Most of Near east and North Africa societies have been in the midst of social and political transition in recent years. Three of them changed governments following the events of 2011, and some have endured armed conflict. Moreover, most of them face the challenge of food security in a drylands environment and rely largely upon imports to feed their growing populations. Historical evidence shows that countries in transition are at high risk of conflict. But it also shows that agricultural development is one of the keys to peace and stability. To date, IFAD has invested more than US$1.6 billion in loan financing for 113 rural development programmes and projects in the Near East and North Africa. Operations supported by IFAD in the Near East and North Africa focus on expanding smallholder farmers’ access to rural finance, generating employment for young rural people, linking small growers of non-traditional crops with domestic and international markets, improving management of land and water resources, and finding solutions to cope with increasing water scarcity, and sustainably managing, conserving and restoring ecosystems so that rural people can improve their livelihoods and adapt to a changing environment, enhancing resilience to climate-related shocks and stresses, and strengthening early interventions in post-conflict situations.