Saudi Arabia, in its capacity as president of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), continued to advance global efforts to address drought challenges by convening the ministerial segment of the third meeting of the Tafa'ul Process for Drought Resilience in Cairo on Saturday.
The meeting aimed to provide political guidance and strategic direction for the process ahead of COP17, which will take place in Mongolia from Aug. 17 to 28, 2026. Discussions focused on creating favorable conditions for ambitious and successful outcomes at the upcoming conference.
The ministerial consultations were preceded by a technical meeting held a day earlier, building on a dialogue that began during the first informal technical consultation in Panama on the sidelines of the 23rd session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC23), and continued during a second meeting in Bonn in February 2026.
Through its COP16 presidency, Saudi Arabia has maintained momentum toward strengthening international cooperation to protect land, climate, and nature. The Kingdom has emphasized the importance of implementing previously agreed commitments and accelerating the transition toward a more resilient, food-secure, and environmentally sustainable future.
Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and adviser to the COP16 president, said drought has become a complex global challenge affecting regions around the world, with the Middle East and Africa among the hardest-hit areas.
Faqeeha highlighted Saudi Arabia's international leadership in drought resilience through the launch of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, the world's largest initiative of its kind, aimed at helping developing countries strengthen proactive drought preparedness before crises occur.
He noted that participating countries had praised the initiative and said discussions held under the Tafa'ul Process had provided an important platform for exchanging views and narrowing differences among regional groups on mechanisms to enhance multilateral cooperation in tackling drought.
As the Tafa'ul Process approaches its conclusion ahead of COP17, the ministerial meeting underscored the COP16 presidency's commitment to expanding international partnerships and advancing integrated implementation tools, including the Riyadh Action Agenda, the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership (RGDRP), and the Business4Land Forum.
The high-level participation also reflected Saudi Arabia's growing role in leading global efforts to combat land degradation and drought while strengthening the interconnected agenda of land, climate and nature.
The meeting marked an important step in the political and technical preparations for COP17, which coincides with the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. The event is expected to provide a key opportunity to highlight the importance of fragile ecosystems such as rangelands and their critical role in advancing global environmental and food security.