The Regional Office for the Near East (RNE) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has defined the following five strategic priority areas to steer its programme in the region based on the current and ongoing major food and agriculture related development concerns of the Near East region. The definitions of these priority areas were guided by the past Regional Conferences and outcomes of the World Food Summit (WFS) and by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

• Promoting Sustainable Water and Natural Resources Utilization, Conservation and Management.

• Promoting the Formulation and Implementation of Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development Policy Reforms for Eradication of Food Insecurity, Malnutrition and Rural Poverty.

• Strengthening Capacities for Trade Liberalization, WTO Negotiations and Regional Economic Cooperation.

• Assisting in Disaster Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness, and in Post-Emergency Rehabilitation and Transition to Sustainable Food Security and Agricultural Development.

• Fostering Knowledge Management, Availability and Access to Information.