ESDF Granted Observer Status with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification
In a step reflecting the growing engagement of Egyptian civil society organizations in international environmental and sustainable development processes, the Seventeenth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) has granted the Egyptian Sustainable Development Forum (ESDF) Observer Status under the Convention, following a recommendation by the UNCCD Secretariat.
The UNCCD Secretariat formally notified ESDF of the decision in an official letter dated 22 September 2026. In the letter addressed to ESDF’s Board of Trustees, Marcus Monteiro, External Relations Officer at the UNCCD Secretariat, confirmed that the Forum’s observer status applies to all sessions of the Conference of the Parties and the Convention’s subsidiary bodies.
Under its accredited observer status, ESDF will automatically receive official invitations to attend sessions of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies. This will enable the Forum to formally follow international processes addressing desertification, land degradation and drought, while participating within the space designated for accredited civil society organizations.
The UNCCD Secretariat stated that the accreditation provides a basis for continued cooperation with ESDF and its representatives, expressing its expectation of “productive and fruitful” collaboration in the period ahead. The decision comes within the broader role played by accredited civil society organizations in supporting implementation of the Convention’s objectives and strengthening communication between international institutions and organizations working at national, regional and local levels.
The accreditation is not limited to a specific Conference of the Parties. The Secretariat clarified that ESDF’s observer status remains valid for all sessions of the COP and the Convention’s subsidiary bodies. It also requested that the Forum keep the Secretariat informed of any changes concerning the organization or its relevant activities within the framework of the UNCCD process, emphasizing the importance of maintaining communication and regularly updating organizational information.
The Secretariat also specified the wording ESDF may use on its official documents to reflect its new status: “A civil society organization accredited to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.”
At the same time, the Secretariat clarified that the UNCCD logo may not be used on correspondence or publications describing the organization. Permission to use the logo for a specific event or activity may, however, be requested from the Secretariat, provided that the purpose of its use is clearly explained.
ESDF was also directed to the civil society section of the UNCCD website as a source of updated information relevant to organizations involved in implementing the Convention.
The Secretariat concluded its letter by congratulating ESDF on its accreditation and reiterating its expectation of productive and fruitful cooperation with the Forum and its representatives.
The accreditation of the Egyptian Sustainable Development Forum as an observer to the UNCCD represents an important institutional milestone. It enables ESDF to formally follow the work of the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies, while strengthening opportunities for engagement and cooperation with parties and organizations involved in international efforts to address land degradation, desertification and drought.