UNCCD COP17
Restoring Land, Restoring Hope
By HydroAfricaEnergy
9/5/20262 min read
UNCCD COP17: Restoring Land, Restoring Hope
From 17 to 28 August 2026, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, hosted the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17). The conference aimed to strengthen international cooperation in addressing the challenges of desertification, land degradation and drought, while accelerating action to restore land and strengthen the resilience of communities.
“Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.”
COP17 was held under the theme “Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.” This theme reflects the determination to place land restoration at the heart of responses to environmental, food and water crises, by linking soil health, water management, food systems, pastoralism and drought resilience.
Saluting Africa’s Mobilization and Contribution
HydroAfricaEnergy wishes to commend the strong mobilization of African delegations at COP17. From the opening of the conference, Côte d’Ivoire spoke on behalf of the African Group, representing the collective voice of the continent in the negotiations.
Several African countries also participated in high-level ministerial dialogues, particularly on drought resilience and rangeland restoration and the well-being of pastoral communities. Among the African countries listed as official speakers were Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Guinea, Niger, Chad, Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Uganda and South Africa, among others.
This mobilization confirms that Africa is not only one of the regions most exposed to desertification and drought: it must also be at the heart of international solutions.
Mali at COP17
HydroAfricaEnergy particularly welcomes the participation of the Malian delegation led by the Minister of Environment and Sanitation. Mali’s participation in ministerial discussions on drought and rangelands contributed to bringing the concerns of the Sahel to the international stage, particularly regarding land degradation, water management and community resilience.
Key Outcomes of COP17
At the conclusion of its work, COP17 adopted several major decisions and documents, including the Ulaanbaatar Declaration, “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope.” The outcomes focused notably on land restoration, drought resilience, rangelands and pastoralism, land tenure, and sand and dust storms. The conference also adopted a new strategic framework for the future of the Convention and its programme of work for the coming years.
COP17 also emphasized the need to translate political decisions into concrete action, particularly through the mobilization of financial resources, strengthening drought resilience and greater involvement of local stakeholders. The conference programme was specifically designed to bring international decisions closer to practical solutions on the ground around four major areas: finance, water, land and people, food systems and soil health.
HydroAfricaEnergy’s Message
For HydroAfricaEnergy, COP17 reminds us that land restoration, water security, agriculture, climate resilience and the energy transition are closely interconnected.
Africa must now transform international commitments into concrete projects capable of restoring degraded land, securing water supplies, strengthening agricultural production, developing rural areas and creating employment opportunities for young people.
Renewable energy, particularly solar power, can contribute significantly to this transformation through water pumping, irrigation, rural electrification, and the preservation and processing of agricultural products.
HydroAfricaEnergy therefore commends the mobilization of African delegations, the contribution of Mali and the outcomes of COP17. The real challenge begins now: moving from commitments to action, from financing to projects, and from ambitions to measurable results.
Restoring land and restoring hope also means building a more resilient, self-reliant and sustainable Africa.
