Oasis and European DesertNet Join Forces at Major UNCCD Conference

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Oasis signed a Memorandum of Understanding in a special joint side event with European Desertnet (EDN), the world’s largest network of desertification research scientists, during a side event at the CCD’s Conference of Parties (COP) in Madrid, Spain on Sept. 4. Less than a year old, EDN has approximately 250 members and is growing rapidly.

Challenge Programmes are intended to be built on global partnerships, and the new bond adds EDN as one of six co-proponents who will submit the Oasis pre-proposal to the CGIAR for consideration. The other five co-proponents are CIRAD/IRD; the European Consortium for Agricultural Research in the Tropics (ECART); the European Commission’s Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES) of the Joint Research Centre (JRC); the Alliance of CGIAR Centers (jointly convened by ICARDA and ICRISAT); and the Sahel-Sahara Observatory (OSS).

The side event fostered a lively discussion about ways to more effectively influence policymakers with the results of scientific research.  The strengthening of bonds between CCD, EDN, and the CGIAR Alliance (through Oasis) enables Oasis research to have greater reach and influence through the policy mechanisms of UNCCD’s 191 member States. The CCD body channeling the input of scientific findings is its Committee on Science and Technology (CST); at this same COP, Dr. William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT was elected Chairman of the CST in his private capacity as a citizen of The Philippines (see related article). This further strengthens scientific channels with Oasis.