanent Secretariat at least six 
      months before the meeting at which it is proposed for adoption. The 
      Permanent Secretariat shall also communicate proposed amendments to the 
      signatories to the Convention. 
      3. The Parties shall make every effort to reach agreement on any proposed 
      amendment to the Convention by consensus. If all efforts at consensus have 
      been exhausted and no agreement reached, the amendment shall, as a last 
      resort, be adopted by a two-thirds majority vote of the Parties present 
      and voting at the meeting. The adopted amendment shall be communicated by 
      the Permanent Secretariat to the Depositary, who shall circulate it to all 
      Parties for their ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. 
      4. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession in 
      respect of an amendment shall be deposited with the Depositary. An 
      amendment adopted pursuant to paragraph 3 shall enter into force for those 
      Parties having accepted it on the ninetieth day after the date of receipt 
      by the Depositary of an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval 
      or accession by at least two thirds of the Parties to the Convention which 
      were Parties at the time of the adoption of the amendment. 
      5. The amendment shall enter into force for any other Party on the 
      ninetieth day after the date on which that Party deposits with the 
      Depositary its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of, or 
      accession to the said amendment. 
      6. For the purposes of this article and article 31, "Parties present and 
      voting" means Parties present and casting an affirmative or negative vote.



      Article 31
      Adoption and amendment of annexes 
      1. Any additional annex to the Convention and any amendment to an annex 
      shall be proposed and adopted in accordance with the procedure for 
      amendment of the Convention set forth in article 30, provided that, in 
      adopting an additional regional implementation annex or amendment to any 
      regional implementation annex, the majority provided for in that article 
      shall include a two-thirds majority vote of the Parties of the region 
      concerned present and voting. The adoption or amendment of an annex shall 
      be communicated by the Depositary to all Parties. 
      2. An annex, other than an additional regional implementation annex, or an 
      amendment to an annex, other than an amendment to any regional 
      implementation annex, that has been adopted in accordance with paragraph 
      1, shall enter into force for all Parties to the Convention six months 
      after the date of communication by the Depositary to such Parties of the 
      adoption of such annex or amendment, except for those Parties that have 
      notified the Depositary in writing within that period of their non- 
      acceptance of such annex or amendment. Such annex or amendment shall enter 
      into force for Parties which withdraw their notification of non-acceptance 
      on the ninetieth day after the date on which withdrawal of such 
      notification has been received by the Depositary. 
      3. An additional regional implementation annex or amendment to any 
      regional implementation annex that has been adopted in accordance with 
      paragraph 1, shall enter into force for all Parties to the Convention six 
      months after the date of the communication by the Depositary to such 
      Parties of the adoption of such annex or amendment, except with respect 
      to: 
      (a) any Party that has notified the Depositary in writing, within such six 
      month period, of its non-acceptance of that additional regional 
      implementation annex or of the amendment to the regional implementation 
      annex, in which case such annex or amendment shall enter into force for 
      Parties which withdraw their notification of non-acceptance on the 
      ninetieth day after the date on which withdrawal of such notification has 
      been received by the Depositary; and 
      (b) any Party that has made a declaration with respect to additional 
      regional implementation annexes or amendments to regional implementation 
      annexes in accordance with article 34, paragraph 4, in which case any such 
      annex or amendment shall enter into force for such a Party on the 
      ninetieth day after the date of deposit with the Depositary of its 
      instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect 
      to such annex or amendment. 
      4. If the adoption of an annex or an amendment to an annex involves an 
      amendment to the Convention, that annex or amendment to an annex shall not 
      enter into force until such time as the amendment to the Convention enters 
      into force.



      Article 32
      Right to vote 
      1. Except as provided for in paragraph 2, each Party to the Convention 
      shall have one vote. 
      2. Regional economic integration organizations, in matters within their 
      competence, shall exercise their right to vote with a number of votes 
      equal to the number of their member States that are Parties to the 
      Convention. Such an organization shall not exercise its right to vote if 
      any of its member States exercises its right, and vice versa.



      PART VI
      FINAL PROVISIONS
      Article 33
      Signature 
      This Convention shall be opened for signature at Paris, on 14-15 October 
      1994, by States Members of the United Nations or any of its specialized 
      agencies or that are Parties to the Statute of the International Court of 
      Justice and by regional economic integration organizations. It shall 
      remain open for signature, thereafter, at the United Nations Headquarters 
      in New York until 13 October 1995.



      Article 34
      Ratification, acceptance, approval and accession 
      1. The Convention shall be subject to ratification, acceptance, approval 
      or accession by States and by regional economic integration organizations. 
      It shall be open for accession from the day after the date on which the 
      Convention is closed for signature. Instruments of ratification, 
      acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the Depositary. 
      2. Any regional economic integration organization which becomes a Party to 
      the Convention without any of its member States being a Party to the 
      Convention shall be bound by all the obligations under the Convention. 
      Where one or more member States of such an organization are also Party to 
      the Convention, the organization and its member States shall decide on 
      their respective responsibilities for the performance of their obligations 
      under the Convention. In such cases, the organization and the member 
      States shall not be entitled to exercise rights under the Convention 
      concurrently. 
      3. In their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or 
      accession, regional economic integration organizations shall declare the 
      extent of their competence with respect to the matters governed by the 
      Convention. They shall also promptly inform the Depositary, who shall in 
      turn inform the Parties, of any substantial modification in the extent of 
      their competence. 
      4. In its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, 
      any Party may declare that, with respect to it, any additional regional 
      implementation annex or any amendment to any regional implementation annex 
      shall enter into force only upon the deposit of its instrument of 
      ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with respect thereto.



      Article 35
      Interim arrangements 
      The secretariat functions referred to in article 23 will be carried out on 
      an interim basis by the secretariat established by the General Assembly of 
      the United Nations in its resolution 47/188 of 22 December 1992, until the 
      completion of the first session of the Conference of the Parties.



      Article 36
      Entry into force 
      1. The Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the 
      date of deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, 
      approval or accession. 
      2. For each State or regional economic integration organization ratifying, 
      accepting, approving or acceding to the Convention after the deposit of 
      the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or 
      accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day 
      after the date of deposit by such State or regional economic integration 
      organization of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or 
      accession. 
      3. For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2, any instrument deposited by a 
      regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as 
      additional to those deposited by States members of the organization. 



      Article 37
      Reservations 
      No reservations may be made to this Convention.



      Article 38
      Withdrawal 
      1. At any time after three years from the date on which the Convention has 
      entered into force for a Party, that Party may withdraw from the 
      Convention by giving written notification to the Depositary. 
      2. Any such withdrawal shall take effect upon expiry of one year from the 
      date of receipt by the Depositary of the notification of withdrawal, or on 
      such later date as may be specified in the notification of withdrawal.



      Article 39
      Depositary 
      The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be the Depositary of the 
      Convention.



      Article 40
      Authentic texts 
      The original of the present Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, 
      English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be 
      deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations. 
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized to that effect, 
      have signed the present Convention. 
      DONE AT Paris, this 17th day of June one thousand nine hundred and 
      ninety-four.



      ANNEX I
      REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION ANNEX FOR AFRICA
      Article 1
      Scope 
      This Annex applies to Africa, in relation to each Party and in conformity 
      with the Convention, in particular its article 7, for the purpose of 
      combating desertification and/or mitigating the effects of drought in its 
      arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas. 



      Article 2
      Purpose 
      The purpose of this Annex, at the national, subregional and regional 
      levels in Africa and in the light of its particular conditions, is to: 
      (a) identify measures and arrangements, including the nature and processes 
      of assistance provided by developed country Parties, in accordance with 
      the relevant provisions of the Convention; 
      (b) provide for the efficient and practical implementation of the 
      Convention to address conditions specific to Africa; and 
      (c) promote processes and activities relating to combating desertification 
      and/or mitigating the effects of drought within the arid, semi-arid and 
      dry sub-humid areas of Africa.



      Article 3
      Particular conditions of the African region 
      In carrying out their obligations under the Convention, the Parties shall, 
      in the implementation of this Annex, adopt a basic approach that takes 
      into consideration the following particular conditions of Africa: 
      (a) the high proportion of arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas; 
      (b) the substantial number of countries and populations adversely affected 
      by desertification and by the frequent recurrence of severe drought; 
      (c) the large number of affected countries that are landlocked; 
      (d) the widespread poverty prevalent in most affected countries, the large 
      number of least developed countries among them, and their need for 
      significant amounts of external assistance, in the form of grants and 
      loans on concessional terms, to pursue their development objectives; 
      (e) the difficult socio-economic conditions, exacerbated by deteriorating 
      and fluctuating terms of trade, external indebtedness and political 
      instability, which induce internal, regional and international migrations; 

      (f) the heavy reliance of populations on natural resources for subsistence 
      which, compounded by the effects of demographic trends and factors, a weak 
      technological base and unsustainable production practices, contributes to 
      serious resource degradation; 
      (g) the insufficient institutional and legal frameworks, the weak 
      infrastructural base and the insufficient scientific, technical and 
      educational capacity, leading to substantial capacity building 
      requirements; and 
      (h) the central role of actions to combat desertification and/or mitigate 
      the effects of drought in the national development priorities of affected 
      African countries.



      Article 4
      Commitments and obligations of African country Parties 
      1. In accordance with their respective capabilities, African country 
      Parties undertake to: 
      (a) adopt the combating of desertification and/or the mitigation of the 
      effects of drought as a central strategy in their efforts to eradicate 
      poverty; 
      (b) promote regional cooperation and integration, in a spirit of 
      solidarity and partnership based on mutual interest, in programmes and 
      activities to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of 
      drought; 
      (c) rationalize and strengthen existing institutions concerned with 
      desertification and drought and involve other existing institutions, as 
      appropriate, in order to make them more effective and to ensure more 
      efficient use of resources; 
      (d) promote the exchange of information on appropriate technology, 
      knowledge, know-how and practices between and among them; and 
      (e) develop contingency plans for mitigating the effects of drought in 
      areas degraded by desertification and/or drought. 
      2. Pursuant to the general and specific obligations set out in articles 4 
      and 5 of the Convention, affected African country Parties shall aim to: 
      (a) make appropriate financial allocations from their national budgets 
      consistent with national conditions and capabilities and reflecting the 
      new priority Africa has accorded to the phenomenon of desertification 
      and/or drought; 
      (b) sustain and strengthen reforms currently in progress toward greater 
      decentralization and resource tenure as well as reinforce participation of 
      local populations and communities; and 
      (c) identify and mobilize new and additional national financial resources, 
      and expand, as a matter of priority, existing national capabilities and 
      facilities to mobilize domestic financial resources. 



      Article 5
      Commitments and obligations of developed country Parties 
      1. In fulfilling their obligations pursuant to articles 4, 6 and 7 of the 
      Convention, developed country Parties shall give priority to affected 
      African country Parties and, in this context, shall: 
      (a) assist them to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of 
      drought by, inter alia, providing and/or facilitating access to financial 
      and/or other resources, and promoting, financing and/or facilitating the 
      financing of the transfer, adaptation and access to appropriate 
      environmental technologies and know-how, as mutually agreed and in 
      accordance with national policies, taking into account their adoption of 
      poverty eradication as a central strategy; 
      (b) continue to allocate significant resources and/or increase resources 
      to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought; and 
      (c) assist them in strengthening capacities to enable them to improve 
      their institutional frameworks, as well as their scientific and technical 
      capabilities, information collection and analysis, and research and 
      development for the purpose of combating desertification and/or mitigating 
      the effects of drought. 
      2. Other country Parties may provide, on a voluntary basis, technology, 
      knowledge and know-how relating to desertification and/or financial 
      resources, to affected African country Parties. The transfer of such 
      knowledge, know-how and techniques is facilitated by international 
      cooperation.



      Article 6
      Strategic planning framework for sustainable development 
      1. National action programmes shall be a central and integral part of a 
      broader process of formulating national policies for the sustainable 
      development of affected African country Parties. 
      2. A consultative and participatory process involving appropriate levels 
      of government, local populations, communities and non-governmental 
      organizations shall be undertaken to provide guidance on a strategy with 
      flexible planning to allow maximum participation from local populations 
      and communities. As appropriate, bilateral and multilateral assistance 
      agencies may be involved in this process at the request of an affected 
      African country Party.



      Article 7
      Timetable for preparation of action programmes 
      Pending entry into force of this Convention, the African country Parties, 
      in cooperation with other members of the international community, as 
      appropriate, shall, to the extent possible, provisionally apply those 
      provisions of the Convention relating to the preparation of national, 
      subregional and regional action programmes.



      Article 8
      Content of national action programmes 
      1. Consistent with article 10 of the Convention, the overall strategy of 
      national action programmes shall emphasize integrated local development 
      programmes for affected areas, based on participatory mechanisms and on 
      integration of strategies for poverty eradication into efforts to combat 
      desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. The programmes shall 
      aim at strengthening the capacity of local authorities and ensuring the 
      active involvement of local populations, communities and groups, with 
      emphasis on education and training, mobilization of non-governmental 
      organizations with proven expertise and strengthening of decentralized 
      governmental structures. 
      2. National action programmes shall, as appropriate, include the following 
      general features: 
      (a) the use, in developing and implementing national action programmes, of 
      past experiences in combating desertification and/or mitigating the 
      effects of drought, taking into account social, economic and ecological 
      conditions; 
      (b) the identification of factors contributing to desertification and/or 
      drought and the resources and capacities available and required, and the 
      setting up of appropriate policies and institutional and other responses 
      and measures necessary to combat those phenomena and/or mitigate their 
      effects; and 
      (c) the increase in participation of local populations and communities, 
      including women, farmers and pastoralists, and delegation to them of more 
      responsibility for management. 
      3. National action programmes shall also, as appropriate, include the 
      following: 
      (a) measures to improve the economic environment with a view to 
      eradicating poverty: 
      (i) increasing incomes and employment opportunities, especially for the 
      poorest members of the community, by: 
      - developing markets for farm and livestock products; 
      - creating financial instruments suited to local needs; 
      - encouraging diversification in agriculture and the setting-up of 
      agricultural enterprises; and 
      - developing economic activities of a para-agricultural or non- 
      agricultural type; 
      (ii) improving the long-term prospects of rural economies by the creation 
      of: 
      - incentives for productive investment and access to the means of 
      production; and 
      - price and tax policies and commercial practices that promote growth; 
      (iii) defining and applying population and migration policies to reduce 
      population pressure on land; and 
      (iv) promoting the use of drought resistant crops and the application of 
      integrated dry- land farming systems for food security purposes; 
      (b) measures to conserve natural resources: 
      (i) ensuring integrated and sustainable management of natural resources, 
      including: 
      - agricultural land and pastoral land; 
      - vegetation cover and wildlife; 
      - forests; 
      - water resources; and 
      - biological diversity; 
      (ii) training with regard to, and strengthening, public awareness and 
      environmental education campaigns and disseminating knowledge of 
      techniques relating to the sustainable management of natural resources; 
      and 
      (iii) ensuring the development and efficient use of diverse energy 
      sources, the promotion of alternative sources of energy, particularly 
      solar energy, wind energy and bio-gas, and specific arrangements for the 
      transfer, acquisition and adaptation of relevant technology to alleviate 
      the pressure on fragile natural resources; 
      (c) measures to improve institutional organization: 
      (i) defining the roles and responsibilities of central government and 
      local authorities within the framework of a land use planning policy; 
      (ii) encouraging a policy of active decentralization, devolving 
      responsibility for management and decision-making to local authorities, 
      and encouraging initiatives and the assumption of responsibility by local 
      communities and the establishment of local structures; and 
      (iii) adjusting, as appropriate, the institutional and regulatory 
      framework of natural resource management to provide security of land 
      tenure for local populations; 
      (d) measures to improve knowledge of desertification: 
      (i) promoting research and the collection, processing and exchange of 
      information on the scientific, technical and socio-economic aspects of 
      desertification; 
      (ii) improving national capabilities in research and in the collection, 
      processing, exchange and analysis of information so as to increase 
      understanding and to translate the results of the analysis into 
      operational terms; and 
      (iii) encouraging the medium and long term study of: 
      - socio-economic and cultural trends in affected areas; 
      - qualitative and quantitative trends in natural resources; and 
      - the interaction between climate and desertification; and 
      (e) measures to monitor and assess the effects of drought: 
      (i) developing strategies to evaluate the impacts of natural climate 
      variability on regional drought and desertification and/or to utilize 
      predictions of climate variability on seasonal to interannual time scales 
      in efforts to mitigate the effects of drought; 
      (ii) improving early warning and response capacity, efficiently managing 
      emergency relief and food aid, and improving food stocking and 
      distribution systems, cattle protection schemes and public works and 
      alternative livelihoods for drought prone areas; and 
      (iii) monitoring and assessing ecological degradation to provide reliable 
      and timely information on the process and dynamics of resource degradation 
      in order to facilitate better policy formulations and responses.



      Article 9
      Preparation of national action programmes and implementation and 
      evaluation indicators 
      Each affected African country Party shall designate an appropriate 
      national coordinating body to function as a catalyst in the preparation, 
      implementation and evaluation of its national action programme. This 
      coordinating body shall, in the light of article 3 and as appropriate: 
      (a) undertake an identification and review of actions, beginning with a 
      locally driven consultation process, involving local populations and 
      communities and with the cooperation of local administrative authorities, 
      developed country Parties and intergovernmental and non-governmental 
      organizations, on the basis of initial consultations of those concerned at 
      the national level; 
      (b) identify and analyze the constraints, needs and gaps affecting 
      development and sustainable land use and recommend practical measures to 
      avoid duplication by making full use of relevant ongoing efforts and 
      promote implementation of results; 
      (c) facilitate, design and formulate project activities based on 
      interactive, flexible approaches in order to ensure active participation 
      of the population in affected areas, to minimize the negative impact of 
      such activities, and to identify and prioritize requirements for financial 
      assistance and technical cooperation; 
      (d) establish pertinent, quantifiable and readily verifiable indicators to 
      ensure the assessment and evaluation of national action programmes, which 
      encompass actions in the short, medium and long terms, and of the 
      implementation of such programmes; and 
      (e) prepare progress reports on the implementation of the national action 
      programmes.



      Article 10
      Organizational framework of subregional action programmes 
      1. Pursuant to article 4 of the Convention, African country Parties shall 
      cooperate in the preparation and implementation of subregional action 
      programmes for central, eastern, northern, southern and western Africa 
      and, in that regard, may delegate the following responsibilities to 
      relevant subregional intergovernmental organizations: 
      (a) acting as focal points for preparatory activities and coordinating the 
      implementation of the subregional action programmes; 
      (b) assisting in the preparation and implementation of national action 
      programmes; 
      (c) facilitating the exchange of information, experience and know-how as 
      well as providing advice on the review of national legislation; and 
      (d) any other responsibilities relating to the implementation of 
      subregional action programmes. 
      2. Specialized subregional institutions may provide support, upon request, 
      and/or be entrusted with the responsibility to coordinate activities in 
      their respective fields of competence.



      Article 11
      Content and preparation of subregional action programmes 
      Subregional action programmes shall focus on issues that are better 
      addressed at the subregional level. They shall establish, where necessary, 
      mechanisms for the management of shared natural resources. Such mechanisms 
      shall effectively handle transboundary problems associated with 
      desertification and/or drought and shall provide support for the 
      harmonious implementation of national action programmes. Priority areas 
      for subregional action programmes shall, as appropriate, focus on: 
      (a) joint programmes for the sustainable management of transboundary 
      natural resources through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms, as 
      appropriate; 
      (b) coordination of programmes to develop alternative energy sources; 
      (c) cooperation in the management and control of pests as well as of plant 
      and animal diseases; 
      (d) capacity building, education and public awareness activities that are 
      better carried out or supported at the subregional level; 
      (e) scientific and technical cooperation, particularly in the 
      climatological, meteorological and hydrological fields, including 
      networking for data collection and assessment, information sharing and 
      project monitoring, and coordination and prioritization of research and 
      development activities; 
      (f) early warning systems and joint planning for mitigating the effects of 
      drought, including measures to address the problems resulting from 
      environmentally induced migrations; 
      (g) exploration of ways of sharing experiences, particularly regarding 
      participation of local populations and communities, and creation of an 
      enabling environment for improved land use management and for use of 
      appropriate technologies; 
      (h) strengthening of the capacity of subregional organizations to 
      coordinate and provide technical services, as well as establishment, 
      reorientation and strengthening of subregional centres and institutions; 
      and 
      (i) development of policies in fields, such as trade, which have impact 
      upon affected areas and populations, including policies for the 
      coordination of regional marketing regimes and for common infrastructure.



      Article 12
      Organizational framework of the regional action programme 
      1. Pursuant to article 11 of the Convention, African country Parties shall 
      jointly determine the procedures for preparing and implementing the 
      regional action programme. 
      2. The Parties may provide appropriate support to relevant African 
      regional institutions and organizations to enable them to assist African 
      country Parties to fulfil their responsibilities under the Convention.



      Article 13
      Content of the regional action programme 
      The regional action programme includes measures relating to combating 
      desertification and/or mitigating the effects of drought in the following 
      priority areas, as appropriate: 
      (a) development of regional cooperation and coordination of sub-regional 
      action programmes for building regional consensus on key policy areas, 
      including through regular consultations of sub-regional organizations; 
      (b) promotion of capacity building in activities which are better 
      implemented at the regional level; 
      (c) the seeking of solutions with the international community to global 
      economic and social issues that have an impact on affected areas taking 
      into account article 4, paragraph 2 (b) of the Convention; 
      (d) promotion among the affected country Parties of Africa and its 
      subregions, as well as with other affected regions, of exchange of 
      information and appropriate techniques, technical know-how and relevant 
      experience; promotion of scientific and technological cooperation 
      particularly in the fields of climatology, meteorology, hydrology, water 
      resource development and alternative energy sources; coordination of 
      sub-regional and regional research activities; and identification of 
      regional priorities for research and development; 
      (e) coordination of networks for systematic observation and assessment and 
      information exchange, as well as their integration into world wide 
      networks; and 
      (f) coordination of and reinforcement of sub-regional and regional early 
      warning systems and drought contingency plans.



      Article 14
      Financial resources 
      1. Pursuant to article 20 of the Convention and article 4, paragraph 2, 
      affected African country Parties shall endeavour to provide a 
      macroeconomic framework conducive to the mobilization of financial 
      resources and shall develop policies and establish procedures to channel 
      resources more effectively to local development programmes, including 
      through non-governmental organizations, as appropriate. 
      2. Pursuant to article 21, paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Convention, the 
      Parties agree to establish an inventory of sources of funding at the 
      national, subregional, regional and international levels to ensure the 
      rational use of existing resources and to identify gaps in resource 
      allocation, to facilitate implementation of the action programmes. The 
      inventory shall be regularly reviewed and updated. 
      3. Consistent with article 7 of the Convention, the developed country 
      Parties shall continue to allocate significant resources and/or increased 
      resources as well as other forms of assistance to affected African country 
      Parties on the basis of partnership agreements and arrangements referred 
      to in article 18, giving, inter alia, due attention to matters related to 
      debt, international trade and marketing arrangements in accordance with 
      article 4, paragraph 2 (b) of the Convention.



      Article 15
      Financial Mechanisms 
      1. Consistent with article 7 of the Convention underscoring the priority 
      to affected African country Parties and considering the particular 
      situation prevailing in this region, the Parties shall pay special 
      attention to the implementation in Africa of the provisions of article 21, 
      paragraph 1 (d) and (e) of the Convention, notably by: 
      (a) facilitating the establishment of mechanisms, such as national 
      desertification funds, to channel financial resources to the local level; 
      and 
      (b) strengthening existing funds and financial mechanisms at the 
      subregional and regional levels. 
      2. Consistent with articles 20 and 21 of the Convention, the Parties which 
      are also members of the governing bodies of relevant regional and 
      subregional financial institutions, including the African Development Bank 
      and the African Development Fund, shall promote efforts to give due 
      priority and attention to the activities of those institutions that 
      advance the implementation of this Annex. 
      3. The Parties shall streamline, to the extent possible, procedures for 
      channelling funds to affected African country Parties.



      Article 16
      Technical assistance and cooperation 
      The Parties undertake, in accordance with their respective capabilities, 
      to rationalize technical assistance to, and cooperation with, African 
      country Parties with a view to increasing project and programme 
      effectiveness by, inter alia: 
      (a) limiting the costs of support measures and backstopping, especially 
      overhead costs; in any case, such costs shall only represent an 
      appropriately low percentage of the total cost of the project so as to 
      maximize project efficiency; 
      (b) giving preference to the utilization of competent national experts or, 
      where necessary, competent experts from within the subregion and/or 
      region, in project design, preparation and implementation, and to the 
      building of local expertise where it does not exist; and 
      (c) effectively managing and coordinating, as well as efficiently 
      utilizing, technical assistance to be provided.



      Article 17
      Transfer, acquisition, adaptation and access to environmentally sound 
      technology 
      In implementing article 18 of the Convention relating to transfer, 
      acquisition, adaptation and development of technology, the Parties 
      undertake to give priority to African country Parties and, as necessary, 
      to develop with them new models of partnership and cooperation with a view 
      to strengthening capacity building in the fields of scientific research 
      and development and information collection and dissemination to enable 
      them to implement their strategies to combat desertification and mitigate 
      the effects of drought.



      Article 18
      Coordination and partnership agreements 
      1. African country Parties shall coordinate the preparation, negotiation 
      and implementation of national, subregional and regional action 
      programmes. They may involve, as appropriate, other Parties and relevant 
      intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in this process. 
      2. The objectives of such coordination shall be to ensure that financial 
      and technical cooperation is consistent with the Convention and to provide 
      the necessary continuity in the use and administration of resources. 
      3. African country Parties shall organize consultative processes at the 
      national, subregional and regional levels. These consultative processes 
      may: 
      (a) serve as a forum to negotiate and conclude partnership agreements 
      based on national, subregional and regional action programmes; and 
      (b) specify the contribution of African country Parties and other members 
      of the consultative groups to the programmes and identify priorities and 
      agreements on implementation and evaluation indicators, as well as funding 
      arrangements for implementation. 
      4. The Permanent Secretariat may, at the request of African country 
      Parties, pursuant to article 23 of the Convention, facilitate the 
      convocation of such consultative processes by: 
      (a) providing advice on the organization of effective consultative 
      arrangements, drawing on experiences from other such arrangements; 
      (b) providing information to relevant bilateral and multilateral agencies 
      concerning consultative meetings or processes, and encouraging their 
      active involvement; and 
      (c) providing other information that may be relevant in establishing or 
      improving consultative arrangements. 
      5. The subregional and regional coordinating bodies shall, inter alia: 
      (a) recommend appropriate adjustments to partnership agreements; 
      (b) monitor, assess and report on the implementation of the agreed 
      subregional and regional programmes; and 
      (c) aim to ensure efficient communication and cooperation among African 
      country Parties. 
      6. Participation in the consultative groups shall, as appropriate, be open 
      to Governments, interested groups and donors, relevant organs, funds and 
      programmes of the United Nations system, relevant subregional and regional 
      organizations, and representatives of relevant non-governmental 
      organizations. Participants of each consultative group shall determine the 
      modalities of its management and operation. 
      7. Pursuant to article 14 of the Convention, developed country Parties are 
      encouraged to develop, on their own initiative, an informal process of 
      consultation and coordination among themselves, at the national, 
      subregional and regional levels, and, at the request of an affected 
      African country Party or of an appropriate subregional or regional 
      organization, to participate in a national, subregional or regional 
      consultative process that would evaluate and respond to assistance needs 
      in order to facilitate implementation. 



      Article 19
      Follow-up arrangements 
      Follow-up of this Annex shall be carried out by African country Parties in 
      accordance with the Convention as follows: 
      (a) at the national level, by a mechanism the composition of which should 
      be determined by each affected African country Party and which shall 
      include representatives of local communities and shall function under the 
      supervision of the national coordinating body referred to in article 9; 
      (b) at the subregional level, by a multidisciplinary scientific and 
      technical consultative committee, the composition and modalities of 
      operation of which shall be determined by the African country Parties of 
      the subregion concerned; and 
      (c) at the regional level, by mechanisms defined in accordance with the 
      relevant provisions of the Treaty establishing the African Economic 
      Community, and by an African Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee.



      ANNEX II
      REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION ANNEX FOR ASIA
      Article 1
      Purpose 
      The purpose of this Annex is to provide guidelines and arrangements for 
      the effective implementation of the Convention in the affected country 
      Parties of the Asian region in the light of its particular conditions. 
      Article 2 
      Particular conditions of the Asian region 
      In carrying out their obligations under the Convention, the Parties shall, 
      as appropriate, take into consideration the following particular 
      conditions which apply in varying degrees to the affected country Parties 
      of the region: 
      (a) the high proportion of areas in their territories affected by, or 
      vulnerable to, desertification and drought and the broad diversity of 
      these areas with regard to climate, topography, land use and 
      socio-economic systems; 
      (b) the heavy pressure on natural resources for livelihoods; 
      (c) the existence of production systems, directly related to widespread 
      poverty, leading to land degradation and to pressure on scarce water 
      resources; 
      (d) the significant impact of conditions in the world economy and social 
      problems such as poverty, poor health and nutrition, lack of food 
      security, migration, displaced persons and demographic dynamics; 
      (e) their expanding, but still insufficient, capacity and institutional 
      frameworks to deal with national desertification and drought problems; and 

      (f) their need for international cooperation to pursue sustainable 
      development objectives relating to combating desertification and 
      mitigating the effects of drought.



      Article 3
      Framework for national action programmes 
      1. National action programmes shall be an integral part of broader 
      national policies for sustainable development of the affected country 
      Parties of the region. 
      2. The affected country Parties shall, as appropriate, develop national 
      action programmes pursuant to articles 9 to 11 of the Convention, paying 
      special attention to article 10, paragraph 2 (f). As appropriate, 
      bilateral and multilateral cooperation agencies may be involved in this 
      process at the request of the affected country Party concerned.



      Article 4
      National action programmes 
      1. In preparing and implementing national action programmes, the affected 
      country Parties of the region, consistent with their respective 
      circumstances and policies, may, inter alia, as appropriate: 
      (a) designate appropriate bodies responsible for the preparation, 
      coordination and implementation of their action programmes; 
      (b) involve affected populations, including local communities, in the 
      elaboration, coordination and implementation of their action programmes 
      through a locally driven consultative process, with the cooperation of 
      local authorities and relevant national and non- governmental 
      organizations; 
      (c) survey the state of the environment in affected areas to assess the 
      causes and consequences of desertification and to determine priority areas 
      for action; 
      (d) evaluate, with the participation of affected populations, past and 
      current programmes for combating desertification and mitigating the 
      effects of drought, in order to design a strategy and elaborate activities 
      in their action programmes; 
      (e) prepare technical and financial programmes based on the information 
      derived from the activities in subparagraphs (a) to (d); 
      (f) develop and utilize procedures and benchmarks for evaluating 
      implementation of their action programmes; 
      (g) promote the integrated management of drainage basins, the conservation 
      of soil resources, and the enhancement and efficient use of water 
      resources; 
      (h) strengthen and/or establish information, evaluation and follow up and 
      early warning systems in regions prone to desertification and drought, 
      taking account of climatological, meteorological, hydrological, biological 
      and other relevant factors; and 
      (i) formulate in a spirit of partnership, where international cooperation, 
      including financial and technical resources, is involved, appropriate 
      arrangements supporting their action programmes. 
      2. Consistent with article 10 of the Convention, the overall strategy of 
      national action programmes shall emphasize integrated local development 
      programmes for affected areas, based on participatory mechanisms and on 
      the integration of strategies for poverty eradication into efforts to 
      combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. Sectoral 
      measures in the action programmes shall be grouped in priority fields 
      which take account of the broad diversity of affected areas in the region 
      referred to in article 2 (a). 



      Article 5
      Subregional and joint action programmes 
      1. Pursuant to article 11 of the Convention, affected country Parties in 
      Asia may mutually agree to consult and cooperate with other Parties, as 
      appropriate, to prepare and implement subregional or joint action 
      programmes, as appropriate, in order to complement, and increase 
      effectiveness in the implementation of, national action programmes. In 
      either case, the relevant Parties may jointly agree to entrust 
      subregional, including bilateral or national organizations, or specialized 
      institutions, with responsibilities relating to the preparation, 
      coordination and implementation of programmes. Such organizations or 
      institutions may also act as focal points for the promotion and 
      coordination of actions pursuant to articles 16 to 18 of the Convention. 
      2. In preparing and implementing subregional or joint action programmes, 
      the affected country Parties of the region shall, inter alia, as 
      appropriate: 
      (a) identify, in cooperation with national institutions, priorities 
      relating to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of 
      drought which can better be met by such programmes, as well as relevant 
      activities which could be effectively carried out through them; 
      (b) evaluate the operational capacities and activities of relevant 
      regional, subregional and national institutions; 
      (c) assess existing programmes relating to desertification and drought 
      among all or some parties of the region or subregion and their 
      relationship with national action programmes; and 
      (d) formulate in a spirit of partnership, where international cooperation, 
      including financial and technical resources, is involved, appropriate 
      bilateral and/or multilateral arrangements supporting the programmes. 
      3. Subregional or joint action programmes may include agreed joint 
      programmes for the sustainable management of transboundary natural 
      resources relating to desertification, priorities for coordination and 
      other activities in the fields of capacity building, scientific and 
      technical cooperation, particularly drought early warning systems and 
      information sharing, and means of strengthening the relevant subregional 
      and other organizations or institutions. 



      Article 6
      Regional activities 
      Regional activities for the enhancement of subregional or joint action 
      programmes may include, inter alia, measures to strengthen institutions 
      and mechanisms for coordination and cooperation at the national, 
      subregional and regional levels, and to promote the implementation of 
      articles 16 to 19 of the Convention. These activities may also include: 
      (a) promoting and strengthening technical cooperation networks; 
      (b) preparing inventories of technologies, knowledge, know-how and 
      practices, as well as traditional and local technologies and know-how, and 
      promoting their dissemination and use; 
      (c) evaluating the requirements for technology transfer and promoting the 
      adaptation and use of such technologies; and 
      (d) encouraging public awareness programmes and promoting capacity 
      building at all levels, strengthening training, research and development 
      and building systems for human resource development.



      Article 7
      Financial resources and mechanisms 
      1. The Parties shall, in view of the importance of combating 
      desertification and mitigating the effects of drought in the Asian region, 
      promote the mobilization of substantial financial resources and the 
      availability of financial mechanisms, pursuant to articles 20 and 21 of 
      the Convention. 
      2. In conformity with the Convention and on the basis of the coordinating 
      mechanism provided for in article 8 and in accordance with their national 
      development policies, affected country Parties of the region shall, 
      individually or jointly: 
      (a) adopt measures to rationalize and strengthen mechanisms to supply 
      funds through public and private investment with a view to achieving 
      specific results in action to combat desertification and mitigate the 
      effects of drought; 
      (b) identify international cooperation requirements in support of national 
      efforts, particularly financial, technical and technological; and 
      (c) promote the participation of bilateral and/or multilateral financial 
      cooperation institutions with a view to ensuring implementation of the 
      Convention. 
      3. The Parties shall streamline, to the extent possible, procedures for 
      channelling funds to affected country Parties in the region. 



      Article 8
      Cooperation and coordination mechanisms 
      1. Affected country Parties, through the appropriate bodies designated 
      pursuant to article 4, paragraph 1 (a), and other Parties in the region, 
      may, as appropriate, set up a mechanism for, inter alia, the following 
      purposes: 
      (a) exchange of information, experience, knowledge and know-how; 
      (b) cooperation and coordination of actions, including bilateral and 
      multilateral arrangements, at the subregional and regional levels; 
      (c) promotion of scientific, technical, technological and financial 
      cooperation pursuant to articles 5 to 7; 
      (d) identification of external cooperation requirements; and 
      (e) follow-up and evaluation of the implementation of action programmes. 
      2. Affected country Parties, through the appropriate bodies designated 
      pursuant to article 4, paragraph 1 (a), and other Parties in the region, 
      may also, as appropriate, consult and coordinate as regards the national, 
      subregional and joint action programmes. They may involve, as appropriate, 
      other Parties and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental 
      organizations in this process. Such coordination shall, inter alia, seek 
      to secure agreement on opportunities for international cooperation in 
      accordance with articles 20 and 21 of the Convention, enhance technical 
      cooperation and channel resources so that they are used effectively. 
      3. Affected country Parties of the region shall hold periodic coordination 
      meetings, and the Permanent Secretariat may, at their request, pursuant to 
      article 23 of the Convention, facilitate the convocation of such 
      coordination meetings by: 
      (a) providing advice on the organization of effective coordination 
      arrangements, drawing on experience from other such arrangements; 
      (b) providing information to relevant bilateral and multilateral agencies 
      concerning coordination meetings, and encouraging their active 
      involvement; and 
      (c) providing other information that may be relevant in establishing or 
      improving coordination processes.



      ANNEX III
      REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION ANNEX 
      FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
      Article 1 
      Purpose 
      The purpose of this Annex is to provide general guidelines for the 
      implementation of the Convention in the Latin American and Caribbean 
      region, in light of its particular conditions.



      Article 2
      Particular conditions of the Latin American and Caribbean region 
      The Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, 
      take into consideration the following particular conditions of the region: 

      (a) the existence of broad expanses which are vulnerable and have been 
      severely affected by desertification and/or drought and in which diverse 
      characteristics may be observed, depending on the area in which they 
      occur; this cumulative and intensifying process has negative social, 
      cultural, economic and environmental effects which are all the more 
      serious in that the region contains one of the largest resources of 
      biological diversity in the world; 
      (b) the frequent use of unsustainable development practices in affected 
      areas as a result of complex interactions among physical, biological, 
      political, social, cultural and economic factors, including international 
      economic factors such as external indebtedness, deteriorating terms of 
      trade and trade practices which affect markets for agricultural, fishery 
      and forestry products; and 
      (c) a sharp drop in the productivity of ecosystems being the main 
      consequence of desertification and drought, taking the form of a decline 
      in agricultural, livestock and forestry yields and a loss of biological 
      diversity; from the social point of view, the results are impoverishment, 
      migration, internal population movements, and the deterioration of the 
      quality of life; the region will therefore have to adopt an integrated 
      approach to problems of desertification and drought by promoting 
      sustainable development models that are in keeping with the environmental, 
      economic and social situation in each country.



      Article 3
      Action programmes 
      1. In conformity with the Convention, in particular its articles 9 to 11, 
      and in accordance with their national development policies, affected 
      country Parties of the region shall, as appropriate, prepare and implement 
      national action programmes to combat desertification and mitigate the 
      effects of drought as an integral part of their national policies for 
      sustainable development. Subregional and regional programmes may be 
      prepared and implemented in accordance with the requirements of the 
      region. 
      2. In the preparation of their national action programmes, affected 
      country Parties of the region shall pay particular attention to article 
      10, paragraph 2 (f) of the Convention.



      Article 4
      Content of national action programmes 
      In the light of their respective situations, the affected country Parties 
      of the region may take account, inter alia, of the following thematic 
      issues in developing their national strategies for action to combat 
      desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought, pursuant to 
      article 5 of the Convention: 
      (a) increasing capacities, education and public awareness, technical, 
      scientific and technological cooperation and financial resources and 
      mechanisms; 
      (b) eradicating poverty and improving the quality of human life; 
      (c) achieving food security and sustainable development and management of 
      agricultural, livestock-rearing, forestry and multipurpose activities; 
      (d) sustainable management of natural resources, especially the rational 
      management of drainage basins; 
      (e) sustainable management of natural resources in high-altitude areas; 
      (f) rational management and conservation of soil resources and 
      exploitation and efficient use of water resources; 
      (g) formulation and application of emergency plans to mitigate the effects 
      of drought; 
      (h) strengthening and/or establishing information, evaluation and 
      follow-up and early warning systems in areas prone to desertification and 
      drought, taking account of climatological, meteorological, hydrological, 
      biological, soil, economic and social factors; 
      (i) developing, managing and efficiently using diverse sources of energy, 
      including the promotion of alternative sources; 
      (j) conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in accordance with 
      the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity; 
      (k) consideration of demographic aspects related to desertification and 
      drought; and 
      (l) establishing or strengthening institutional and legal frameworks 
      permitting application of the Convention and aimed, inter alia, at 
      decentralizing administrative structures and functions relating to 
      desertification and drought, with the participation of affected 
      communities and society in general.



      Article 5
      Technical, scientific and technological cooperation 
      In conformity with the Convention, in particular its articles 16 to 18, 
      and on the basis of the coordinating mechanism provided for in article 7, 
      affected country Parties of the region shall, individually or jointly: 
      (a) promote the strengthening of technical cooperation networks and 
      national, subregional and regional information systems, as well as their 
      integration, as appropriate, in worldwide sources of information; 
      (b) prepare an inventory of available technologies and know-how and 
      promote their dissemination and use; 
      (c) promote the use of traditional technology, knowledge, know-how and 
      practices pursuant to article 18, paragraph 2 (b), of the Convention; 
      (d) identify transfer of technology requirements; and 
      (e) promote the development, adaptation, adoption and transfer of relevant 
      existing and new environmentally sound technologies. 



      Article 6
      Financial resources and mechanisms 
      In conformity with the Convention, in particular its articles 20 and 21, 
      on the basis of the coordinating mechanism provided for in article 7 and 
      in accordance with their national development policies, affected country 
      Parties of the region shall, individually or jointly: 
      (a) adopt measures to rationalize and strengthen mechanisms to supply 
      funds through public and private investment with a view to achieving 
      specific results in action to combat desertification and mitigate the 
      effects of drought; 
      (b) identify international cooperation requirements in support of national 
      efforts; and 
      (c) promote the participation of bilateral and/or multilateral financial 
      cooperation institutions with a view to ensuring implementation of the 
      Convention.



      Article 7
      Institutional framework 
      1. In order to give effect to this Annex, affected country Parties of the 
      region shall: 
      (a) establish and/or strengthen national focal points to coordinate action 
      to combat desertification and/or mitigate the effects of drought; and 
      (b) set up a mechanism to coordinate the national focal points for the 
      following purposes: 
      (i) exchanges of information and experience; 
      (ii) coordination of activities at the subregional and regional levels; 
      (iii) promotion of technical, scientific, technological and financial 
      cooperation; 
      (iv) identification of external cooperation requirements; and 
      (v) follow-up and evaluation of the implementation of action programmes. 
      2. Affected country Parties of the region shall hold periodic coordination 
      meetings and the Permanent Secretariat may, at their request, pursuant to 
      article 23 of the Convention, facilitate the convocation of such 
      coordination meetings, by: 
      (a) providing advice on the organization of effective coordination 
      arrangements, drawing on experience from other such arrangements; 
      (b) providing information to relevant bilateral and multilateral agencies 
      concerning coordination meetings, and encouraging their active 
      involvement; and 
      (c) providing other information that may be relevant in establishing or 
      improving coordination processes.



      ANNEX IV
      REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION ANNEX 
      FOR THE NORTHERN MEDITERRANEAN
      Article 1
      Purpose 
      The purpose of this Annex is to provide guidelines and arrangements 
      necessary for the effective implementation of the Convention in affected 
      country Parties of the northern Mediterranean region in the light of its 
      particular conditions.



      Article 2
      Particular conditions of the northern Mediterranean region 
      The particular conditions of the northern Mediterranean region referred to 
      in article 1 include: 
      (a) semi-arid climatic conditions affecting large areas, seasonal 
      droughts, very high rainfall variability and sudden and high-intensity 
      rainfall; 
      (b) poor and highly erodible soils, prone to develop surface crusts; 
      (c) uneven relief with steep slopes and very diversified landscapes; 
      (d) extensive forest coverage losses due to frequent wildfires; 
      (e) crisis conditions in traditional agriculture with associated land 
      abandonment and deterioration of soil and water conservation structures; 
      (f) unsustainable exploitation of water resources leading to serious 
      environmental damage, including chemical pollution, salinization and 
      exhaustion of aquifers; and 
      (g) concentration of economic activity in coastal areas as a result of 
      urban growth, industrial activities, tourism and irrigated agriculture.



      Article 3
      Strategic planning framework for sustainable development 
      1. National action programmes shall be a central and integral part of the 
      strategic planning framework for sustainable development of the affected 
      country Parties of the northern Mediterranean. 
      2. A consultative and participatory process, involving appropriate levels 
      of government, local communities and non-governmental organizations, shall 
      be undertaken to provide guidance on a strategy with flexible planning to 
      allow maximum local participation, pursuant to article 10, paragraph 2 (f) 
      of the Convention.



      Article 4
      Obligation to prepare national action programmes and timetable 
      Affected country Parties of the northern Mediterranean region shall 
      prepare national action programmes and, as appropriate, subregional, 
      regional or joint action programmes. The preparation of such programmes 
      shall be finalized as soon as practicable. 



      Article 5
      Preparation and implementation of national action programmes 
      In preparing and implementing national action programmes pursuant to 
      articles 9 and 10 of the Convention, each affected country Party of the 
      region shall, as appropriate: 
      (a) designate appropriate bodies responsible for the preparation, 
      coordination and implementation of its programme; 
      (b) involve affected populations, including local communities, in the 
      elaboration, coordination and implementation of the programme through a 
      locally driven consultative process, with the cooperation of local 
      authorities and relevant non-governmental organizations; 
      (c) survey the state of the environment in affected areas to assess the 
      causes and consequences of desertification and to determine priority areas 
      for action; 
      (d) evaluate, with the participation of affected populations, past and 
      current programmes in order to design a strategy and elaborate activities 
      in the action programme; 
      (e) prepare technical and financial programmes based on the information 
      gained through the activities in subparagraphs (a) to (d); and 
      (f) develop and utilize procedures and benchmarks for monitoring and 
      evaluating the implementation of the programme.



      Article 6
      Content of national action programmes 
      Affected country Parties of the region may include, in their national 
      action programmes, measures relating to: 
      (a) legislative, institutional and administrative areas; 
      (b) land use patterns, management of water resources, soil conservation, 
      forestry, agricultural activities and pasture and range management; 
      (c) management and conservation of wildlife and other forms of biological 
      diversity; 
      (d) protection against forest fires; 
      (e) promotion of alternative livelihoods; and 
      (f) research, training and public awareness.



      Article 7
      Subregional, regional and joint action programmes 
      1. Affected country Parties of the region may, in accordance with article 
      11 of the Convention, prepare and implement subregional and/or regional 
      action programmes in order to complement and increase the efficiency of 
      national action programmes. Two or more affected country Parties of the 
      region, may similarly agree to prepare a joint action programme between or 
      among them. 
      2. The provisions of articles 5 and 6 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the 
      preparation and implementation of subregional, regional and joint action 
      programmes. In addition, such programmes may include the conduct of 
      research and development activities concerning selected ecosystems in 
      affected areas. 
      3. In preparing and implementing subregional, regional or joint action 
      programmes, affected country Parties of the region shall, as appropriate: 
      (a) identify, in cooperation with national institutions, national 
      objectives relating to desertification which can better be met by such 
      programmes and relevant activities which could be effectively carried out 
      through them; 
      (b) evaluate the operational capacities and activities of relevant 
      regional, subregional and national institutions; and 
      (c) assess existing programmes relating to desertification among Parties 
      of the region and their relationship with national action programmes.



      Article 8
      Coordination of subregional, regional and joint action programmes 
      Affected country Parties preparing a subregional, regional or joint action 
      programme may establish a coordination committee composed of 
      representatives of each affected country Party concerned to review 
      progress in combating desertification, harmonize national action 
      programmes, make recommendations at the various stages of preparation and 
      implementation of the subregional, regional or joint action programme, and 
      act as a focal point for the promotion and coordination of technical 
      cooperation pursuant to articles 16 to 19 of the Convention.



      Article 9
      Non-eligibility for financial assistance 
      In implementing national, subregional, regional and joint action 
      programmes, affected developed country Parties of the region are not 
      eligible to receive financial assistance under this Convention. 



      Article 10
      Coordination with other subregions and regions 
      Subregional, regional and joint action programmes in the northern 
      Mediterranean region may be prepared and implemented in collaboration with 
      those of other subregions or regions, particularly with those of the 
      subregion of northern Africa.



