1. Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi (GPC-Nairobi) Integrated Drylands Development Programme Building Socio-Economic and Ecological Resilience in the Drylands UNCCD/COP12 - Gender Day Rio Conventions Pavilion, Ankara, Turkey Friday, 16 October 2015 D COP12 - Gender Elie Kodsi, Senior Technical Advisor, UNDP GPC Nairobi

2. Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi (GPC-Nairobi) Integrated Drylands Development Programme A global UNDP initiative to advance sustainable development and build socioeconomic and ecological resilience in drylands Implemented by UNDP Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification Policy, advocacy and capacity support for drylands development; Technical support, partnership building and resource mobilization for programming; and Knowledge sharing and experience exchange

3. Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi (GPC-Nairobi) Lines of Action 1.Mainstreaming drylands development issues into planning and budgeting frameworks 2.Building resilience of dryland communities through enhanced livelihoods and improved natural resources management 3.Promoting gender equity and empowerment of dryland women 4.Facilitating knowledge sharing and experience exchange

4. Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi (GPC-Nairobi)Morocco

5. Morocco - Resilient Oases Programme Oasis Sud (POS) POS targets the oases of Southern Morocco. These vital ecosystems are suffering from desertification and drought leading to loss, abandonment and migration. Initially designed as a modest project, it has evolved into a sustainable territorial development program that supports local development planning, value chain development, sustainable natural resource management and women empowerment. Its budget exceeded USD 34 million, with an estimate of more than 5,500 jobs created to date, enhancing the living conditions of affected communities and protecting the natural resource base.

6. Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi (GPC-Nairobi)

7. Morocco- Resilient Oases Highlights of achievements relevant to the empowerment o dryland women: Support to the elaboration, financing and implementation of Communal Development Plans as strategic tools driving resilient, inclusive development at the local level; Establishment of “Cluster des Oasis du Sahara” (COS) as a platform for value- adding, promotion and marketing of local products. COS is responsible for marketing local products from seventy cooperatives/associations (mainly women cooperatives) at national and international levels. Political empowerment of Women - establishment & strengthening of the “Network of Local Elected Women” to enhance women capacity and role in decision-making

8. Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi (GPC-Nairobi) Tunisia Building Resilience in Kasserine – El Brek Initiative

9. Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi (GPC-Nairobi) Kasserine/El Brek A comprehensive approach to building resilience Effective advocacy to mobilize national attention and resources; Integration of local priorities into national planning and budgeting frameworks; Pooling of resources, national government and donors, for efficiency and synergy; Collaborative partnerships between government and an NGO for effective delivery on the ground; Flexible approach which makes room for adjustments based on feedback from communities; Mobilization of communities into structured groups to strengthen their role in decision-making. Implementation of priority interventions based on local perception, needs and indigenous knowledge.

10. Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi (GPC-Nairobi) Activities contributing to women’s empowerment in El-Brek

11. Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi (GPC-Nairobi) Tunisia –Kasserine/El Brek A comprehensive approach to building resilience Specific activities benefiting dryland women include: Enhancing women access to basic water and energy services (distribution of efficient gas stoves, rehabilitation of water networks, construction of water harvesting reservoirs, distribution of water cisterns) Enhancing women livelihoods through the establishment of a rotational micro- credit fund to promote livelihood diversification (animal fattening, handicrafts and fruit tree production) Building women capacity and supporting their participation in local development institutions and decision-making processes (e.g. Water Management Groups) Soil conservation and land rehabilitation to promote sustainable land management to the benefit of women and their families

12. Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi (GPC-Nairobi) Uganda Building Resilience in the Cattle Corridor

13. Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi (GPC-Nairobi) Uganda Building resilience in the Cattle Corridor The Cattle Corridor, the main livestock production region of Uganda - 90% of the national cattle herd - a dry strip and a severe poverty hotspot. High vulnerability to climatic vulnerability and land degradation. IDDP promoted Sustainable Land Management in six cattle corridor districts: - I ntegration of SLM principles into district and local development plans; - I mplementation of priority SLM interventions to improve livelihoods and ecosystem conditions

14. Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi (GPC-Nairobi) Uganda Building resilience in the cattle corridor  Introduction of Conservation Agriculture (CA) practices to support alternative livelihoods and halt land degradation.  CA practices proved to be an effective SLM method, which helped communities break the vicious spiral of drought, land degradation and poverty.  Over 400 farmers (mainly women) have adopted various CA practices, such as crop rotation, minimum tillage and integrated nutrient management.  An impact assessment in 2013 and targeting 246 sample farmers showed an average increase in yield of maize of 174 %, of beans 167%

15. Community-based Resilience Analysis (CoBRA) Qualitative assessment tool to: Identify generic and context-specific drivers of resilience/non-resilience Highlight commonality/differences in views, perspectives and aspirations between men and women towards resilience building Pilot Implementation in 3 dryland countries in the Horn of Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia): Women tend to prioritize education (to tertiary level) and income generation support Men prioritizing peace and security to enhance pastoral accessibility Women’s voices incorporated into local, national and regional resilience policies and plans

16. Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi (GPC-Nairobi)

17. IDDP - Empowering Dryland Women Over the past 10 years, IDDP has promoted gender equality and women empowerment in the drylands through action at many levels: Building capacity at the individual, institutional and systemic levels Gender-sensitive drylands development programming Policy advocacy in relevant international & national fora Knowledge sharing and experience exchange It presents a good example at the policy/practice interface to advance women’s empowerment.

18. Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification in Nairobi (GPC-Nairobi) Thank you!