A Regional Workshop to "Establish a Multi-stakeholders Coalition for the Implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) in Asian Region" was held in Islamabad, Pakistan from 24th-26th May, 1999. This workshop was organized by the Society for Conservation and Protection of Environment (SCOPE), in collaboration with Japan Foundation, United Nations Secretariat of Convention on Combating Desertification, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Commonwealth Foundation and Ministry of Environment, Government of Pakistan.

Attendees included representatives of the CCD Secretariat, UNEP, governments, international research institutions such as ICRISAT, ICARDA, CGIAR, and DESCONAP, and NGOs from Jordan, Philippines, Kenya, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Syria, Iran, Germany and Niger.

The Convention requires member parties to prepare national action programmes (NAP) with the consultation of affected populations in the drylands. In addition, Mr. Masanori Kobayashi, from the Asia Division of the UNCCD Secretariat, said that the CCD also calls for preparation of regional action programmes (RAP). The RAP for the CCD-Asia region was conceived and elaborated at various meetings held at Beijing, New Delhi, Japan and Bangkok; it is launching six thematic programme networks (TPNs) related to:

• Desertification monitoring
• Soil conservation and forestry
• Rangeland management and sand dune fixation
• Water management in the drylands
• Drought preparedness and
• Local area development initiatives.

Workshop participants unanimously supported the idea of establishing a grand coalition of stakeholders of the CCD in order to help implement the CCD in Asia. This coalition will include governments, civil society organizations, donors, technical institutions and the private sector. The workshop gave a mandate to SCOPE to organize this coalition within the next two years.

The workshop adopted the following declaration and action programme:

Declaration

The forum of Regional Coalition of all stakeholders representing Asian countries, comprising 50 delegates, assembled at Islamabad, and deliberated on various aspects of the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD). Great need was felt for the Establishment of the Regional Coalition of stakeholders of CCD to steer up the process of the implementation of the Convention. The declaration is issued to envelop the effort of the forum. It speaks:

1. On 26th May 1999, at Islamabad concerned members of global society from Asian region agreed in principle to establish a coalition for implementing CCD in Asian region;
2. A committee was proposed to prepare TOR (terms of reference) for the coalition hosting organization;
3. SCOPE was asked to take responsibilities for 2 years as "Interim arrangement" till formal launching of the coalition;
4. Participants from various countries should serve as interim focal points in their country and coordinate with SCOPE as interim national focal points of the coalition at regional level;
5. SCOPE was mandated to raise 'resources' for proposed activities over two years;
6. Members of global society also underlined 'short' action plan for coalition over next 2 years, annexed as declaration; and
7. Declaration reflects continuous commitment of members to pursue CCD implementation.

Action Programme

1. Proceedings of the workshop to be disseminated among other stakeholders not present at the workshop;
2. To help preparation and adoption of NAPs in respective countries for the implementation of the CCD;
3. Interim work to establish coalition to be continued by SCOPE;
4. To pilot activities related to women and children in the CCD implementation work;
5. Small committee of 4-5 participants to prepare TOR on interim activities for establishing coalition for SCOPE;
6. To include focus for the rapid increase of population from "poverty" perspective;
7. To develop a newsletter of the coalition for stakeholders in the region;
8. Interim national focal points should take activities for CBOs/ NGOs in their countries;
9. To organize workshops/ seminars for bringing together all stakeholders after a year in regional workshop, to review and make long term planning efforts of NAPs/ RAP for the safety of socially vulnerable groups(s) in the areas of land degradation;
10. Try to build data base of stakeholders in the region;
11. To organize consultations/ dialogues at all levels promoting participatory approaches in the implementation of the CCD;
12. To promote country-based case studies through interim (country) focal points highlighting the status of the implementation of the CCD.
13. To integrate media in the process of CCD implementation in the region.