The COP was established by the “Convention to combat desertification” as the supreme decision-making body. It comprises ratifying governments and regional economic integration organizations, such as the European Union.

Up to today, the COP had held thirteen sessions and it has been meeting biennially since 2001.

The fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP 14) is scheduled to take place from 7-18 October 2019 in New Delhi, Delhi, India.