The thirteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 13) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will be held at Ordos International Convention and Exhibition Center, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China. AI-CD will organize a side event named “African Initiative for Combating Desertification to Strengthen Resilience to Climate Change in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa – Towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals –” on 8th September. We welcome all who are concerned about combating desertification in these regions.