Prof. Rachid Serraj, Director of the Africa Initiative at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, elected Chair of DesertNet International, the scientific body supporting the UNCC
UM6P Serraj DesertNet International Chair appointment marks a milestone for African scientific leadership on the global stage. Prof. Rachid Serraj, Director of the Africa Initiative at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic, has been elected Chair of DesertNet International (DNI), a leading global scientific network supporting the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). This distinction positions UM6P at the forefront of international efforts to address land degradation, food security, and sustainable land management.
UM6P Serraj DesertNet International: a strategic appointment for African science
DesertNet International serves as the scientific body providing evidence-based expertise to the UNCCD process. Therefore, it plays a central role in shaping international dialogue and policy responses on land degradation and desertification. As Chair, Prof. Serraj will help steer the global science-policy agenda at major international forums. This includes the UNCCD Conference of the Parties (COP), where key decisions on land restoration and climate resilience are negotiated.
Moreover, this appointment reflects the growing recognition of UM6P as an institution capable of influencing global scientific and policy frameworks. In addition, it reinforces the university’s strategic positioning as a bridge between African perspectives and international governance structures.
UM6P Serraj DesertNet International: advancing science at the UNCCD
The UNCCD is one of the three Rio Conventions, alongside the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Thus, DNI’s role is consequential: it translates scientific evidence into actionable policy recommendations at the highest levels of international environmental governance. As Chair of DNI, Prof. Serraj will contribute directly to this process — ensuring that African realities and research inform global decisions on land and soil.
UM6P Serraj DesertNet International: science in service of land and food security
Land degradation affects over two billion people globally, with Sub-Saharan Africa among the most exposed regions. Furthermore, desertification directly threatens food production systems across the continent. Therefore, the science-policy interface represented by DNI is not a technical abstraction — it has concrete consequences for agricultural livelihoods, ecosystem stability, and long-term food security. Prof. Serraj’s expertise and UM6P’s Africa Initiative make this appointment both timely and strategically significant.
Strengthening UM6P’s role in global environmental governance
This election is consistent with University Mohammed VI Polytechnic’s broader institutional mission: to place African academic expertise at the center of global conversations on sustainable development. Through the Africa Initiative, UM6P has built a sustained engagement with continental and international partners on agriculture, land management, and ecological resilience. As a result, Prof. Serraj’s election as Chair of DesertNet International is both a personal distinction and an institutional achievement. It confirms that UM6P is not only a producer of knowledge — it is an active participant in the governance of that knowledge at the global level.
Leave a Reply