UNCCD Youth Caucus Working Groups – Regional & Thematic

The Regional Working Groups are the backbone of the UNCCD Youth Caucus’ decentralized structure, ensuring that youth voices from every corner of the world are heard, represented, and empowered in the fight against desertification, land degradation, and drought.

Each group is composed of young leaders and grassroots actors from a specific region; Africa, Asia Pacific, Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC), North America, Europe (Central & Eastern Europe), and Middle East and North Africa. These groups work closely with their Regional Facilitators to coordinate youth engagement in UNCCD processes at national and regional levels.

Through these working groups, we strive to create a bottom-up, inclusive and action-oriented platform for youth to influence decision-making and implement transformative change in their communities.

CORE FUNCTIONS:

Regional Coordination

Mobilize youth networks and organize consultations to identify regional priorities and challenges.

Policy Engagement

Contribute to regional and global policy discussions by consolidating youth perspectives for advocacy and negotiations.

Capacity Building

Facilitate knowledge-sharing, training, and mentorship opportunities tailored to regional contexts.

Campaigns & Action

Lead community-based initiatives and awareness campaigns aligned with the UNCCD’s goals and the Youth Caucus agenda.

LEARN MORE ABOUT REGIONAL WORKING GROUPS:

Africa

Asia Pacific

Europe

LAC

MENA

North America

The Thematic Working Groups of the UNCCD Youth Caucus serve as specialized hubs where young experts, activists, researchers, and practitioners collaborate to deepen understanding and drive youth-led solutions on key issues related to desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD).

Each group is aligned with the core priorities of the UNCCD and the Youth Caucus, offering a space for focused dialogue, research, advocacy, and innovation across critical themes, including Gender and Land Tenure, Sustainable Land Management and Restoration, Peace and Security, and Food Security and Agriculture as well as other emerging areas identified by the Caucus.

These groups ensure that the expertise, creativity, and lived experiences of youth are central to shaping the future of land stewardship. They also serve as a talent pipeline for meaningful youth participation in UNCCD events, negotiations, and multi-stakeholder processes.