This synthesis report summarises the results of a dialogue on food security and water security. between policy makers, researchers, national leaders responsible for water and agriculture policy and members of the international development community at the International Conference on Policies for Water and Food Security in Dry Areas, held in Cairo in June 2013. The meeting’s focus primary focus was on challenges and proposed solutions and investments needed to improve water and food security in these agro-ecosystems – particularly the Middle East and North Africa. The dialogue provided insights into the approaches adopted by countries, and the essence of these policies and practices is presented in this report. Together, conference participants drafted and agreed on a series of action points and next steps, in the Key Messages document presented in the Annex of this report.