Desertification, land degradation, and drought disproportionately affect women and girls, as they often lack access to and control over land resources. They are also most impacted by reduced agricultural yields and increased water scarcity. 

This publication was launched at UNCCD COP 16 at Riyadh and aims to showcase ongoing gender-responsive land restoration initiatives across India. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the connections between Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (EWE) and desertification, emphasizing the crucial role women play in promoting sustainable land management and combating land degradation. 

The powerful stories highlighted in this compendium demonstrate that gender-responsive approaches are effective in restoring degraded ecosystems and achieving land degradation neutrality.