The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification has officially launched the second round of its Women Delegates Fund (WDF) training programme ahead of the highly anticipated COP17 conference scheduled for 2026.
The initiative is designed to strengthen women’s participation, leadership, and negotiation capacity in global environmental governance and climate diplomacy. It forms part of the UNCCD’s broader commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women delegates from developing countries to actively contribute to international land restoration and climate resilience discussions.
Strengthening Women’s Leadership in Environmental Negotiations
The Women Delegates Fund aims to support women delegates participating in the UNCCD process by improving their negotiation skills, leadership abilities, and policy engagement strategies.
Building on the success of the first WDF training programme held during CRIC23 in Panama City, the initiative continues to create pathways for women to engage more effectively in multilateral environmental negotiations.
Key Objectives of the Programme
The programme seeks to:
- Strengthen women’s leadership in environmental governance
- Enhance negotiation and diplomatic skills
- Support effective participation during COP17 discussions
- Build networks among women delegates worldwide
- Promote gender-responsive land restoration policies
The initiative also supports the implementation of the UNCCD Gender Action Plan (GAP), which focuses on inclusive participation in environmental governance and sustainable development.
About UNCCD COP17
The upcoming UNCCD COP17 conference will take place in:
📍 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
📅 17–28 August 2026
The summit will convene under the theme:
“Restoring Land, Restoring Hope”
COP17 is expected to bring together:
- Government representatives
- Civil society organizations
- Indigenous communities
- Scientists and researchers
- Youth organizations
- Women’s groups
- Private sector stakeholders
The conference will focus on global challenges related to:
- Land degradation
- Desertification
- Drought resilience
- Sustainable land management
- Ecosystem restoration
Why the Women Delegates Fund Matters
Women play critical roles in agriculture, food security, land restoration, and climate resilience efforts across the globe. However, gender gaps still exist in environmental leadership and international policy negotiations.
The Women Delegates Fund seeks to close these gaps by providing women delegates from developing countries with access to:
- Negotiation training
- Capacity-building support
- Networking opportunities
- Policy engagement tools
- Participation support during COP17
The programme recognizes that inclusive environmental governance leads to stronger and more sustainable climate and land restoration outcomes.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications are specifically open to:
- Women delegates from developing country Parties
- Countries eligible under the UNCCD Special Trust Fund for Participation
- Priority applicants from Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
Governments across all Regional Implementation Annexes are invited to nominate:
- One eligible woman delegate from their official COP17 delegation
Benefits for Selected Participants
Women selected for the programme will receive several forms of support aimed at improving their participation during the global summit.
Benefits include:
- Participation support for COP17
- Specialized negotiation and capacity-building training
- Pre-COP briefings
- Networking opportunities with fellow women delegates
- Guidance on international environmental negotiation processes
The initiative is expected to strengthen the representation and influence of women leaders in global climate and environmental policy spaces.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted through official government channels.
Required documents include:
- Official nomination letter from National Focal Points
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) or short biography of the nominee
Interested applicants are encouraged to contact their national UNCCD focal points for submission guidelines and eligibility verification.
Promoting Gender Equality in Climate Governance
The UNCCD continues to prioritize gender-responsive environmental action through programmes that empower women at every level of policy implementation and negotiation.
The Women Delegates Fund contributes directly to:
- Gender equality in international climate diplomacy
- Increased participation of women in decision-making
- Capacity development for environmental leadership
- Inclusive sustainable development goals
This initiative reflects growing global recognition of women’s leadership in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation.
Global Focus on Land Restoration and Drought Resilience
As climate-related environmental challenges intensify globally, COP17 is expected to shape future international responses to:
- Desertification
- Water scarcity
- Restoration financing
- Drought preparedness
- Sustainable agriculture
- Ecosystem protection
The conference theme, “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope,” highlights the urgent need for collaborative global action to restore degraded ecosystems and build resilient communities worldwide.
Final Thoughts
The launch of the second round of the Women Delegates Fund training programme marks another important milestone in advancing gender-inclusive environmental governance ahead of COP17.
Women delegates from eligible developing countries are encouraged to seize this opportunity to strengthen their negotiation skills, expand their global networks, and contribute meaningfully to international discussions on land restoration and climate resilience.
As environmental diplomacy becomes increasingly important in shaping the future of sustainability, initiatives like this continue to pave the way for stronger female leadership in global climate negotiations.
