30 September 2019, Cairo - Saudi Arabia agreed to support FAO's efforts in organizing an...
Regional Initiatives
Naturally exposed to chronic shortage of water, the Near East and North Africa countries may be facing the most severe intensification of water scarcity in the region's history.
By creating farm and off-farm employment, Small Scale Family Farming is the major source of income in rural areas. It holds the potential to significantly improve the livelihood of thousands of rural families that rely on agriculture for their survival.
The Initiative collaborates closely with countries in the Near East in the development of coherent and evidence-based policy and programmes to meet their demands on food security and nutrition whilst building resilience and promoting sustainable agriculture.
In Focus
Launched by the FAO's Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases in November 2015, the ERP has proved a tangible success, raising awareness among households regarding the risks linked to the traditional Egyptian household poultry-slaughter and promoting safer manual bird-slaughter steps across Egypt.
Yemen faces the worst humanitarian in the world. The country has become increasingly unstable since the conflict escalated dramatically in mid-March 2015, severely disrupting the economy, including the agriculture sector. In light of these alarming situation, FAO is empowering 38 Water User Associations (WUAs) to promote better water management and reduce local conflicts over water resources.
As the violence continues, an estimated 9.8 million Syrians are in urgent need of food and farming support. Current forecasts point to worsening cereal crop production. Each day, as thousands of Syrians continue to flee to neighboring countries, urgent humanitarian assistance is needed.
28 000 farmers in Iraq, whose livelihoods have been left in tatters as a result of hostilities, have started receiving wheat seeds, animal fodder and fertilizers. The agricultural rehabilitation of Iraq has begun. The distribution will benefit 225,000 people in 600 villages.