Preparatory Questionnaire for the
Desertif’actions 2015 Forum
The main objective of the present questionnaire launched by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS)
is to outline a MENA region’s perspective on the main issues related to land degradation and the
political, institutional and methodological requirements to address them at the Desertif’actions 2015
Forum.
The Desertif’actions 2015 Forum will take place in Montpellier (France) from 10 to 13 June 2015 and
will be a flagship moment within a larger process of content production and dissemination aiming at
advocacy as well as information (general public day on 13 June). The content will be structured
around 3 lines of work, subject of the present questionnaire:
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Line 1: Desertification and Land Degradation: integrating climatic evolutions into decision
making and action taking;
Line 2: Development Sustainability in drylands: creating greater synergy between the thee
Rio Conventions;
Line3: A pluralistic and organized civil society: having a true impact and doing what needs to
be done!
In order to prepare for Desertif’actions 2015, a consultation workshop is expected to be organized at
the level of the countries of the 5 UN regions (at least one country per each region) between
February and April 2015 to produce a first version of expected contents on the three thematic areas
presented above.
As a member of the organizing consortium of the Desertif’actions 2015 Forum, OSS intends to
organize a consultation workshop for the MENA region. The workshop will be held in Marrakech in
April 2015 and will be conducted within the framework of the MENA-DELP project “Desert
Ecosystems and Livelihoods Knowledge Sharing and Coordination project” (http://www.ossonline.org/mena-delp/index.php/eng/).
Funded by the World Bank for a duration of 4 years (2013-2017), the MENA-DELP umbrella project
has been designed to support national investment projects at the level of five countries in the MENA
region. The project aims to strengthen cooperation among national institutions in partner countries
and to stimulate knowledge-sharing for the sustainable management of desert ecosystems.
It is not compulsory to fill in the questionnaire in a comprehensive manner. You may choose to
respond to the sections most related to your areas of interest and expertise.
Information collected through the questionnaire will serve as a working support for the workshop to
be held in Marrakech. A synthesis reflecting in part the MENA region’s perspective on the main
issues tackled by the Forum will be elaborated following the workshop.
Thanks in advance for your participation.
OSS-March 2015
PRESENTATION
First Name:
Last Name:
Institution:
Country:
E-mail:
LINE 1 - Desertification and Land Degradation: integrating climatic evolutions
into decision making and action taking
This line focuses on understanding the linkages between land management and climate change and
necessary action measures.
Theme 1: avenues for actions and appropriate scales (agro-ecology, pastoralism, forests
management, others…)
Question 1
In your opinion, what would be the main actions for the fight against land degradation to consider in
your area and what are the technical means for their implementation? (Promotion of agro-sylvo –
pastoral practices, participatory management of water resources, SWC ...)?
Answer
Question 2
What are the means at the political and institutional levels allowing to sustain these actions? (Grants,
payment of ecosystem services, appropriate regulatory framework …)?
Answer:
Question 3
What resources or reference tools are available to assist you in your decision making (statistical data,
thematic maps, market studies ...) and where do they come from? (States, regional organizations,
research institutions, NGOs ...)?
Answer:
OSS-March 2015
Theme 2: new concepts (Climate Smart Agriculture, Land Degradation Neutrality, others…)
Question 4:
Do you have a knowledge or understanding of these concepts? How were they communicated to you
(press, states, OSCs …)? Do you know new concepts other than the two mentioned above?
Answer:
Question 5:
For « Land Degradation Neutrality », do you know the main issues related to this concept, the
methods and means for its appropriation and in-field implementation?
Answer:
For « climate smart agriculture», do you know the main issues related to this concept, the methods
and means for its appropriation and in-field implementation?
Answer:
Question 6:
In your opinion, what are the levers (political and institutional) supporting these concepts?
Answer:
Question 7:
Do you think that these new concepts would be useful in the implementation of your actions?
Answer:
OSS-March 2015
Line 2 Development Sustainability in drylands: creating greater synergy
between the thee Rio Conventions
This part addresses the role and motivation of the civil society to promote synergy among
the three Rio Conventions as well as possible connections between them.
Theme 1: possible actions at the institutional and political levels for a better synergy among the Rio
Conventions
Question 8:
How to better mobilize institutional and political actors at the national level (common advocacy and
lobbying of policies)?
Answer:
Question 9:
What are your recommendations at the national level to ensure a better coherence among National
Action Plans on Climate Change (NAPCC), National Biodiversity Strategies (NBS) and National Action
Plans for the Fight against Desertification desertification/NAPs) and the development programs
conducted?
Answer:
Question 10:
In your opinion, what are the recommendations and the most appropriate means to ensure synergy
in data collection and inventory (ecological, socio-economic) important to the Rio conventions?
Do you have an idea about the objectives or indicators of the Rio conventions implementation
(Greenhouse Gas inventory of the UNFCCC, progress and performance indicators of the UNCCD, Aichi
objectives of the CBD)?
How could the definition of the Sustainable Development Objectives (replacing the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs 2015) enhance the synergy among the Rio Conventions and other MEAs.
Answer:
OSS-March 2015
Question 11:
What are the recommendations for regional and international institutions to ensure a better
coherence in the different regional projects and their activities?
Answer:
Question 12:
Do you have feedback on particular experiences (failures, success …) on this synergy at the local,
national and regional levels (projects …)?
Answer:
Theme 2: Proposals of possible actions for the civil society
Question 13:
What operational means are mobilized by the civil society to encourage this synergy?
Answer:
Question 14:
What are the recommendations for a better coordination among the CSOs?
Answer:
Question 15:
What commitments should CSOs take to ensure this coordination?
Answer:
OSS-March 2015
Question 16:
What are the organization and lobbying means of this framework?
Answer:
Line 3 : A pluralistic and organized civil society: having a true impact and
doing what needs to be done!
This line deals with the defining elements of the civil society (roles, rights and duties).
Theme 1: avenues for possible actions for a multi-stakeholder approach in territories and common
advocacy
Question 17:
In your opinion, is there any interest for working in a multi-stakeholder context (NGOs, scientists,
private sectors, local communities), if yes, why?
Answer:
Question18:
Have you encountered any limits or difficulties working in a multi-stakeholder context?
Answer:
Question 29:
What are your recommendations to facilitate multi-stakeholder approach for a better management
of projects within territories?
Answer:
Theme 2: private sectors in UNCCD
Question 20:
What is the possible role and place of the private sector in international institutions dealing with land
degradation?
OSS-March 2015
Answer:
Question 21:
Do you have an idea about the initiatives conducted to facilitate the participation of the private
sector in conventions as the “Sustainable Land Management Forum” (UNCCD) and “Global
Partnership for Business and Biodiversity” (CBD) or “Caring for Climate” (UNFCCC) initiatives?
In your opinion, what are the opportunities and risks of the private sector in in the presence of agrobusiness?
Answer:
Question 22:
What are the main criteria for a more effective participation of the private sector, at the local,
national and regional levels, in the actions of the fight against desertification of the UNCCD?
Answer:
OSS-March 2015