Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2 December 2024 – The President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, addressed the opening ceremony of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP 16) in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

Speaking on behalf of the Arab Coordination Group (ACG)—a group of ten financial institutions, including the IsDB, that works globally to support developing nations and create lasting, positive development impacts—Dr. Al Jasser underscored the importance of this pivotal event. 

At the outset, Dr. Al Jasser congratulated the COP16 Presidency, led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through H.E. Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Al-Fadly, KSA’s Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, as well as the UNCCD Secretariat, headed by Executive Secretary H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, for the successful opening of COP16. 

He described this major global event as a critical opportunity to address the escalating challenges of drought, land degradation, and desertification that severely impact countries and communities worldwide.   

“We must unite as a global community, forging partnerships that mobilize resources and deliver meaningful impact where it is most needed. Together, we can drive a just, fair, and inclusive transition towards a sustainable future for both people and the planet,” the IsDB President reiterated. 

Furthermore, Dr. Al Jasser highlighted ACG's pride in its collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UNCCD Secretariat over the past year in preparation for this conference. He reaffirmed ACG’s commitment to this partnership throughout COP16 and in the years to come.   

Dr. Al Jasser further reiterated ACG’s focus on providing robust knowledge, technical expertise, and financial resources to governments, the private sector, and local communities. He emphasized the importance of shifting the paradigm from reactive responses to proactive resilience-building measures. 

The President also emphasized the crucial need for global collaboration to mobilize resources and establish impactful partnerships. Dr. Al Jasser urged the international community to come together in addressing the pressing challenges of the "3D's": Drought, Desertification, and Degradation. 

Established in 1975, the ACG is a strategic alliance that delivers a coordinated development finance response and contributes to the sustainable development of societies worldwide across a wide range of sectors, from infrastructure to healthcare.