Wheat is a source of food and livelihoods for over 1 billion people in developing countries. A major staple food crop in many countries, it is an important source of nutrition while drought, floods and diseases severely affect wheat production. Wheat production in Northern and Eastern Africa, the Near East and West, Central and South Asia is vulnerable to rust diseases. Considering these challenges, FAO launched the Wheat Rust Diseases Global Programme in 2008. The goal of the programme is to contribute to global food security through the prevention  and management of emerging wheat rust diseases and sustainable enhancement of wheat productivity