𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐂𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐏𝟏𝟕, 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐚

The UNCCD Secretariat launched the second round of the UNCCD Women Delegates Fund (WDF) training ahead of the seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17), held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, under the theme “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope.” The training was designed to strengthen women delegates’ participation and effectiveness in the UNCCD process by developing their skills in facilitation, coalition-building, consensus-building, and multilateral environmental negotiations. It was delivered by the Centre for Multilateral Negotiations (CEMUNE) as part of broader efforts to advance women’s leadership in international environmental governance.

The Executive Director of the Tarayana Foundation, selected as a participant in the WDF programme, joined women delegates from around the world for the pre-COP17 negotiation training. The programme provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, build professional networks, and enhance participants’ capacity to engage meaningfully in complex international negotiations.

Her participation was made possible through the nomination and support of the UNCCD Focal Point of the Royal Government of Bhutan, the National Soil Service Centre, and the UNCCD Women Delegates Fund. Established under the UNCCD Gender Action Plan and related decisions of the Conference of the Parties, the Fund supports women delegates from developing countries, particularly Least Developed Countries, through participation assistance, negotiation training, networking, and capacity-building opportunities. It is supported by voluntary contributions from development partners, including the Government of Germany through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), alongside other partners committed to advancing gender equality and women’s leadership in environmental decision-making.

COP17 brought together governments, civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples, scientists, youth, women’s organizations, the private sector, and other stakeholders to address land degradation, drought, desertification, and sustainable land management. As the only legally binding international treaty dedicated to these issues, the UNCCD provides an important platform for advancing global cooperation on land restoration and drought resilience.

During COP17, the Executive Director participated in sessions, learning exchanges, and stakeholder dialogues addressing land restoration, drought resilience, gender equality, community resilience, and sustainable land management. She also engaged in discussions emphasizing the essential contributions of civil society organizations, women leaders, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists, and local communities in developing inclusive and locally grounded responses to land degradation and climate-related challenges.

These engagements provided valuable opportunities to share Bhutan’s experience in community-led development and to learn from innovative policies, partnerships, and practices from other countries and organizations. They also strengthened Bhutan’s engagement in global discussions on sustainable land management, climate resilience, and inclusive environmental governance.

Tarayana Foundation remains committed to ensuring that the knowledge, priorities, and aspirations of rural communities inform national, regional, and global action on land, climate, and sustainable development. We extend our sincere appreciation to the UNCCD Focal Point of the Royal Government of Bhutan, the UNCCD Secretariat, the UNCCD Women Delegates Fund, GIZ, CEMUNE, and all partners supporting women’s meaningful participation and leadership in global environmental decision-making.