Arab Group Commits $10B by 2030 to Fight Desertification

The Arab Coordination Group announced a commitment of up to $10 billion by 2030 to combat land degradation, desertification, and drought, formalized in a joint statement by the heads of its member institutions on the sidelines of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh. The pledge, released via the Saudi Press Agency, positions the group at the center of global efforts to restore degraded land, strengthen climate resilience, and promote nature-positive development in vulnerable regions. The announcement came as representatives of governments, financial institutions, and international organizations gathered in the Saudi capital for the largest UNCCD conference to date.

Why does a financial commitment of this scale matter at this particular moment? Desertification and drought are no longer distant environmental concerns; they affect food security, water availability, migration patterns, and economic stability across the Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel. The Arab Coordination Group, which brings together major regional development finance institutions, has now aligned its resources behind a clear timeline and a set of measurable objectives. The pledge reflects a shared determination among its members to move from dialogue to delivery, using innovative financing tools, resource mobilization, and partnerships to support sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation.

Context and Background

What led the Arab Coordination Group to make this commitment now? The group is a longstanding coalition of Arab national and regional development institutions that coordinate financing for development projects across the Arab world and beyond. Its members include the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Saudi Fund for Development, and other peer institutions. For decades, these bodies have financed infrastructure, agriculture, education, and energy projects, but the growing urgency of land degradation and climate adaptation has pushed environmental restoration higher on their collective agenda.

The 16th Conference of the Parties of the UNCCD, hosted in Riyadh, provided the platform for the announcement. COP16 is the first UNCCD conference held in the Middle East, and it has drawn attention to the particular vulnerabilities of arid and semi-arid regions. The conference agenda includes negotiations on drought resilience, land restoration targets, and the mobilization of public and private finance. By making its pledge on the sidelines of COP16, the Arab Coordination Group signaled that regional institutions intend to be active participants in the global response, not merely observers.

Under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, the group also reaffirmed its support for key environmental initiatives, including the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, as well as the G20 Global Land Initiative. These programs have become benchmarks for international collaboration on land restoration and climate adaptation. The timing of the pledge, therefore, is not coincidental: it builds on years of diplomatic and financial groundwork laid by the Kingdom and its partners.

Key Details of the $10 Billion Commitment

What exactly will the $10 billion support? According to the joint statement, the Arab Coordination Group will focus on land restoration, climate resilience, and nature-positive development. The funds are intended to be deployed through innovative financing tools, including blended finance, guarantees, and co-financing arrangements that mobilize additional capital from public and private sources. The group will also foster partnerships with governments, international organizations, and the private sector to support sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation, and food security.

The geographic focus is clear: the Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel region. These areas face some of the most severe land degradation and water scarcity challenges in the world. In the Sahel, desertification threatens agricultural livelihoods and contributes to displacement. In the Middle East and North Africa, drought cycles have intensified, putting pressure on water resources and food systems. The commitment aims to enhance resilience in these vulnerable communities by restoring degraded land, improving soil health, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

The group also pledged to support the global program for land protection and restoration, as well as the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership. This partnership, launched in conjunction with COP16, seeks to coordinate international efforts to prepare for and respond to drought. The Arab Coordination Group’s support will include strengthening partnerships, mobilizing resources, and advocating for the establishment of international platforms for knowledge exchange and capacity-building. These platforms are expected to facilitate the sharing of best practices, technical expertise, and data among countries facing similar challenges.

Islamic Development Bank President and head of the Arab Coordination Group Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser emphasized the significance of the pledge. “Through land restoration, combating desertification, and addressing drought, we aim to enhance resilience in the world’s most vulnerable communities,” he said. His statement underscores the group’s shared determination to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time, and it reflects a recognition that environmental degradation is both a cause and a consequence of poverty and instability.

International and Regional Impact

How will this commitment influence global environmental diplomacy? The $10 billion pledge arrives at a time when international climate and biodiversity finance is under scrutiny. Developed countries have faced criticism for falling short of their own financing promises, and multilateral institutions are under pressure to demonstrate tangible results. By stepping forward with a substantial, time-bound commitment, the Arab Coordination Group adds momentum to global efforts and reinforces the role of regional institutions in addressing transboundary environmental challenges.

The pledge also strengthens the position of the Middle East and North Africa in global environmental governance. For years, countries in the region were often seen primarily as fossil fuel exporters in climate discussions. The Arab Coordination Group’s commitment, combined with Saudi Arabia’s leadership of the Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives, helps shift that narrative. It highlights the region’s willingness to invest in land restoration, renewable energy, and climate adaptation, and it creates opportunities for South-South cooperation and knowledge transfer.

Regional impact could be particularly significant in the Sahel, where land degradation and drought have contributed to food insecurity and migration. By targeting resources toward sustainable land management and food security, the commitment addresses root causes of instability. It also complements existing humanitarian and development programs, potentially reducing the need for emergency relief over the long term. For countries in the region, the pledge offers a source of predictable financing and technical support at a time when many are grappling with competing fiscal pressures.

Economic and Strategic Significance

Why should investors and policymakers pay attention to this pledge? Land degradation carries substantial economic costs. It reduces agricultural productivity, increases water scarcity, and can trigger migration and conflict. According to estimates cited in international forums, the global economy loses billions of dollars annually due to land degradation. By investing in restoration, the Arab Coordination Group is not only addressing environmental risks but also supporting long-term economic growth and stability.

The commitment also has strategic implications for food security. The Middle East and North Africa import a large share of their food, making them vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions. Restoring degraded land and improving agricultural productivity can reduce that vulnerability and create rural employment opportunities. The use of innovative financing tools can attract private capital that might otherwise avoid high-risk regions, thereby multiplying the impact of the initial $10 billion.

From a strategic perspective, the pledge reinforces Saudi Arabia’s role as a convenor and financier of global public goods. It aligns with the Kingdom’s broader efforts to diversify its economy, enhance its international standing, and contribute to global sustainability goals. The Arab Coordination Group’s commitment is therefore not just an environmental initiative; it is an economic and diplomatic instrument that supports stability and prosperity across multiple regions.

Vision 2030 Alignment

How does this commitment connect to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030? Vision 2030 is the Kingdom’s comprehensive plan to diversify the economy, improve quality of life, and enhance its global role. Environmental sustainability is a core pillar of that vision, reflected in initiatives such as the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to plant billions of trees and restore degraded land across the Kingdom. The Arab Coordination Group’s pledge amplifies these efforts by mobilizing regional resources and aligning them with shared goals.

The commitment also supports Vision 2030’s emphasis on international cooperation and leadership. By hosting COP16 in Riyadh and facilitating the $10 billion pledge, Saudi Arabia demonstrates its ability to bring diverse stakeholders together around common objectives. This reinforces the Kingdom’s position as a responsible global actor and a catalyst for sustainable development. As the Arab Coordination Group moves from commitment to implementation, the partnership between Saudi Arabia, its regional allies, and international institutions will be critical to translating financial pledges into tangible improvements in land health, food security, and climate resilience.

20 Questions

Q1. What did the Arab Coordination Group announce?

A1. The Arab Coordination Group announced a commitment of up to $10 billion by 2030 to address land degradation, desertification, and drought, formalized in a joint statement on the sidelines of COP16 in Riyadh.

Q2. Where was the pledge made?

A2. The pledge was made on the sidelines of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, which is taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Q3. What is the Arab Coordination Group?

A3. The Arab Coordination Group is a coalition of Arab national and regional development institutions that coordinate financing for development projects. Its members include the Islamic Development Bank, the Saudi Fund for Development, and other peer institutions.

Q4. Who is the head of the Arab Coordination Group?

A4. Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, President of the Islamic Development Bank, serves as the head of the Arab Coordination Group and emphasized the group’s shared determination to tackle pressing challenges.

Q5. What are the main objectives of the $10 billion commitment?

A5. The commitment aims to drive land restoration, enhance climate resilience, and promote nature-positive development in vulnerable regions, with a focus on sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation, and food security.

Q6. Which regions will benefit from this commitment?

A6. The commitment will focus on the Middle East, North Africa, and the Sahel region, which face severe land degradation, water scarcity, and climate-related challenges.

Q7. What financing tools will be used?

A7. The group will utilize innovative financing tools, mobilize resources, and foster partnerships to support sustainable land management, including blended finance and co-financing arrangements.

Q8. What global initiatives does the pledge support?

A8. The pledge supports the Saudi Green Initiative, the Middle East Green Initiative, the G20 Global Land Initiative, the global program for land protection and restoration, and the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership.

Q9. Why is COP16 significant?

A9. COP16 is the first UNCCD conference held in the Middle East, drawing attention to the vulnerabilities of arid regions and facilitating negotiations on drought resilience and land restoration.

Q10. How does this commitment align with Saudi Vision 2030?

A10. It aligns with Vision 2030’s environmental sustainability goals, including the Saudi Green Initiative, and reinforces Saudi Arabia’s role as a global leader in sustainability and international cooperation.

Q11. What is the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership?

A11. It is a partnership launched in conjunction with COP16 to coordinate international efforts to prepare for and respond to drought, supported by the Arab Coordination Group’s pledge.

Q12. How will the funds be deployed?

A12. The funds will be deployed through innovative financing tools, partnerships, and resource mobilization to support land restoration, climate adaptation, and sustainable development projects in target regions.

Q13. What role does the Islamic Development Bank play?

A13. The Islamic Development Bank is a key member of the Arab Coordination Group, and its President, Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, heads the group and has emphasized the importance of the commitment.

Q14. What are the expected outcomes of the commitment?

A14. Expected outcomes include enhanced resilience in vulnerable communities, restored degraded land, improved food security, and strengthened global cooperation on land restoration and climate adaptation.

Q15. How does land degradation affect the global economy?

A15. Land degradation reduces agricultural productivity, increases water scarcity, and can trigger migration and conflict, costing the global economy billions of dollars annually.

Q16. What is the timeline for the commitment?

A16. The commitment aims to deploy up to $10 billion by 2030, with efforts focused on land restoration, climate resilience, and nature-positive development in vulnerable regions.

Q17. How does this pledge support food security?

A17. By restoring degraded land and promoting sustainable land management, the pledge helps improve agricultural productivity and reduces vulnerability to global food supply chain disruptions.

Q18. What is the significance of the joint statement?

A18. The joint statement formalizes the commitment of the Arab Coordination Group’s member institutions, demonstrating unified support for land restoration and climate resilience across the region.

Q19. How can other organizations participate?

A19. Other organizations can participate by partnering with the Arab Coordination Group, contributing resources, and engaging in knowledge exchange platforms to promote sustainable land management.

Q20. What does this mean for Saudi Arabia’s global role?

A20. It reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in sustainability and international cooperation, showcasing its ability to mobilize regional and international efforts to address critical environmental challenges.

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