The Alliance at UNCCD COP17: Restoring Land, Restoring Hope

A pavilion session showcasing flagship innovations that support land restoration and sustainable land management, with a focus on science-based solutions, partnerships, and opportunities for scaling impact.

Organisers: CGIAR, UNCCD

This official side event will launch a civil society-led declaration on the links between land restoration, peacebuilding, and security. It will bring together stakeholders to discuss how sustainable land management can contribute to conflict prevention, resilience, and long-term peace.

Organizers: Surge Africa 

This session will present integrated restoration innovation bundles that combine scientific evidence with practical implementation and financing opportunities. Discussions will focus on scaling proven approaches and attracting investment for landscape restoration.

Organizers: CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes Program 

The event will examine how soil data, monitoring systems, and scientific evidence can improve restoration planning, policy, and investment. It will showcase innovative tools and partnerships that strengthen evidence-based land management.

Organizers: CA4SH, Landscape Alliance (ICRAF), Norad, GIZ, Varda Foundation, Alliance Bioversity-CIAT, YPARD, K4GGWA, 4 per 1000, ATREE, IUCN, Emerging Ag, IRD, WOCAT 

This high-level Mid-COP convening will bring together global leaders to advance a shared agenda for protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing grasslands, savannahs, and rangelands. The event will highlight their critical role in biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, food security, and sustainable livelihoods.

Organizers: WWF, FAO, SFA, BirdLife International, ILRI, CGIAR, IUCN, RSPB, WCS, 4 per 1000 Initiative, Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT, Ambition Loop, RSC, Global Rewilding Alliance, CA4SH, CIFOR-ICRAF, Riyadh Action Agenda, TNC, ILC, American Prairie, YPARD, GARP, SNV, ADB.

This pavilion event will explore how agrifood systems transformation can generate synergies across the Rio Conventions by delivering simultaneous climate, biodiversity, and land restoration outcomes. Speakers will discuss collaborative approaches and practical solutions to accelerate integrated action.

Organizers: Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT, GIZ, Climate Focus 

The event will examine innovative financing mechanisms to scale restoration and sustainable management of grasslands, savannahs, and rangelands. Discussions will focus on mobilizing investment that benefits people, nature, and climate.

Organizers: WWF, IUCN, Alliance Bioversity-CIAT, YPARD, CA4SH, ILRI, TNC, Ambition Loop, Birdlife International   

This Green Zone event will explore innovative financing approaches that strengthen climate adaptation in vulnerable regions. Bringing together development banks, international organizations, and technical partners, it will highlight practical solutions to mobilize investment for resilient agrifood systems and land restoration.

The session will discuss innovative financial instruments and partnerships that can accelerate investment in sustainable land management and restoration, helping bridge the financing gap for achieving global land restoration goals.

Organizers: CompensACTION Secretariat, IFAD and BMZ

This session will examine the interconnected challenges of land degradation, climate change, and conflict in dryland regions. It will highlight integrated approaches that combine restoration, resilient food systems, and peacebuilding to strengthen livelihoods and reduce fragility.

Organizers: Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT, UNCCD, FAO, ODI 

 The event will showcase nature-based, water-smart, and investment-ready solutions that restore rangelands while strengthening pastoralist livelihoods and resilience in dryland ecosystems.

Organizers: CGIAR 

This session will explore the critical role of healthy soils in supporting One Health, resilient food systems, and sustainable agriculture, highlighting the links between soil, human, animal, and ecosystem health.

The event will present experiences from family farming initiatives that contribute to combating desertification and drought through sustainable land management, innovation, and community-led action.

Organizers: Brazil 

A high-level dialogue bringing together international leaders to discuss forest restoration, environmental cooperation, and nature-based peacebuilding as pathways to resilience and sustainable development.

Organizers: Peace Forest Initiative 

The session will discuss equitable carbon finance approaches that support rangeland restoration while ensuring benefits for local communities, pastoralists, and ecosystems.

Organizers: Welthungerhilfe (WHH), Agroecology Coalition, ILRI, ICRAF, Alliance Bioversity-CIAT, WWF, GIZ, 4 per 1000   

This event will launch a global youth policy brief highlighting the role of young people and young women in pastoralism and presenting recommendations to strengthen their participation, leadership, and access to opportunities.

Organizers: World Food Forum (WFF) Global Youth Action Initiative, WeCaN Community of Knowledge Practice, FAO Mongolia, UNCCD Youth Caucus, IYRP Youth Working Group, Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH), Save Soil, UN Women (TBC), Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT 

Held as part of Food Systems and Soil Health Day, this thematic event will examine how restoring grasslands and rangelands can improve food security, strengthen climate resilience, and enhance soil health through science, policy, and partnerships.

Organizers: Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT, WWF, TNC, Mongolia 

The session will demonstrate how agroecology can simultaneously advance the objectives of the UNCCD, CBD, and UNFCCC by delivering integrated solutions for climate action, biodiversity conservation, and land restoration.

Organizers: Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT, Agroecology Coalition, BMZ/GIZ, SNV, WFF Youth Initiative, Welthungerhilfe (WHH), WWF, IUCN, 4 per 1000, Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH), African Roots Transformation, AICS IT 

The event will showcase successful models that empower women entrepreneurs in dryland agrifood systems, highlighting approaches that can be replicated and scaled across Africa and South Asia.

Organizers: ICRISAT, ILRI, Alliance of Bioversity-CIAT 

The discussion will explore how agroecology is being translated from principles into policies and practical implementation, showcasing examples that support resilient and sustainable food systems.

Organizers: Agroecology Coalition, IFAD, WWF, Alliance Bioversity-CIAT 

This thematic event will highlight how inclusive and resilient food value chains can drive land restoration while improving livelihoods, food security, and environmental sustainability.

Organizers: CGIAR