UNCCD 2026 reporting: OSS strengthens support to African countries through LDN Africa

Representatives of national institutions from more than 20 African countries gathered on 28 October 2026 for a regional webinar organized by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), in collaboration with the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) and the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The discussions focused on the challenges of the 2026 reporting process, highlighted the capabilities of the LDN Africa platform, and helped identify the technical support needs of French-speaking African countries ahead of the November reporting deadline.

Assessing land degradation requires access to reliable data, the ability to interpret them in light of national realities, and the production of information that meets reporting requirements. For the institutions responsible for this process, data accessibility, proficiency in analytical tools, and technical capacities remain critical challenges. The webinar provided an opportunity to discuss these constraints and identify priority areas for technical support.

At the heart of the discussions, OSS presented and demonstrated the main features of LDN Africa, a continent-wide platform dedicated to monitoring land degradation, particularly through Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 15.3.1. The platform aims to facilitate the use of available data to support national assessments and the preparation of reports to the UNCCD.

Equipped with a mapping engine and an artificial intelligence agent, the platform integrates Earth observation data and indicators. These features provide national institutions with resources to explore land degradation trends and inform their assessments. Their effective use must be combined with the expertise of national teams and an understanding of local and territorial specificities.

The demonstration was followed by discussions on the practical applications of the platform and the conditions required for its effective adoption. Participants' contributions helped identify areas for improvement and clarify training and technical assistance needs. They also informed the development of a capacity-building roadmap, with particular attention to reporting under Strategic Objective 1 (SO1).

For OSS, this support combines access to tools, technical dialogue, and regional cooperation. Engagement with national institutions helps ensure that assistance responds to challenges encountered on the ground while guiding the platform's continued development in line with users' needs.

Beyond the 2026 reporting deadline, the priority is to establish the sustained use of LDN Africa. By supporting its adoption by African countries, OSS aims to strengthen national land degradation monitoring capacities, promote knowledge sharing, and reinforce the scientific foundations needed for sustainable land management across Africa.