Egypt is participating in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (held August 17–28, 2026), with experts from Desert Research Center leading negotiations on drought resilience, land restoration, and a unified Arab-African stance against land degradation.
The meeting of the Arab team, which discussed the priorities of Arab countries, was chaired by Dr. Ahmed Abd El-Aty, Executive Coordinator of the UNCCD in Egypt and Egypt’s representative on the Science and Technology Committee of the Dispute Settlement Committee, during the negotiations on drought and migration.
The meeting reviewed Egypt’s experience in using satellite data to monitor flood and groundwater risks. Several issues were also discussed, including drought in small island developing states, ways to develop water infrastructure and improve water management efficiency in drought-affected areas, supporting smallholder farmers and adopting protective and climate-resilient agricultural practices, and the move towards nature-based solutions for restoring vegetation cover and soil health.
The official launch date for the Drought Resilience Investment Facility (DRIF), which aims to mobilize investments in water infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, land reclamation, and nature-based solutions, was announced during the conference’s “Water Day” on August 25.
