The objective of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification around the world, particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas.
The functions of the secretariat are, among others, to make arrangements for sessions of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and its subsidiary bodies; to compile and transmit reports submitted to it; to facilitate assistance to affected developing country Parties, on request, in the compilation and communication of information required under the Convention; to coordinate its activities with the secretariats of other relevant international bodies and conventions.