This statement of WOCAT strategy for the period 2008-2012 is the product of experience gathered in the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) programme since its inauguration in 1992. It is a result of internal evaluation and consultation on the future of the programme, in which all partners were involved.

This document determines the direction of the WOCAT programme for the next five years, including:

• the vision and mission of the programme
• WOCAT’s contribution to Sustainable Land Management (SLM)
• organisation, management and funding
• roles and responsibilities at two levels: global programme and national/regional initiatives
• fields of activity with, in the annex document, specific objectives, target groups, expected results, dissemination strategy and outcomes

This strategy statement on the one hand defines WOCAT’s objectives at the global level, and on the other hand is intended to provide guidelines for coordinating the common efforts of national and regional WOCAT participants as well as potential donors and research partners.

As WOCAT operates at two levels, this strategy only allows for determining and steering its direction and monitoring outcomes at the global level. Because WOCAT is not centrally organized, it can only give suggestions and ideas to effect implementation at the national and regional level.