The seventeenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from 17 to 28 August 2026, under the theme “Restoring Land, Restoring Hope.” With global land degradation threatening food security and livelihoods for over three billion people, this summit serves as a critical turning point to accelerate international drought resilience and land restoration targets.

Building on the success of the Youth Forums organized at COP13, COP14, COP15, and COP16, the fifth UNCCD Youth Forum will take place on 18 and 19 August 2026. The forum will address the challenges young people face, support their meaningful engagement in the implementation of the UNCCD, and advocate for enabling environments and policies that promote the establishment of young eco- and agripreneurs.

This open call is open to:

a) UNCCD Youth Accredited Organizations nominating representatives; and

b) Individual young people who wish to nominate themselves for participation in COP17 and the UNCCD Youth Forum.

Apply by: 14th June 2026 (23:59 CEST)