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Who We Are

 

The Global Youth Caucus on Land and Desertification (UNCCD Youth Caucus) is the formal and dedicated youth engagement mechanism of the United Nations to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The UYC promotes youth engagement in other desertification-related initiatives in the multilateral system.

With growing recognition of the importance of youth engagement and their unique perspectives in sustainable development, the UNCCD Youth Caucus was officially adopted by the parties in September of 2019 at COP14 as a platform for youth involvement in combating land degradation.

What We Do

We bring together young people from around the world to advocate for land rights, meaningful participation, and sustainable development while ensuring youth voices shape the policies and actions that affect their futures.

We work across global, regional, national, and grassroots levels to contribute meaningfully to the pillars of the UNCCD: land degradation neutrality, drought resilience, and sustainable land management. Our work is organized into three interconnected pillars:

About UNCCD

KNOWLEDGE:

We create and maintain a vibrant platform that empowers youth to lead, connect, and share innovative and impactful solutions that respond to the needs of both people and the planet.

ACTION:

We promote and facilitate meaningful youth participation in shaping and implementing policies whether through UNCCD processes, national strategies, or local community initiatives. Our aim is to ensure youth are present in decision-making spaces from design to follow-up.

CAPACITY BUILDING:

We design and support learning spaces workshops, training programs, and peer-to-peer exchanges that equip young people with the knowledge, skills, and tools to effectively engage with land, desertification, and multilateral policy systems.

Mandate and Governance

The Youth Caucus was formally recognized at COP14 in New Delhi, where Parties to the UNCCD adopted the outcomes of the first UNCCD Youth Forum. Since then, the Caucus has continued to grow as a representative, youth-led movement committed to influencing desertification-related policy and practice.

Our mandate stems from the ongoing resolutions and commitments of UNCCD parties, and we align closely with the objectives of the UNCCD Youth Engagement Strategy.

 

Structure

The UNCCD Youth Caucus functions as a global, decentralized network led by a rotating Steering Committee. This leadership is supported by Global Focal Points, Regional Focal Points, Thematic Working Group Facilitators, Policy Coordinators, and Leads for Partnerships and Communications.

Together, this team co-creates campaigns, advances advocacy, and strengthens cross-regional collaboration to amplify youth engagement in addressing DLDD.