The Regional Office for the Near East (RNE) assists member countries with Regional policy issues in the following areas of priority:

§          Water Policy Reform and management, to achieve sustainable utilization and maintenance of the scarce water resources in the Near East Region.

§          Advising countries on the macroeconomic and sector policy reform required to correct market distortions, through long-term planning and enabling macro and sector socio-economic policies and environment.

§          Providing support to design and implement long-term sustainable agricultural and rural development strategies and programmes.

§          Providing support in the preparation for the next round of negotiations for the World Trade Organization and assistance to WTO member and non-member countries in assessing the implications of the new world trade order, as well as potential agricultural intra-regional trade and economic integration. 

§          Follow-up to the Plan of Action of the World Food Summit, and support to the countries’ initiatives through the Special Programme for Food Security.

Sector Policy Assistance and Advice

To assist Member States in making strategic choices to develop sustainable market-oriented agriculture and formulating policies and programmes in areas of FAO mandate, aiming at eradicating poverty and inequality, generating employment and improving access to food.

Outputs: Strengthened national capacities in policy analysis, coherence in direct services delivered by the Organization at member country level.

·         Policy advice to member countries

·         Organization of policy workshops/seminars

Field Program Development:

Designed to guide and co-ordinate the preparation of programming framework documents for member countries and the development of field programmes on behalf of donors, While ensuring that proposed activities have a maximum impact on core issues of agricultural development and food security within a coherent country focus through a programme approach.

Outputs: Projects and programme ideas and documents

·         Fielding of and participation in programming missions

·         Formulation of programmes/projects

·         Review and assess requests for technical assistance

Enhancement of country focus

To provide improved FAO support at the national level through strengthened databases on country situations.

Outputs: Country briefs and databases, information to countries on FAO capacities and programmes, issue papers (including project ideas/briefs).

·         Preparation of country briefs, issue papers and analytical data base

·         Enhancing country knowledge of FAO technical assistance

Support and training in agricultural policies

In collaboration with TCAR, to assist in identifying priorities and formulating improved policies and programmes in member countries as a result of efficient and effective advice.

Outputs: Sector/Sub-sector review and strategy papers, analyses of national policy issues, workshops and training.

·         Preparation of sector/sub-sector strategies

·         Direct support and training in specific policy issues

Technical support and backstopping to field activities

Through provision of adequate FAO technical support, to ensure an effective FAO Field Programmes, including SPFS and emergencies and rehabilitation programmes.

Outputs: Analytical reports on constraints for achieving sustainable food security.

.        Backstopping to field projects

.       Technical support and participation to FAO field programmes (SPFS, follow-up to the WFS...)