Today marks the end of Ibrahim Thiaw's six-and-a-half-year term as Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. In this special farewell episode of our podcast, Mr. Thiaw reflects on his extraordinary journey, from a village in Mauritania to some of the highest positions in the United Nations.“I never saw drought or desertification as statistics,” he says. 'I saw people. I saw their faces. I lived it.'Under his leadership, land was prioritized as a key issue for global sustainability, resilience, peace, and justice. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, the UNCCD successfully organized a COP, amplifying the voices of women and young people and bringing land issues to the forefront of the international agenda. What’s next? Listen to this heartfelt conversation about leadership, resilience, and perseverance.

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Ce podcast célébrant la Journée des peuples à l'occasion de la COP 16 explore comment autonomiser les communautés autochtones, les femmes et les jeunes pour un avenir plus durable. Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim fondatrice de l'Association des femmes et des peuples autochtones du Tchad (AFPAT), et Inna Modja ambassadrice de bonne volonté de la convention des Nations unies sur la lutte contre la désertification,, invitées de ce podcast, discutent des initiatives portées par les femmes et les communautés autochtones pour restaurer les terres dégradées.

Les sujets principaux abordés sont les suivants :

• Le rôle essentiel des peuples autochtones dans la protection de la biodiversité et des écosystèmes.

• L'utilisation des savoirs traditionnels par les communautés pour relever les défis climatiques.

• L'importance de donner aux femmes autochtones accès à la terre.

• Le pouvoir de la musique et de la culture pour sensibiliser et inspirer le changement.

In this insightful conversation, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO and Chair of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and Louise Baker, Managing Director of the UNNCD Global Mechanism, discuss the important role of finance in achieving land restoration and drought resilience goals and the paradigm shifts needed to fully implement the Convention by 2030.

Key Takeaways:

1. Bridging the financing gap to address land degradation and build drought resilience
2. Need for a paradigm shift to address funding and action gaps in the Rio Conventions, including UNCCD targets
3. Challenges in scaling up conservation efforts and the need for economic and institutional reforms
4. Emphasis on stakeholder engagement beyond environment ministries to achieve global environmental goals
5. Importance of local government involvement and financial support for sustainable initiatives

Baron Joseph Orr, Chief Scientist of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), speaks about the critical role of science in building land resilience. The thematic day of the conference will focus on the intersection of science, technology, and innovation in addressing land degradation and drought resilience.

Efforts are underway to bridge the gap between science and policy to effectively address land degradation and restore land productivity. Key challenges include translating restoration ambitions into action, securing funding, using high-resolution data, and building resilience to crises. Considering the future state of land in the context of climate change is essential for food security and requires long-term planning and action.

Join Andrea Meza as she explores the role of governance in sustainable land management. From the empowerment of women and indigenous peoples to the importance of sub-national governments, she draws attention to the key strategies and actions needed to achieve land degradation neutrality goals.

Learn about ⁠Governance Day ⁠at ⁠UNCCD COP16⁠, the impact of secure land rights, and the actions needed to promote good land governance. Explore the link between urban and rural areas for balanced development and discover how empowering indigenous and local communities is essential for land restoration and resilience.

Join us for the first episode of our new podcast series 'On the Road to COP16', an insightful discussion on the importance of land restoration and the power of youth-led environmental movements.

The discussion, led by Paula Padrino Valeila and Billie Dumaliang, highlights the critical role of nature-based solutions and private-sector engagement in tackling land degradation. Learn about inspiring initiatives such as the Masungi Georeserve Foundation's conservation efforts and the impact of young leaders on sustainable land management practices. Discover how grassroots NGOs and marginalized communities are driving innovation to address the climate crisis. Don't miss this insightful conversation on shaping a sustainable future on Land Day, December 4 at COP 16.

In this enlightening episode of 'The UNCCD Podcast,' Lukwesa Burak sits down with UNCCD Goodwill Ambassador Inna Modja, who takes us on a captivating journey from her childhood in Mali and Ghana to her global advocacy against land degradation. Inna shares her personal experiences with the harsh realities of environmental degradation and its violent repercussions, especially on women and girls. She discusses her innovative approach to combat these issues, advocating for the use of blockchain technology and NFTs to support and empower vulnerable communities. Inna's commitment to gender equality, combating energy poverty, and her insights into the potential of Web 3 and blockchain technologies as tools for social change are both enlightening and inspiring. We explore the ambitious Great Green Wall project and its role in community empowerment and land restoration. As a mother, Inna's resolve to fight for a sustainable future resonates deeply, highlighting the urgency of accessible sustainability solutions and innovation. She also delves into the importance of storytelling in bridging the technical understanding gap and her endeavors in designing eco-friendly technology and fundraising through NFTs. This episode is not just a conversation; it's a call to action to join the fight against land degradation and to be part of the movement towards a sustainable future for all

Ms. Thato Mokgadi, the Tomato Agriprenuer founder of Tsoo 13, from Botswana. She answers nine questions, from the key steps in starting a business to when and where to find and invest your money.