Implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa

Requests the Secretary-General to review the functioning of the institutional linkage, including the financing arrangements, not later than 31 Dec. 2000; urges Governments and all interested organizations, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to make promptly the voluntary contributions necessary to ensure that the Global Mechanism can begin operating on 1 Jan. 1998; requests the Secretary-General, bearing in mind the decision taken by the Conference of the Parties at its 1st session: (a) to authorize the interim secretariat established pursuant to resolution 47/188 to act as the secretariat for the transition period following the 1st session of the Conference of the Parties until the permanent secretariat designated by the Conference begins operating by 1 Jan. 1999; (b) to maintain the arrangements within the current programme budget for the interim secretariat to support the Convention until the permanent secretariat begins operating by 1 Jan. 1999 and to maintain the arrangements relating to extrabudgetary funds; requests the Secretary-General to close, on 31 Dec. 1998, the Trust Fund and the Special Voluntary Fund established under the provisions of resolution 47/188; welcomes with appreciation the generous offer of the Government of Senegal to host the 2nd session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention at Dakar from 30 Nov.-11 Dec. 1998; also requests the Secretary-General to report to it, at its 53rd session, on the implementation of the present resolution.

Adopted without vote, 77th meeting

5 p.

Adopted at the 77th plenary meeting, 18 Dec. 1997.