From 17–28 August 2026, IDLO will join governments, international organizations, civil society and stakeholders from around the world at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17). The conference will be hosted in Ulaanbaatar by the Government of Mongolia under the theme Restoring Land. Restoring Hope.
Land governance is more than a technical challenge. It depends on the rule of law to provide the legal certainty, accountable institutions and access to justice needed to manage competing demands for land, attract responsible investment and protect the rights and livelihoods of communities. At COP17, IDLO will showcase its experience advancing people-centred land governance and share evidence from its work to support dialogue on land restoration, climate resilience and sustainable development.
Taking place during the United Nations International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, championed by Mongolia, COP17 presents an important opportunity to accelerate action on the sustainable management, restoration and conservation of rangelands, while spotlighting the needs of pastoralist communities who depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods.
At COP17, IDLO will convene two side events highlighting the role of the rule of law in advancing people-centred land governance. The first will explore how access to justice, legal empowerment and community-based dispute resolution can support the realization of the right to food in the rangelands by reducing resource conflicts. The second will examine how Social Impact Assessments can help safeguard pastoralist land rights, prevent displacement and promote responsible investment. IDLO will also contribute to key discussions alongside COP17, including the Global Pastoralist Gathering.
Join IDLO at COP17
- What: A panel of policymakers, civil society leaders and pastoralist rightsholders will share insights on how legal empowerment and community-based dispute resolution can support sustainable land governance, peaceful societies, and the realization of the right to food in rangelands.
- When: 21 August 2026, 10:30–12:00 (UTC+08:00)
- Where: MET-05
- Organizers: IDLO, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Réseau Billital Maroobè, Resource Conflict Institute, Rights and Resources Initiative
Safeguarding pastoralist lands through Social Impact Assessment
- What: Representatives from governments, civil society and grassroots organizations will engage in a dynamic discussion on how Social Impact Assessments can foster an enabling environment for the protection of collective land rights in contexts of pastoralism.
- When: 22 August 2026, 10:30-12:00 (UTC+08:00)
- Where: MET-06
- Organizer: IDLO, Mongolian NGO Steps Without Borders, and the University of Oxford School of Geography and the Environment
Learn more about IDLO’s work on people-centred land governance.