The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD), adopted by the International Community on 17 June 1994, constitutes a concrete embodiment of the commitments made at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janéiro in June 1992; it is also a major human achievement, since it gives access to a new dynamic of North-South cooperation in the sense of a partnership and solidarity. responsible, able to face the challenges posed by the scourge of degradation
natural resources.

Indeed, one of the recommendations of UNCED, called the “Earth Summit, relates to the development of a United Nations convention on desertification to combat the degradation of drylands around the world and the long-term consequences of desertification”.

Togo, whose entire territory is threatened by the phenomenon of desertification and its consequences, in particular the deterioration of the living conditions of populations, poverty, rural exodus, climate change and the disappearance of plant and animal species, is convinced of the global dimension of this problem, which must be resolved with the support of the international community in a framework of active and united partnership. By launching the process of drawing up the NAP coupled with that of the PNAE in November 1995, Togo thus wanted to demonstrate its commitment to translating into practice all provisions of the Convention.

The present Togo PAN, adopted during a national forum held on 17 and 18 December 2001 in Lomé, with the participation of nearly 200 persons (institutional actors, civil society, local authorities, grassroots communities, donors), was drawn up in accordance with the guiding principles of the CCD, based on the concepts of Participation, Partnership and Solidarity. The process of drawing up the PAN in Togo has seen an unprecedented involvement of all segments of Togolese society concerned by the phenomenon of desertification: Central and decentralized State Services, Non-Governmental Organizations, Local Authorities, Producer Organizations, Producer Organizations, Organizations of Producers, Associations
of Young People and Women, Associations of Young People and Women, Religious Leaders, Traditional Officials, Private Sector, Research and Training Structures, etc.).