OSS Delegation
Nabil Ben Khatra
Executive Secretarynabil.benkhatra@oss.org.tn
At COP1719-27 August 2026
Observatoire du Sahara et du SahelUlaanbaatar · Mongolia · 17—28 August 2026
OSS ATCOP 17
Land, water, biodiversity and people — connected by knowledge, cooperation and action across the Sahara and Sahel.
UNCCDCOP17Mongolia
OSS Delegation / COP17
Meet the OSS
delegation.
Identify the OSS representatives attending COP17, their areas of expertise and the dates when they will be available in Ulaanbaatar.
OSS Delegation
Mustapha Mimouni
Director of the Technology, Information and Remote Sensing Departmentmustapha.mimouni@oss.org.tn
At COP1718-25 August 2026
OSS Delegation
Abina Abdoulkarim Bello
Acting Director of the Land and Biodiversity Departmentabina.bello@oss.org.tn
At COP1721-26 August 2026
People · knowledge · identity
01A / People & territories
Territories are lived before they are measured.
Across the Sahara and Sahel, environmental decisions are inseparable from livelihoods, local knowledge and the people who live with changing land and water every day.
Resilience is environmental. And deeply human.
Resilience · generations · future
01B / Generations & resilience
What happens to the land shapes what comes next.
Water security, productive soils, biodiversity and climate resilience influence everyday opportunities — and the choices made today reach far beyond a single COP.
Decisions on land and water become decisions about futures.
01C / Connected systems
One territory. Many systems.
OSS brings the Sahara and Sahel into the room as connected systems. Data does not replace people; it makes pressures visible, connects knowledge across borders and strengthens decisions for more resilient territories.
01LandRestoration, degradation neutrality and productive territories.
02WaterShared resources, security and climate resilience.
03BiodiversityEcosystems, habitats and the services they sustain.
04PeopleLivelihoods, communities, knowledge and generations.
05DataObservation and evidence that turn knowledge into action.
02 / Selected engagements
Where OSS enters the room.
01
18 AUG15:00—16:30
From Data to Hope: Country-Led UNCCD Reporting for Restored Landscapes
OSS / MET-04
OSS
02
19 AUG15:00—18:00
A joint CRIC/CST Plenary session on National Reporting : Strengthening UNCCD Reporting through Regional Support Hubs and Technical Expertise
UNCCD
OSS
03
21 AUG08:30—10:00
From Land Degradation Neutrality to Transformative Investments for Resilient Territories
OSS / MET-01
OSS
04
24 AUG12:00—14:00
High-Level Side Event “Restoring African Landscapes, Restoring Hope: Scaling the Great Green Wall through Continental Integration and the AU Great Green Wall Initiative Strategy (2024–2030)"
UNCCD
OSS
05
24 AUG16:30—18:00
HIGH LEVEL PANEL: "Mobilizing Investments for the Great Green Wall in Senegal"
METE, ASERGMV - Senegal / Room MET24
OSS
Living systems
Land is never
Land is never
only land.
Healthy drylands connect ecosystems, biodiversity, water, livelihoods and climate resilience. At COP17, OSS brings those relationships into one regional perspective.
03 / Agenda
The programme,
without the noise.
Browse OSS engagements, official COP sessions and strategic events. Open any row for participants, rooms, organisers and source links.
17AUG
10:00—13:00
Opening of COP17; organizational matters; election of COP President; host country and UNCCD statements; adoption of agenda; election of Vice-Presidents; accreditation of observers; organization of work.
COP
Strategic+
Opening of COP17; organizational matters; election of COP President; host country and UNCCD statements; adoption of agenda; election of Vice-Presidents; accreditation of observers; organization of work.
COP
17AUG
15:00—18:00
Formal statements; Committee of the Whole begins work on programme and budget, Convention trust funds, Evaluation Office, Future Strategic Framework, and drought.
COP/COW Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Strategic+
Formal statements; Committee of the Whole begins work on programme and budget, Convention trust funds, Evaluation Office, Future Strategic Framework, and drought.
COP/COW Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Date17 August
Time15:00-18:00
Participants / panelistsMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Speaking slot3-5 minute statement
Final speaking orderExpected on 16 August
OrganizerCOP/COW
Source / PDFOpen source ↗
18AUG
10:00—18:00
CRIC and CST meet and carry out work according to their respective agendas. Integrated overview also shows regional groups, side events and contact groups around the formal sessions.
CRIC/CST
Strategic+
CRIC and CST meet and carry out work according to their respective agendas. Integrated overview also shows regional groups, side events and contact groups around the formal sessions.
CRIC/CST
18AUG
15:00—16:30
From Data to Hope: Country-Led UNCCD Reporting for Restored Landscapes
OSS Room MET-04Mr. Mustapha Mimouni
OSS+
From Data to Hope: Country-Led UNCCD Reporting for Restored Landscapes
OSS Room MET-04Mr. Mustapha Mimouni
Date18 august 2026
Time15:00 - 16:30
RoomMET-04
Participants / panelistsMr. Mustapha Mimouni
OrganizerOSS
19AUG
13:00-14:30
Mobilizing investments to accelerate the implementation of the Great Green Wall Initiative: the role of the African Development Bank
AfDB Room MET-08Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OSS+
Mobilizing investments to accelerate the implementation of the Great Green Wall Initiative: the role of the African Development Bank
AfDB Room MET-08Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Date19 august 2026
Time13:00 to 14:30
RoomMET-08
Participants / panelistsMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OrganizerAfDB
19AUG
15:00—18:00
A joint CRIC/CST Plenary session on National Reporting : Strengthening UNCCD Reporting through Regional Support Hubs and Technical Expertise
UNCCD Mr. Mustapha Mimouni
OSS+
A joint CRIC/CST Plenary session on National Reporting : Strengthening UNCCD Reporting through Regional Support Hubs and Technical Expertise
UNCCD Mr. Mustapha Mimouni
Date19 august 2026
Time15:00 to 18:00
Participants / panelistsMr. Mustapha Mimouni
OrganizerUNCCD
19AUG
15:00—18:00
Policy frameworks and thematic issues: migration and land tenure; procedural matters on private-sector participation and the business engagement strategy.
COW
Strategic+
Policy frameworks and thematic issues: migration and land tenure; procedural matters on private-sector participation and the business engagement strategy.
COW
20AUG
10:00—13:00
in-person coordination meeting of the UNCCD Support Hubs and Technical Advisors Network for Reporting
COP
Strategic+
in-person coordination meeting of the UNCCD Support Hubs and Technical Advisors Network for Reporting
COP
Date20 August
Time10:00-13:00
OrganizerCOP
20AUG
15:00—16:30
Consultation and knowledge sharing on Strengthening Capacity for Land Degradation Neutrality Monitoring and Decision Support
WOCAT Room MET-06
Strategic+
Consultation and knowledge sharing on Strengthening Capacity for Land Degradation Neutrality Monitoring and Decision Support
WOCAT Room MET-06
Date20 August
Time15:00–16:30
RoomMET-06
OrganizerWOCAT
20AUG
15:00—18:00
UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framework; policy frameworks and thematic issues: sand and dust storms, gender, rangelands and pastoralists.
COW
Strategic+
UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framework; policy frameworks and thematic issues: sand and dust storms, gender, rangelands and pastoralists.
COW
21AUG
08:30—10:00
From Land Degradation Neutrality to Transformative Investments for Resilient Territories
OSS Room MET-01Mr. Abina Abdoulkarim Bello
OSS+
From Land Degradation Neutrality to Transformative Investments for Resilient Territories
OSS Room MET-01Mr. Abina Abdoulkarim Bello
Date21 august 2026
Time08:30 - 10:00
RoomMET-01
Participants / panelistsMr. Abina Abdoulkarim Bello
OrganizerOSS
21AUG
10:00—13:00
Promotion and strengthening of relationships with other relevant conventions and international organizations; civil society participation procedural matters.
COW
Strategic+
Promotion and strengthening of relationships with other relevant conventions and international organizations; civil society participation procedural matters.
COW
Date21 August
Time10:00–13:00
OrganizerCOW
22AUG
12:00-13:30
Regional Efforts Supporting Rangelands, Pastoral Communities, and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in the Near East and North Africa
IYRP NENA Saudi PavilionMr. Mustapha Mimouni
OSS+
Regional Efforts Supporting Rangelands, Pastoral Communities, and Agrosilvopastoral Systems in the Near East and North Africa
IYRP NENA Saudi PavilionMr. Mustapha Mimouni
Date22 august 2026
Time12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
RoomSaudi Pavilion
Participants / panelistsMr. Mustapha Mimouni
OrganizerIYRP NENA
24AUG
10:00—13:00
Ministerial Dialogue: Innovative Financial Mechanisms for Healthy Land and Drought Resilience
COP Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Official+
Ministerial Dialogue: Innovative Financial Mechanisms for Healthy Land and Drought Resilience
COP Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Date24 August
Time10:00-13:00
Participants / panelistsMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OrganizerCOP
Source / PDFOpen source ↗
24AUG
12:00—14:00
High-Level Side Event “Restoring African Landscapes, Restoring Hope: Scaling the Great Green Wall through Continental Integration and the AU Great Green Wall Initiative Strategy (2024–2030)"
UNCCD High-Level Ministerial segmentlMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OSS+
High-Level Side Event “Restoring African Landscapes, Restoring Hope: Scaling the Great Green Wall through Continental Integration and the AU Great Green Wall Initiative Strategy (2024–2030)"
UNCCD High-Level Ministerial segmentlMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Date24 August 2026
Time12:00-14:00
RoomHigh-Level Ministerial segmentl
Participants / panelistsMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OrganizerUNCCD
24AUG
12:00—14:00
High-Level Side Event “Restoring African Landscapes, Restoring Hope: Scaling the Great Green Wall through Continental Integration and the AU Great Green Wall Initiative Strategy (2024–2034)”
AUC
Strategic+
High-Level Side Event “Restoring African Landscapes, Restoring Hope: Scaling the Great Green Wall through Continental Integration and the AU Great Green Wall Initiative Strategy (2024–2034)”
AUC
Date24 August
Time12:00–14:00
OrganizerAUC
24AUG
13:00—15:00
Sustainable Land Management Business Forum and innovative financing instruments; related Finance Day events include Business4Land Forum, Fashion4Land, Mining Forum, sustainable land-use finance, and land-security-migration dialogue.
Special event
Strategic+
Sustainable Land Management Business Forum and innovative financing instruments; related Finance Day events include Business4Land Forum, Fashion4Land, Mining Forum, sustainable land-use finance, and land-security-migration dialogue.
Special event
Date24 August
Time13:00–15:00
OrganizerSpecial event
24AUG
16:30—18:00
HIGH LEVEL PANEL: "Mobilizing Investments for the Great Green Wall in Senegal"
METE, ASERGMV - Senegal Room MET24Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OSS+
HIGH LEVEL PANEL: "Mobilizing Investments for the Great Green Wall in Senegal"
METE, ASERGMV - Senegal Room MET24Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Date24 August 2026
Time16:30 - 18:00
RoomRoom MET24
Participants / panelistsMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OrganizerMETE, ASERGMV - Senegal
25AUG
10:00—13:00
Ministerial Dialogue: Accelerating Drought Resilience
COP Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Official+
Ministerial Dialogue: Accelerating Drought Resilience
COP Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Date25 August
Time10:00-13:0
Participants / panelistsMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OrganizerCOP
Source / PDFOpen source ↗
25AUG
10:00—13:30
Ministerial Dialogue: Restoration of rangelands and the well-being of pastoralist communities
COP Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Official+
Ministerial Dialogue: Restoration of rangelands and the well-being of pastoralist communities
COP Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Date25 August
Time10:00-13:3
Participants / panelistsMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OrganizerCOP
Source / PDFOpen source ↗
25AUG
13:00—15:00
Special High-Level Event on Sand and Dust Storms; Water Day also includes the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership Assembly, International Drought Resilience Observatory launch, partnership forum and finance/investment sessions.
Special event
Strategic+
Special High-Level Event on Sand and Dust Storms; Water Day also includes the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership Assembly, International Drought Resilience Observatory launch, partnership forum and finance/investment sessions.
Special event
Date25 August
Time13:00–15:00
OrganizerSpecial event
25AUG
14:00—15:30
High-Level Side Event: Scaling the Great Green Wall through Continental Integration and the AUGGWI Strategy
UNCCD High-Level Ministerial segmentMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OSS+
High-Level Side Event: Scaling the Great Green Wall through Continental Integration and the AUGGWI Strategy
UNCCD High-Level Ministerial segmentMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Date25 August 2026
Time14:00 to 15:30
RoomHigh-Level Ministerial segment
Participants / panelistsMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OrganizerUNCCD
25AUG
15:00—18:00
UNCCD communication plan review; programme of work for COP18
COW
Strategic+
UNCCD communication plan review; programme of work for COP18
COW
Date25 August
Time15:00–18:00
OrganizerCOW
25AUG
TBA
The First Assembly of Partners of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership
UNCCD Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OSS+
The First Assembly of Partners of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership
UNCCD Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Date25 August 2026
Participants / panelistsMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OrganizerUNCCD
26AUG
13:00—15:00
Special event on rangelands
Special event
Strategic+
Special event on rangelands
Special event
Date26 August
Time13:00–15:00
OrganizerSpecial event
26AUG
15:00—16:30
UNCCD high-level side event"From National Reporting to Shared Action: Strengthening Regional Cooperation across the Rio Conventions,
UNCCD Room MET 22Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OSS+
UNCCD high-level side event"From National Reporting to Shared Action: Strengthening Regional Cooperation across the Rio Conventions,
UNCCD Room MET 22Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Date26 august 2026
Time15:00-16:30
RoomMET 22
Participants / panelistsMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OrganizerUNCCD
26AUG
TBA
From Fragmented Projects to Evidence-Based Action: Case Studies on Mitigating Anthropogenic Sources of Sand and Dust Storms in Central Asia, West Asia, and North Africa and the Sahel
CGIAR IUCN PavillionMr. Abina Abdoulkarim Bello
OSS+
From Fragmented Projects to Evidence-Based Action: Case Studies on Mitigating Anthropogenic Sources of Sand and Dust Storms in Central Asia, West Asia, and North Africa and the Sahel
CGIAR IUCN PavillionMr. Abina Abdoulkarim Bello
Date26 August 2026
RoomIUCN Pavillion
Participants / panelistsMr. Abina Abdoulkarim Bello
OrganizerCGIAR
27AUG
13:00—15:00
Special Ministerial Event on Food Systems and Soil Health; interactive dialogue; private sector roundtable; soil health metrics; public support repurposing; innovative finance; Rio Convention synergies.
COP/ SPECIAL EVENT Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Official+
Special Ministerial Event on Food Systems and Soil Health; interactive dialogue; private sector roundtable; soil health metrics; public support repurposing; innovative finance; Rio Convention synergies.
COP/ SPECIAL EVENT Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra
Date27 August
Time13:00-15:00
Participants / panelistsMr. Nabil Ben Khatra
OrganizerCOP/ SPECIAL EVENT
Source / PDFOpen source ↗
27AUG
15:00—18:00
Gender Caucus; Indigenous Peoples Caucus and Local Communities Caucus
Caucuses
Strategic+
Gender Caucus; Indigenous Peoples Caucus and Local Communities Caucus
Caucuses
Date27 August
Time15:00–18:00
OrganizerCaucuses
28AUG
15:00—18:00
Report on the session; adoption of the report of the Conference of the Parties; closing plenary.
COP
Strategic+
Report on the session; adoption of the report of the Conference of the Parties; closing plenary.
COP
Date28 August
Time15:00–18:00
OrganizerCOP
04 / 24—27 August
Four days.
Four lenses.
24
AUGUST
Finance
Capital for healthy land
25
AUGUST
Water
Drought resilience & water
26
AUGUST
Land + People
Territories, rights & restoration
27
AUGUST
Food + Soil
Food systems & soil health
05 / Bilateral space
The conversations
between sessions.
COPs are also built in the margins: bilateral meetings, focal-point exchanges and partner conversations. These slots remain intentionally visible while their times are being confirmed.
B2B
UNEP
B2B · Time to confirm
B2B
UNCCD FOCAL POINTS BENIN × CAR
B2B · Time to confirm
B2B
UNCCD
B2B · Time to confirm
B2B
IFAD
Meeting · Time to confirm