Asia Community

The impact of drought on the health and livelihoods of women and children in India: A systematic review

Authors:Kisan Dilip Algur, Surendra Kumar Patel, Shekhar Chauhan
Published on: Children and Youth Services Review Volume 122, March 2021, 105909
The DoI link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105909

Abstract: Climate change is expected to have severe consequences for the world, some of which are already being felt. According to projections, in some regions, droughts will be more frequent and intense in the 21st century. This calls for purposeful interventions by governments to mitigate the impacts.
Drought-affected communities are more vulnerable to famine. The effects of drought are felt in people's education levels, nutrition, health, sanitation, and women and the safety of children in these communities. The impact of drought can be seen in the livelihoods of people affected by it. Against this backdrop, there is the need to document the effects of drought on women and children's health in the affected communities.
Such a study calls for a systematic approach. This study explores the various dimensions of the effects of droughts. It accessed electronic databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, Pub-Med, JSTOR to identify a substantial number of studies using key words and expressions. To begin with, the word drought was kept constant in all combinations of keywords and phrases. The search was then refined by using the word drought with keywords, such as livelihood, vulnerability, sustainable development, adaption and mitigation, migration, health impact, and risk management to search the required articles.
Only studies conducted in the period 2000 – 2019 were considered for this review. The review's findings show that due to a lack of water during a drought, the burden of work on women and children increased considerably. Most faced severe health issues like malnutrition and anemia. The livelihoods of women were also affected because of which they were forced to adopt various strategies to overcome the problems posed by droughts.
Droughts occur every year in different parts of India. Actions are required to mitigate the effects of drought, including the provision of drinking water, food, aid and relief aid to distressed farmers, employment support, support for changes in livelihoods, water security, and drought-proofing. State policies and actions must give particular attention to women and children because they are the most vulnerable. Employment-generation actions should also include youth by providing appropriate training for developing appropriate skills.

Dear all,
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This is the link for the published paper.

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aed9259

Sincerely
Arash Malekian
Professor, University of Tehran, Iran
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Arash-Malekian-2
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8Sv7Ii8AAAAJ&hl=en
Email:malekian.arash1@gmail.com

A roadmap and tools for water-energy-food nexus security in South Asia

On 3 March 2026, by Alok Sikka, Bunyod Holmatov, Claudia Ringler, Mohsin Hafeez

The link to this piece is here: https://www.iwmi.org/blogs/a-roadmap-and-tools-for-water-energy-food-ne…

Perhaps no other region in the world faces such a stark combination of enormous potential and profound challenges as South Asia does. Its rapid economic growth, swift urbanization and growing populations are met head-on with acute environmental concerns and resource constraints.

Although South Asia is home to a quarter of the world’s population, it holds less than 5% of global freshwater resources. The water supply-demand gap is considerable; South Asian economies are highly reliant on hydropower, while their agricultural systems account for a third of all global groundwater pumping. The interconnectedness of water, energy and food security is especially pronounced in the region, where many critical river basins flow across national borders and climate vulnerability is acute.

A systems or nexus approach, which considers the interconnections between water, energy, food and environmental (WEFE) systems, has great potential, but can become paralyzing for decision-makers if not supported with capacity building and a clear operational plan. Historically, progress on creating secure WEFE systems has been hampered by a siloed focus. As a result, policies designed to solve one problem have inadvertently created another. For example, in Pakistan, as estimated 12 billion cubic meters of water are not optimally used, flowing to thirsty crops like rice and sugarcane, which generate relatively low economic returns for the high volume of water they consume.

So, how do we move from the theory of a nexus systems approach to its practical application? Outputs from the Water-Energy-Food-Environment (WEFE) Nexus Policy work of the CGIAR Policy Innovations Program provided a strategic regional roadmap to make a systems-based nexus approach an operational reality in South Asia.

A WEFE roadmap for a complex region
The starting point is a clear-eyed view of the on-the-ground challenges. Interestingly, the primary barriers to progress are often institutional rather than technical. Through extensive stakeholder consultations, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) identified six key challenges to operationalizing a nexus approach in South Asia. These include fragmented governance and institutional silos, competing priorities and policy trade-offs, data and information gaps, financial constraints, limited private sector engagement, and inefficient regional cooperation and transboundary challenges.

To overcome these challenges, experts from IWMI and the Asia Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) proposed a strategic roadmap for the region, focusing on actions such as promoting cross-sectoral collaboration, strengthening data collection and enhancing international cooperation for shared water resources. While these directives apply to the whole region, experts emphasize that implementation must be context specific. For instance, sustainable hydropower and watershed conservation are priorities for upstream nations like Bhutan and Nepal. In contrast, for India and Pakistan, the priority shifts to managing the energy-groundwater nexus to prevent aquifer depletion. Meanwhile, for Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the focus is heavily tilted toward climate resilience, managing salinity intrusion, and pollution control in deltaic and coastal systems.

Practical tools to measure success
A high-level roadmap, however, requires practical tools to guide specific decisions and measure progress. This is where decision support systems (DSS), including those developed by IWMI research teams, come into play. These analytics platforms provide policymakers with information dashboards on the competing demands on agriculture and water resources and the overall impact of policy decisions on the WEFE nexus.

A key feature of IWMI’s newly-developed Water-Energy-Food (WEF)-Nexus DSS is the ability to generate the WEF Nexus Index; a composite scorecard that measures the combined health of interconnected systems. This involves combining availability and productivity indicators for the trio of water, energy and food into a single, normalized score: the WEF Trade-off Index (WEFTI). Crucially, it allows policymakers to quickly see if a chosen policy is a net positive or negative for the system as a whole.

Mapping the potential for nexus gains: These maps generated by the WEF-Nexus DSS illustrate the Water-Energy-Food-Environment Trade-off Index under a business-as-usual scenario compared to a 20% increase in irrigation efficiency. Graphic: IWMI
Mapping the potential for nexus gains: These maps generated by the WEF-Nexus DSS illustrate the Water-Energy-Food-Environment Trade-off Index under a business-as-usual scenario compared to a 20% increase in irrigation efficiency. Graphic: IWMI
Other complementary tools like the Water Productivity Atlas models specific scenarios at the district and basin level. For example, a scenario presented for Haryana district in India, modelled a shift away from thirsty crops like rice and sugarcane, towards more diverse and nutritious crops like millets and vegetables. The Water Productivity Atlas showed clear, measurable gains. The groundwater footprint was reduced, total energy consumption fell by 13% and economic water productivity nearly doubled. The WEF-Nexus DSS then synthesized this data, and the resulting visual ‘radar charts’ showed a dramatic improvement in the overall WEFTI score, providing a clear, evidence-based case for this crop diversification strategy.

Crop diversification scenarios: The radar charts from the WEF-Nexus DSS show the nexus benefits of replacing 50% of water-intensive crops with diverse alternatives. They compare two land allocation methods: dividing the land equally (EQ) versus weighting it by Economic Water Productivity (EWP). The visual demonstrates that EWP-weighted allocation yields significantly higher nexus gains, highlighting the value of data-driven crop diversification. Graphic: IWMI
Crop diversification scenarios: The radar charts from the WEF-Nexus DSS show the nexus benefits of replacing 50% of water-intensive crops with diverse alternatives. They compare two land allocation methods: dividing the land equally (EQ) versus weighting it by Economic Water Productivity (EWP). The visual demonstrates that EWP-weighted allocation yields significantly higher nexus gains, highlighting the value of data-driven crop diversification. Graphic: IWMI
Turning tools into tangible impact
These tools and roadmaps are crucial, but making them work in the real world requires a focus on implementation. The adoption of new, integrated approaches is often driven by policymakers feeling a ‘pain point,’ such as dwindling financial resources, which pushes them to seek more efficient solutions.

For the way forward, several key considerations emerge. First is the need to document and share ‘stories of success’ to prove the value of these tools and build momentum for their adoption. Second, in the complex political reality of South Asia, creating smart incentives for stakeholders is often more effective than top-down legislation. Finally, success requires institutional champions and collaborative structures, like inter-ministerial committees, to break down silos.

By combining a strategic regional roadmap with practical analytical tools and a clear focus on real-world implementation, the aspiration of a systems approach can be turned into a confident reality.

Alok Sikka was the country representative for India and Bangladesh at IWMI, Bunyod Holmatov is the research group leader for WEFE Nexus at IWMI, Claudia Ringler is the co-lead for WEFE Nexus Policy at CGIAR Policy Innovations Program, and director of Natural Resources and Resilience at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and Mohsin Hafeez is the WEFE Nexus Policy lead and strategic program director for Water, Food and Ecosystems at IWMI.

IWMI and World Meteorological Organization partner to strengthen climate resilience through data, innovation and early action

The source of information is this link: https://www.iwmi.org/news/iwmi-and-world-meteorological-organization-pa…

The partnership will integrate climate data with water management solutions to help vulnerable communities in Africa and Asia anticipate and respond to extreme weather events.

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen global cooperation on early warning systems and climate-resilient water management across vulnerable regions of Africa and Asia. The agreement will enhance the provision and use of climate services in agriculture while supporting greater resilience and climate adaptation.

The MoU was signed by Celeste Saulo, secretary general of WMO and Mark Smith, IWMI’s director general. The 5-year agreement comes at a critical time when climate extremes such as Cyclone Ditwah, the floods in Pakistan and severe drought in Africa highlight the urgent need for coordinated responses to flood and drought management. In many vulnerable regions, existing infrastructure remains ill-equipped to withstand climate shocks.

“With increasing extreme weather, water and climate-related events worldwide, the collaboration with IWMI is important to help countries be more prepared, especially through advancing the Early Warnings for All initiative. This MoU will promote strategic partnership and collaboration on emerging technologies and tools and services,” said Saulo.

Data-driven solutions to protect lives, livelihoods and ecosystems in a changing climate
WMO and IWMI will collaborate across five key areas to strengthen global climate and water resilience. The partnership will advance climate and water data integration for disaster risk reduction by bridging climate and hydrological science with applied water solutions, enabling countries to move from early warning to early action. The collaboration will also integrate socio-economic research into climate services and scale emerging technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for early warning systems. It will strengthen national capacities through joint projects, training and policy support, while opening pathways for coordinated engagement with global initiatives such as Early Warning for All. The partnership will further mobilize climate finance to deliver investment-ready, locally relevant solutions for climate adaptation and disaster risk management.

“Through this MoU, IWMI will work closely with the World Meteorological Organization to strengthen preparedness for floods, droughts and water scarcity by leveraging early warning systems, innovative technologies, tools and applied research,” added Smith.

The signing brought together IWMI’s management, representatives from WMO alongside key partners and stakeholders committed to advancing climate resilience, early warning systems and climate-smart water management.

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For more information, or to arrange interviews, contact the media team.

ABOUT IWMI

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is an international, research-for-development organization that works with governments, civil society and the private sector to solve water problems in developing countries and scale up solutions. Through partnership, IWMI combines research on the sustainable use of water and land resources, knowledge services and products with capacity strengthening, dialogue and policy analysis to support implementation of water management solutions for agriculture, ecosystems, climate change and inclusive economic growth. Headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, IWMI is a CGIAR Research Center with offices in 15 countries and a global network of scientists operating in more than 55 countries. www.iwmi.org

ABOUT WMO

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that works with national meteorological, hydrological and climate services to enable the production, exchange and application of weather, climate, water and environmental information worldwide. Through global observing systems, data exchange, scientific research and operational coordination, WMO supports countries to protect lives and livelihoods, strengthen early warning systems, enhance climate resilience, and promote sustainable development.

WMO provides the international framework for weather forecasting, climate services, hydrological monitoring and disaster risk reduction, ensuring that authoritative, science-based information flows seamlessly across borders. Its work underpins global initiatives such as Early Warnings for All, climate adaptation, water security, food security and disaster preparedness.

Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, WMO brings together 193 Member States and Territories, serving as the backbone of the global meteorological and hydrological community and enabling countries—especially the most vulnerable—to anticipate, prepare for and respond to climate and weather extremes. www.wmo.int

Please find an interesting article published in 2026, the link to open access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2026.104330
Authored by experts affiliated with UNCCD, GWP, and Wageningen University.

Title: Assessing UNCCD’s role in advancing social learning for combating desertification, land degradation, and drought

Abstract: Addressing the challenges of desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) requires exchanging knowledge and practices across diverse actors, institutions, disciplines, and regions. Established in 1994 as one of the three Rio Conventions, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) functions not only as a legally binding international agreement but also as a global collaborative platform for deepening knowledge and technical expertise on tackling DLDD. This paper examines the extent to which UNCCD has contributed to advancing social learning in the field of DLDD. Drawing from Wenger’s theoretical framework on social learning, we argue that UNCCD operates as a global transdisciplinary community of practice, enabling stakeholders to “learn together how to do things better together” in addressing DLDD-related challenges. Based on data from semi-structured interviews with UNCCD National Focal Points, Science and Technology Correspondents, and other experts engaged in UNCCD processes, this research explores and illustrates the relational, technical, and transformational outcomes generated through the Convention. It highlights current gaps in the social learning dynamics within UNCCD processes and offers suggestions for enhancing meeting formats, inclusivity, and the integration of science, policy, and practice. Conceptualizing UNCCD as a platform for co-learning, this study uncovers its broader contribution to environmental governance – offering insights into how multilateral environmental agreements can drive change through shared knowledge, relationships, and adaptive practice, not just political or financial commitments.

More details including the full article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1462901126000237

10 Years ago, there is a research on LDCs in Asia from the angle of drought. We may think, 10 years afterwards, how is the situation?

The publication 10 years ago below
Droughts in Asian Least Developed Countries: Vulnerability and sustainability
Source: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wace.2014.06.003
By M. A. Miyan

Abstract
Droughts occur both in developed and developing countries with significant impacts and are exacerbating in frequency, severity and duration. Over exploitation of water resources, weather variability and climate change are mostly responsible for such exacerbation. The impacts of droughts encompass the global ecosystem as a whole but vary from region to region. Least developed countries (LDCs) are becoming the worst sufferer of the impacts due to physical, social and economic as well as knowledge and skills differences. The increasing biophysical vulnerability contexts and intensity in the Asian LDCs causing adverse effects on food security, human health, biodiversity, water resources, hydroelectric power generation, streams, perennial springs, and livelihood. Drought is also responsible for increasing pollution, pests and diseases and forced migration and famine. Information indicates monsoon has become erratic contributing to up-scaling of droughts. South and Southeast Asian LDCs like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia and Lao PDR under the monsoon climatic zone have also been suffering from increasing droughts arising out of delayed and changing distribution patterns of precipitation. Prolong dry spells increase the frequencies of wildfire in grasslands, forests, and range-lands. The rain-fed crops of the plains are facing challenges from soil-moisture stress with projected droughts. Droughts causing migration of fishes, and marine anadromus species are having adverse impacts on spawning habitats. Reduction in annual surface runoff is decreasing the ground and surface water with negative effect on agriculture and water supply for industrial and domestic sectors. As droughts are exacerbating the consequences are accelerating. However, traditionally people are adapting with the changing situations applying indigenous knowledge and practices for sustainable living. This paper reflects on prevalence and impacts of droughts, existing coping mechanisms, initiatives to combat impacts and further doubles in the context of Asian LDCs.

Source: https://www.unccd.int/news-stories/press-releases/unccd-and-saudi-arabi…
UNCCD News
High-level meeting in Bonn highlights land degradation and drought as rising drivers of instability and security risks

Bonn, 26 January 2026 — The secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which currently holds the Presidency of the UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP), underscored the importance of addressing the land–drought–water–security nexus as a strategic priority for food security, resilience and stability.

During a high-level meeting in Bonn, Adel Al Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, highlighted the link between land degradation and security. Yasmine Fouad, UNCCD Executive Secretary, highlighted that healthy land is foundational to food security, livelihoods and prosperity, with direct implications for stability as communities face rising vulnerability and increasing resource stress.

“Drought is a global issue with a direct impact on people and livelihoods. There is an urgent need to elevate this discourse and bring greater attention to the links between drought and national security,” said Minister Al Jubeir.

“At UNCCD, we are deeply committed to the principle that the health of the land is critical to ensuring peace and stability. Desertification, land degradation and drought drive food prices and exacerbate conflict and insecurity as people struggle to survive amid shrinking resources. These are fundamental development and security challenges and must be prioritized as such,” said Executive Secretary Fouad.

Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stressed the importance of sustaining political momentum from COP16 to COP17:

“Land sits at the heart of multiple global challenges — from food and water security to climate resilience and sustainable growth,” Dr. Faqeeha said. “Building on the outcome and historical success of COP16, we need to maintain the international momentum in COP17.”

By 2050, the world will need to produce 50 per cent more food to feed a growing global population, even as up to 40 per cent of land is already degraded. Restoring 150 million hectares of degraded land could improve food security for 200 million people, by increasing yields, strengthening resilience and reducing pressure to expand agricultural frontiers.

At UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh in December 2024, countries committed to accelerating efforts to sustainably manage and restore land as a driver of economic growth, prosperity and well-being. Through initiatives such as Great Green Wall and the Peace Forest Initiative, UNCCD is advancing land restoration to address the environmental, economic and social impacts of land degradation, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

For more information, please contact: press@unccd.int

Source: https://www.adpc.net/ver25/adpc-news.asp?q=2152
Stakeholders Consultation Workshop in Nepal

26-27 November 2025, Kathmandu, Nepal
The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation (MoEWRI), convened a Stakeholder Consultation Workshop to accelerate the integration of climate-responsive actions across the water, energy, irrigation, hydrology, and meteorology sectors in Nepal.

The workshop brought together key partners to align sectoral priorities with national plans, policies, regulations, and budgeting processes, while advancing the development of climate-smart guidelines and knowledge products. It further strengthened coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting mechanisms essential for achieving Nepal's climate commitments. The workshop was organized under the NDC IMPACT project, funded by the NDC Partnership Action Fund (PAF).

The main objectives of the Stakeholders Consultation Workshop were to present the scope of project outputs, activities, and the overall implementation plan, as well as to gather stakeholders' feedback and expectations.

Mr. Shishir Koirala, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation (MoEWRI), highlighted that “This workshop is an important step in the project to support Nepal's climate resilience, including expanding renewable energy, strengthening hydropower resilience, promoting climate-smart irrigation, and improving meteorology and other sectors."

Ms. Amita Thapa Magar, In-Country Facilitator for Nepal at NDC Partnership, shared that stakeholders' feedback will guide coherence, adaptability, and priority alignment for the project implementation.

The consultation workshop featured a comprehensive program comprising a technical session, a thematic presentation, and a group discussion followed by participant presentations. The sessions also helped to outline the scope and approach for creating the Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) for the water, energy, irrigation, hydrology, and metrology sectors. This involved reviewing the current GEDSI landscape, identifying gaps, and developing targeted actions and policy interventions to promote gender-responsive and inclusive practices.

In total, 39 representatives from various government departments and ministries in Nepal took part in the event, alongside participants from academia, international organizations, and development partners. The diverse participation ensured a rich exchange of perspectives, strengthening the workshop's overall impact and relevance.

Dr. Santosh Kaini, Deputy Director General of the Department of Water Resources and Irrigation, emphasized that “Policy and guiding documents are vital but must be complemented with field assessments and stakeholder input to address gaps effectively."

Mr. Naresh Sharma, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment, delivered the keynote presentation, noting that this project would develop solutions that strengthen adaptive capacity, especially for vulnerable communities affected by climate change.

The NDC IMPACT project is leading efforts to embed climate resilience and low-carbon strategies into Nepal's national plans, policies, regulations, and budgets across water, energy, irrigation, hydrology, and meteorology sectors. ADPC is working closely with MoEWRI to build institutional capacity and promote climate-resilient development.

For more information, please contact: adpc_social@adpc.net

International Climate Protection Fellowship (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation)

Applications are open for the International Climate Protection Fellowship, a fully funded program for professionals and researchers working on climate change, sustainability, water, energy, and environmental protection.

The fellowship supports research stays in Germany in cooperation with a host institution, with a strong focus on practical impact and climate-related solutions.

Who can apply

Early-career and experienced professionals

Researchers working on climate-related topics

Applicants from developing and emerging countries

Application deadline: 10 February

More details and application link:
https://www.humboldt-foundation.de/en/apply/sponsorship-programmes/inte…

Journal call for paper:
Journal title: Sustainability
Special issue title: Impacts of Climate Change and Extreme Events on Global Food Security
Link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/J7UL5R10O7
Special Issue Information:
Dear Colleagues,

Against the background of intensifying global climate change, global food security is facing increasingly severe systemic risks. Major factors are profoundly impacting all stages of food production, distribution, consumption, and allocation through multiple pathways. These include rising global temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, growing frequency and intensity of extreme events, and the looming threat of climate tipping points. These changes directly endanger the four core dimensions of food security: availability, access, utilization, and stability. This situation not only poses unprecedented challenges to regional and national food security governance systems but also imposes significant constraints on global efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) centered on “Zero Hunger”. Food security lies at the heart of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. SDG 2 explicitly calls for "ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture," underscoring its foundational role in the global sustainable development framework. Addressing climate shocks and tipping point risks has thus become an urgent task for safeguarding food security, driving agricultural system transformation, and realizing a sustainable future.

We are pleased to open up submissions to this Special Issue of Sustainability, titled “Impacts of Climate Change and Extreme Events on Global Food Security”. This Special Issue aims to delve into the complex interactions and feedback mechanisms between climate change, extreme weather and climate events, and global food security, with a particular focus on their multi-scale impacts and response pathways within the context of sustainable development. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives covering all relevant themes and encourage interdisciplinary, multi-methodological academic contributions. The scope of this Special Issue is broad and incorporates interdisciplinary perspectives including, but not limited to, atmospheric sciences, meteorology, climatology, geography, economics, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, and global development. We encourage studies that utilize novel theoretical frameworks and quantitative and qualitative methodologies, as well as case studies conducted across diverse geographic regions.

We welcome contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following:

Attribution and impacts of extreme climate events and climate change;
Climate tipping points and cascading risks to food systems;
Compound extreme events and their impacts on agriculture and food security;
Construction of food security evaluation indicator systems at different scales (global, regional, and national) under climate change, and multi-dimensional spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of food security;
Impacts of climate change-driven food market fluctuations on socioeconomic vulnerability;
Applications of big data and artificial intelligence in monitoring, assessing, and early warning of food security risks under climate change;
Vulnerabilities in trade and supply chains for global food security;
Comparative case studies on food security responses to climate change and extreme events.
We welcome original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and conceptual frameworks that contribute to this pressing field of study.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Prof. Dr. Jieming Chou
Dr. Yuan Xu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

The co-editor of this special issue, Dr. Yuan Xu, is an expert who has involved in UNCCD work for a long period. He is also a member of this Community of Learning and Practice.