Are you attending the UNCCD COP 12 in Ankara, Turkey? We are organizing a series of events on all kind of issues related to Land Degradation, and the Sustainable Development Goals. The conference (COP) just kicked off today and goes on the next two weeks. Check out our events here below, and online for the Rio Conventions Pavilion: www.riopavilion.org

Wednesday October 14th - 18h - 20h (Room MET 7)
Fostering sustainability and resilience for food security in Africa
To keep the GEF on the leading edge of innovation and enhance the GEF's responsiveness to regional and global environmental issues, three Integrated Pilot Programs have been introduced in GEF-6. One of them is the Integrated Approach Pilot (IAP) program on sustainability and resilience for food security in sub-Saharan Africa. It is anchored in specific agro-ecological contexts where the need for food security is linked directly to opportunities for generating global environmental benefits.

Thursday October 15th - 16:40h - 18:10h (Rio Pavilion 4th floor)
Sustainable Development Goals and the Synergy between Focal Areas at the GEF
Land degradation has complex impacts on the global environment and affects ecosystem functions and services. Its impacts has repercussions on food security, human health and migration. Therefore, managing land degradation needs alignment with development priorities on poverty alleviation and food security and environmental issues such as biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaption. These issues are all high on the SDG agenda. The GEF occupies a unique space in the global partnership for sustainable development in the context of the SDG agenda which will be highlighted and discussed. Event will be followed by a reception in the Rio Pavilion

Friday October 16th - 13h - 15h (Room MET 10)
GEF-6 Programming update including UNCCD Enabling Activity support
The GEF serves as a financing mechanism for the UNCCD and for other multilateral environmental conventions that have set ambitious targets aimed at addressing environmental degradation. Reflecting the guidance provided to the GEF by the various Conferences of Parties (COPs), the programing strategies developed for GEF-6 seek to achieve impacts at scale while delivering global environmental benefits, consistent with GEF's mandate.

Sunday October 18th
GEF SGP SITE VISIT (as one of the official tours, see COP website via www.unccd.int for details)