Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazahstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

They include experts in the various fields of agriculture, research and technology, land and water, plant production and protection, animal production and health, agro-industry, range management, forestry, nutrition, agricultural marketing, agricultural planning, extension, training and education, communication and women in development.

The overall objective of the Regional Office for the Near East stems from the objectives of FAO. Its functions are to carry out a major programme of technical advice and assistance for the agricultural community, on behalf of the governments of the Near East countries and development funding agencies in the Region; collect, analyze and disseminate information, and advise governments on policy and planning. The ultimate goal is to assist Member States, in raising the levels of nutrition and standards of living of their people, improve the production and distribution of food and agricultural products and achieve food self-sufficiency, through the implementation of sound and sustainable agricultural and rural development programmes.

The Regional Office plays a particularly active role in promoting South - South cooperation between the countries of the region; in this connection, it organizes Workshops, Seminars, etc. at regional and/or Sub-regional levels; it also serves as a secretariat for some intergovernmental regional bodies such as FAO's specialized Regional Commissions, etc...

RNE also attends most of the meetings that are organized in the region and that fall within the Organization's mandate; accordingly, RNE advises FAO Headquarters on the related matters.

The Regional Office is a driving force for the development stage. It provides a forum for its Member States to agree on, discuss and resolve shared problems and it plays a dynamic role in agricultural and rural development in the Region.