September 2010: The Global Mechanism of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is developing a web-based, knowledge exchange tool to strengthen the role of local stakeholders in decision-making processes related to Sustainable Land Management (SLM).

The scope|acp project is a component of the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Capacity Building related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries programme. The project is funded by the European Commission (EC).

This “Combating desertification” component of the programme will seek to provide national and local actors with tools for better use of existing resources and for mobilizing new and innovative financial resources for SLM. In addition, it also aims to strengthen South-South cooperation, partnerships and interaction among actors at different levels to support programmes to combat desertification and poverty. The Global Mechanism is currently developing the web portal’s features, and is seeking feedback regarding its content and structure through a survey. [scope|acp Website]