With more than 500 million family farms that constitute over 85 percent of all farms worldwide, family farming is the predominant mode of agricultural production, producing food, preserving traditional food systems, contributing to a balanced diet and safeguarding the world’s agro-biodiversity. As such, family farms are inextricably linked to domestic and global food security.  In the NENA region, the contribution of small-scale family agriculture as a percentage of overall agricultural production varies from low values (in industrial crops) to high values. More than 80 percent of some annual and perennial crops and livestock species is provided by the small-scale family farming, and nearly 75 to 85 percent of agricultural land holdings is held by family farmers.This regional synthesis constitutes a general overview built on the six national reports, with the addition of some original information describing patterns of structural change in the region and a compendium of potential areas for action. The aim of the report is to guide the implementation of the Regional Initiative. It is based on existing data and documents and on interviews with key informants that helped to identify and analyse successful experiences and understand both current and past policy support provided to SSFF in the region.