7. Implementation framework: financial and non-financial resources, policy and planning, and action on the ground

7.1. About the implementation framework

7.1.1. Introduction

The implementation framework describes the approach adopted to support and implement the strategic objectives and furthermore provides Parties with an opportunity to share their knowledge and experiences. It focuses on three broad areas:

(a) Financial and non-financial resources

Sharing experiences in (i) successfully mobilized financial and non-financial resources; (ii) uses of land degradation neutrality (LDN) as a catalyst for leveraging investments; and (iii) improved use of existing and/or innovative financial processes and institutions.

(b) Policy and planning

Sharing experiences in (i) the development, implementation and monitoring of national, subregional and regional action programmes and/or plans for UNCCD implementation; (ii) the establishment of policies and enabling environments; (iii) leveraging of synergies; (iv) mainstreaming of desertification/land degradation and drought (DLDD); and (v) improvements in drought preparedness and management.

(c) Actions on the ground

Sharing experience in (i) successful implementation practices used to achieve sustainable land management; (ii) increasing restoration efforts and/or rehabilitating ecosystems; (iii) drought risk management and early warning systems; (iv) alternative livelihoods; and (v) the establishment of effective systems for sharing information and knowledge.

7.1.2. Approach to reporting and structure of the reporting template

Reporting on the implementation framework is qualitative and voluntary.

The reporting template of the PRAIS 4 platform includes a section for each of the above-mentioned areas ((a), (b) and (c)), organized as follows:

The title and a brief description of each topic;
The key question(s) related to the topics;
Complementary information on the topics (countries’ experiences as narrative).

Many questions in the reporting template of the implementation framework are self-explanatory, and guidance is provided only for selected terminology that may need explanation.

‘Yes’ responses to questions enable fields where Parties may provide details on the topic. These fields may change from topic to topic, although a few of them are recurrent, such as:

Use this space to describe the experience.
What were the challenges faced, if any?
What do you consider to be the lessons learned?
How did you engage women and youth in X?

The narrative nature of the reporting process gives Parties an opportunity to provide and share information on experiences and challenges. Parties are also encouraged to add one or more examples in support of the stated experiences, including the approach/procedure that was used, how the reported examples were successful and what factors contributed to the success. Each experience and example should be provided as text and should not exceed 1,000 words (approximately two pages of normal text in font size 12).

Some sections in the implementation framework include questions about the support provided to other Parties for implementing the Convention with details on modalities and contexts. Those questions are addressed in principle to those Parties to the Convention which may not suffer from DLDD, but which support those that do. However, it may also address those Parties that engage in South–South cooperation as part of the implementation of this Convention.

7.1.3. Review

The information provided through reporting on the implementation framework will be used, inter alia, for the official sessions of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention to showcase experiences gained in the implementation of the Convention. The reporting manual provides advice on the specific content and type of information that is required in the narratives concerning each area/aim, and hence contributes to focused reporting on current UNCCD priorities and enables a lively, targeted exchange during sessions.

7.2. Financial and non-financial resources

Parties are encouraged to answer questions related to the following three main topics.

7.2.1. Increasing the mobilization of resources

This section relates to strategies and actions aimed at increasing the mobilization of financial and non-financial resources for the implementation of the Convention from international and domestic, public and private sources as well as from local communities, including non-traditional funding sources and climate finance.

Examples of financial resources are funding from grants or credit, non-financial resources (e.g. goods, materials, capacity-building and volunteer time) and non-traditional funding sources (e.g. private investments and public–private partnerships, remittances, solidarity taxes, risk guarantees and insurances). International multilateral finance refers to the Adaptation Fund, Green Climate Fund, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) land degradation focal area and its special funds focusing on climate, dedicated multilateral and bilateral funds, and carbon markets.

The narrative preferably should include information on the type of resources that were mobilized, the source of funding, the purpose of funding (brief description of the project/activity) and the approach/procedure that was used to mobilize resources. Parties may also explain how this experience represents an increase in resource mobilization (i.e. what is different about it) and the main challenges, main factors of success, and lessons learned.

The narrative may also describe a country’s support to the mobilization of financial and non-financial resources for the implementation of the Convention in another country, including information on the partner that was supported, the type of resources mobilized, the source of funding, the purpose of funding (brief description of the project/activity), the approach/procedure used to mobilize resources, lessons learned, challenges and the main factors of success.

7.2.2. Using land degradation neutrality as a framework to increase investment

This relates to strategies and actions for taking advantage of the opportunity to use LDN as a framework to enhance the coherence, effectiveness and multiple benefits of investments. Parties are encouraged to clarify how the implementation of the LDN concept has influenced/is influencing investments. In particular, the aim is to find out whether the implementation of the LDN concept has facilitated support to land activities from different funding sources and assisted in bringing together different types of investors.

Experience(s) and examples to be reported should focus on Parties that use or have used LDN as a framework to enhance the coherence, effectiveness and multiple benefits of investments. Such experiences may include supporting land activities through investments targeting climate action, biodiversity, forests, water and similar; or engaging a variety of funding sources (governments, financial institutions, private sector and others) in land activities. Information about the size of the investment, its use (brief description of the project/activity), challenges faced, lessons learned and the partners involved should also be reported.

7.2.3. Improving existing and/or innovative financial processes and institutions

Parties are encouraged to report on their approach to improve the use of existing and/or innovative financial processes and institutions, such as the GEF or other newer funds. Existing financial processes refer to national budgets, bilateral development cooperation and multilateral development banks, while innovative financial processes are climate finance (e.g. Adaptation Fund, Green Climate Fund, dedicated multilateral and bilateral climate funds other than those of the GEF, and carbon markets), private investments and public–private partnerships, remittances, solidarity taxes, risk guarantees, insurances or similar.

Parties may report experiences in improving climate investments (policies, regulations or approaches that facilitate investments in UNCCD implementation); increasing coherence among commitments (integration of LDN or land activities to financial considerations of other priorities and sectors); or improving capacity for the preparation of high-quality project proposals.

In the description of each experience, Parties may include information on the type(s) of financial processes that were addressed (existing, innovative, GEF or other) and the measures that were taken to improve the use of the financial process concerned. The narrative should explain how the measures worked, the way they improved the use of the financial process, the challenges faced, lessons learned, and the main factors of success.

Parties are encouraged to provide one or more examples of support provided in another country to improve the use of existing and/or innovative financial processes and institutions. In the description, it is recommended to include examples of support that was provided, information on the type(s) of financial processes that were addressed (existing, innovative, GEF or other) and measures that were taken to improve the use of the financial process concerned. The description of the outcome may include information on how the measures worked, the way they improved the use of the financial process and the specific challenges, lessons learned and main factors of success.

7.3. Policy and planning

Parties are encouraged to answer questions related to the following five main topics.

7.3.1. Action programmes

This relates to the development, implementation, revision and monitoring of national, subregional and regional action programmes and/or plans as effective tools for UNCCD implementation, such as the national action programmes (NAPs). NAPs are developed through participatory approaches involving various stakeholders at national, subregional and regional levels, and they encompass practical steps and measures that contribute to combating land degradation/desertification and mitigating the effects of drought.

The narrative should report experience(s) in developing, implementing, revising and/or regularly monitoring national, subregional or regional action programmes and include information on the types of action programmes, the main measures taken in developing, implementing, revising or monitoring them, and the current status/results achieved. The narrative should also explain how the adopted measures were effective for UNCCD implementation and the main factors of success.

7.3.2. Policies and enabling environment

This section focuses on establishing policies and legislative measures to ensure an enabling environment for promoting and implementing solutions to combat desertification/land degradation and mitigate the effects of drought.

DLDD approaches can be designed to deliver other social, economic and environmental benefits, including climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation and disaster risk reduction, among other things. Noting the link between gender equality and land degradation, DLDD approaches can also be developed with a clear gender dimension in implementation design.

Experience(s) and examples to be reported (including those from the LDN Target-Setting Programme, where applicable) may focus on the setting of policy and legislative measures to minimize drought risks, including regulations limiting deforestation or managing grazing, the establishment of protected areas, regulations prohibiting the use of certain chemicals or practices, and policies related to land-use planning, water harvesting or crop insurance, etc. More generally, the narrative may report on regulations and policies that cover all agricultural practices and land use at national level, and even subregional level (transboundary agreements ensuring the mobility of pastoralists, etc.), including information on the area covered by the policy or legislative measure (national/local/subregional), the targeted audience, main provisions, and institution(s) adopting the measure, as well as information on how the measure has succeeded in meeting its aim and the main factors of success.

Experience in setting up policy measures to mainstream gender in the implementation of the UNCCD should also be reported. Such experiences may involve, for example, enhancing women’s participation in decision-making concerning land, improving women’s land rights and access to related resources, or building women’s capacity for effective UNCCD implementation.

Parties are encouraged to provide one or more examples of support provided in the setting of policy and legislative measures in another country, including those related to mainstreaming gender in the implementation of the UNCCD. The brief description of the policy or legislative measure should include information on the area covered (national/local), targeted audience, main provisions, institutions adopting the measure, and main factors of success.

7.3.3. Synergies

This refers to strategies and actions aimed at leveraging synergies in DLDD-related activities and integrating DLDD in planning and implementation to generate simultaneous benefits and added value for other multilateral environmental agreements or international commitments.

DLDD processes can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, habitat loss and decline in biodiversity. As a result, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change nationally determined contributions and national adaptation plans and the Convention on Biological Diversity National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans may contribute to meeting targets under one or more of the Rio convention mechanisms mentioned as well as under the UNCCD, NAPs and/or LDN targets. Land-based interventions can help integrate and accelerate progress against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), many of which compete for limited land resources. Implementation measures may include the adoption of conservation measures, sustainable land management (SLM) practices and/or ecological rehabilitation/restoration of past land degradation, and may be pursued in ecosystem-based approaches such as ecosystem-based adaptation, ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction and any other nature-based solution that involves land. Thus, the implementation of actions to address DLDD can be pursued in a holistic approach to achieve the objectives of the three Rio conventions as well as relevant targets under all 17 SDGs, in particular SDG target 15.3.

Parties may provide information on relevant activities or plans (LDN targets, climate or biodiversity commitments or plans, SDGs, NAPs or similar) and include information on their linkages, including with regard to synergies generated and the main factors of success.

7.3.4. Mainstreaming desertification/land degradation and drought

Parties are encouraged to report on their approach to mainstreaming DLDD in economic, environmental and social policies, with a view to increasing the impact and effectiveness of the implementation of the Convention.

The responses should provide information on experience gained in mainstreaming DLDD in economic, environmental and social policies (including experience gained from the LDN Target-Setting Programme), such as adopting SLM in policies for income generation/poverty reduction, gender equality, unemployment, migration, disaster preparedness, energy efficiency or wildlife conservation, among other things.

Parties may include the rationale behind the mainstreaming of DLDD in policies, information on coverage/users of the policy, and details of the process for preparing and deciding on the methods for DLDD mainstreaming. A description on how DLDD mainstreaming in policies increases the impact and effectiveness of the implementation of the Convention and generates added value for the policy should also be included, as well as the main factors of success.

7.4. Action on the ground

Parties are encouraged to answer questions related to the following five main topics.

7.4.1. Sustainable land management practices

Parties may provide a summary of one or more successful SLM practices based on the list developed using the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) Global SLM Database and included in the PRAIS 4 platform1.

The description of the practice may include information on the type of practice, main activities, main stakeholders involved, resources used, reasons for its success in avoiding or reducing land degradation in the long term, and main factors of success. When applicable, experiences from the LDN Target-Setting Programme should also be reported.

Additionally, a full description of the best practice can also be submitted through the WOCAT system to the dedicated knowledge base. Detailed information on how to submit to the WOCAT system can be found at this link: http://knowledge.unccd.int/WOCAT-SLM.

Parties are encouraged to provide one or more examples of support provided to another country to implement successful SLM practices. In the description, it is recommended to include information on the type of practice, main activities, main stakeholders involved, duration, and resources used. The reasons for the successful implementation of this practice, how it has avoided or reduced land degradation in the long term, and the main factors of success should also be reported.

If the practice is already included in the WOCAT system or another similar online database, a link to these systems should be included.

7.4.2. Restoration and rehabilitation

Parties are encouraged to describe their experience in implementing restoration and rehabilitation practices to (i) reverse land degradation and improve land-based natural capital; (ii) assist in the recovery of a degraded ecosystem by re-establishing the pre-existing ecological structure and function; or (iii) reinstate ecosystem functionality, with a focus on the provision of goods and services. Such practices may include, for example, soil nutrient replenishment through organic amendment, water harvesting, counter-erosion measures and reforestation.

In the description, Parties may include information on the type of practice, main activities, the ecosystem in question, main stakeholders involved and resources used. The narrative should also describe the main reasons for success, what support was provided for the recovery of ecosystem functions and services in the long term, and the main factors of success. If the restoration and rehabilitation refer to cases/examples that were mentioned in the question on SLM under the ‘Action on the ground’ section of the reporting form, Parties may refer to them or elaborate more specifically on one or more. Experiences from the LDN Target-Setting Programme should be reported when applicable.

Parties are encouraged to provide one or more examples of the support provided to another country to implement restoration and rehabilitation practices, including information of the type of practice, main activities, areas/ecosystems restored and rehabilitated, main stakeholders involved, and resources used. The narrative should also describe the main reasons for success, what support was provided to the recovery of ecosystem functions and services in the long term, and the main factors of success.

7.4.3. Drought risk management and early warning systems

Parties are encouraged to describe their experience in developing and operationalizing drought risk management, monitoring, and early warning systems and safety net programmes. Such experiences may include, for example, capacity-building and extension services, national strategies in place that cover drought risk management, and ways to monitor the early warning systems. The information may address questions relating to:

What are the current procedures/challenges relating to early warning systems in your country?
What mechanisms are in place for fostering the liaison and communication of drought monitoring and early warning information between national institutions in your country?
What are the causes of/reasons for vulnerability to drought in your country?
What criteria are used to prioritize vulnerability?
What are general challenges in developing a national drought policy in your country?
What steps have been taken for establishing a drought policy in your country?

In the description, Parties may include information on the type of activities, people involved, aim of the activities, and action taken. The narrative should also describe the outcomes of the activities and the main factors of success. Experiences from the LDN Target-Setting Programme should be reported, when applicable.

Parties may provide a summary of one or more examples of support provided in another country to develop and operationalize drought risk management, monitoring and early warning systems and safety net programmes. In the description, it is recommended to include information of the type of practice, main activities, main stakeholders involved, duration, and resources used. The reasons for the successful implementation of this practice, how it has avoided or reduced land degradation in the long term, and the main factors of success should also be reported.

7.4.4. Alternative livelihoods

Parties are encouraged to describe their experience in promoting alternative livelihoods, so as to ensure subsistence and generate income using natural resources in a (new) manner that prevents or reduces land degradation. This may include, for example, crop diversification, agroforestry practices, rotational grazing, or rain-fed and irrigated agricultural systems. It could also include income generation activities that are not directly dependent on natural resources, such as production of artisanal goods, renewable energy generation, eco-tourism, production of medicinal and aromatic plants, and aquaculture using recycled wastewater. The reported experiences may include capacity-building and extension services, provision of incentives, infrastructure improvements (roads, telecommunication) or support to product processing and/or marketing.

In the description, Parties may provide a brief description of the area/people that were involved, the aim of the activities, action that was taken, role of women and youth, and measures taken to encourage their participation in the activities. The narrative should also describe the outcomes of the activities and the main factors of success. Experiences from the LDN Target-Setting Programme should be reported, when applicable.