Highlights
UN report warns that hunger in Arab countries reached its highest in the year 2022 since the last two decades
08/12/2023
According to the report, the number of undernourished people was 59.8 million in...
FAO launches Water Scarcity Initiative to achieve water and food security in NENA region
05/12/2023
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched today the
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FAO and ICESCO join hands to foster the development of agriculture, forestry and fishery in the region
15/11/2023
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has signed today a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the...
Events
12/12
2023
14/12
2023
Technical meeting to strengthen national capacities for surveillance and management of cactus and cochineal in the Mediterranean
Marrakesh (Morocco), 12/12/2023 - 14/12/2023
Since its introduction to the Mediterranean regions, the cactus pear (Opuntia spp.) has grown to be one of the most significant species of landscape as a natural or cultivated crop. The cactus pear has gradually become an important food and feed crop for smallholder farmers, improving rural livelihoods. In Southern Europe, it is mainly cultivated for fruit production, whereas in the Near Eas...
6/12
2023
Towards the Launch of Arab Forum for Rural Advisory Services
Virtual Event, 06/12/2023
The General Meeting of the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services is organized on a yearly basis to foster exchange on approaches and experiences in agriculture and rural advisory services (RAS) between diverse stakeholders and across regions. The meeting represents an opportunity to discuss the strategic directions and functioning of GFRAS and its regional fora and offers a space for learnin...
7/12
2023
FAO’s Expert Consultation: Regional Foresight Exercise for the Near East and North Africa Region
Cairo (Egypt), Hybrid Event, 07/12/2023
Responding to calls by the 28th Committee on Agriculture and FAO Members, FAO is systematically engaging in foresight activities at corporate, regional, sub-regional and country levels for the transformation of agrifood systems. In this endeavour, the Organization benefits from the experience gain...
Regional Priorities
Action Areas
Red Palm Weevil Eradication Programme
The Red Palm Weevil (RPW) Eradication Programme facilitates the coordination of regional efforts to ensure an integrated and sustainable approach to controlling the RPW and reducing its devastating effects on date palm production, the food and income security of rural communities, and the ecology of affected areas.
Youth empowerment
Young men and women have a key role to play in fostering sustainability, equity and resilience of agrifood systems in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. FAO works with youth across the region to improve their access to high quality education and training, decent employment, rural institutions and critical assets and services, in agrifood value chains.
Sustainable and Inclusive Agrifood Value Chains
Sustainable and inclusive agrifood value chains development is a market-oriented and systems-based approach for assessing, understanding and improving the performance of agrifood value chains, to ensure their economic, social, and environmental and climate sustainability.
The UN Decade of Family Farming
The UN Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028 (UNDFF) aims to shed new light on what it means to be a family farmer in a rapidly changing world and highlights more than ever before the important role family farmers play in eradicating hunger and shaping the future of our agri-food systems.
Addressing climate change in agrifood systems
FAO’s climate change activities aim to strengthen capacities of member countries to build resilient agrifood systems, and to plan, implement and report on climate change adaptation and mitigation actions in the agriculture sectors.
Rural advisory services for inclusive transformation in the Near East and North Africa
Rural advisory services (RAS) have a central role in equipping farmers with the knowledge and skills to cope with challenges and empower them to make informed decisions, link to markets and act collectively to improve their livelihoods and claim their agency in inclusive rural transformation.
The Regional Initiative on Water Scarcity for the Near East and North Africa
In order to help NENA countries address the food and water security challenges, the FAO’s Regional Office in the Near East and North Africa and its partners established the Water Scarcity Initiative.
Gender equality and women’s empowerment for inclusive food systems transformation
The Regional Office has a stand-alone programme of work on gender equality and women’s empowerment that addresses gender as a cross-cutting theme in all its regional priorities and initiatives.
One Country One Priority Product: Global Action on Green Development of Special Agricultural Products
The Global Action on Green Development of Special Agricultural Products (SAPs): One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) was launched by the FAO Director General in 2021. The initiative will aim to support countries in transforming their agrifood systems to be more sustainable, efficient, resilient and inclusive.
Stories
Blogs
Technical Expertise
Success Story on collaboration
by Nouf Alayyadhi - 13/11/2023
As a follow-up to a successful workshop held in 2021, RNE-HR Team took initiative once again to organize an event in June of this year, in collaboration with various HR counterparts and the FAO Office of Emergencies and Resilience, this time to highlight the critical role of Human Resources in emergency and crisis contexts.
Opinions
COP28 in Dubai: Seizing the Opportunity to Achieve Global Food Security and Sustainable, Healthy Nutrition
by Mohamed Alaidaroos Alhashimi - 30/09/2023
As we prepare to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, it is crucial to underscore the significance of this global platform for advancing the sustainable development agenda in the Arab region and worldwide.
Technical Expertise
Urgent need for a Regional Strategy for Sustainable Management of Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases (TPPDs) in the Near East and North Africa
by Thaer Yaseen - 07/09/2023
The Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is challenged by the continuous threat of transboundary plant pests and diseases, the introduction and spread of which is facilitated by increased trade activities,
Partnerships & Cooperations
The Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Unit (SPRM)
by Kayan Jaff - 14/08/2023
The Strategic Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Unit (SPRM) is designed to promote a more systematic use of partnerships in the Near East and North Africa Region (NENA), and to provide practical guidance to FAO units and partners to facilitate the selection, prioritization, development and management of new or renewed partnerships.
Opinions
How Arab world can overcome food and nutrition crises
by Abdulhakim Elwaer - 14/08/2023
The Arab region is facing unprecedented challenges in its efforts to end hunger and all forms of malnutrition and ensure that everyone has access to adequate and affordable healthy diets. This is due to multiple challenges and factors beyond the actions and controls of Arab countries.
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Technical Expertise
Advancing Water Action for Food and Climate Security
by HEBA AL-HARIRY - 09/08/2023
In June 2022, FAO launched the interregional Water Scarcity Platform (iRTP-WS) as a "Centre of Excellence" that brings together experts and stakeholders from various regions, drawing on their collective knowledge, in an action and result-oriented partnership to accelerate the achievement of water, food and climate security, as well as sustainable development in the various regions.
Publications
Near East and North Africa - Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2023
2023
The Overview presents the food security and nutrition situation in the Arab States for 2022 when the effects of the war in Ukraine and record-high food and fertilizer prices hit the region that was just recovering from the economic and social shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Food Policy Monitoring in the Near East and North Africa, 3rd Quarter 2023 | Bulletin
2023
Global commodities and food prices continued their downward trend in the third quarter of 2023; however, food price inflation remains a great concern in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. While the oil-exporting Gulf countries are faring well through the ongoing macroeconomic challenges, other NENA countries are struggling with high energy and input costs, economic challenges, domestic currency depreciation...
Regulatory framework for agricultural data in the Near East and North Africa region
2023
Agricultural data and their use for better decision making and innovation are at the centre of the digital transformation of agriculture in the Near East and North Africa region. The integration of big data and technology can improve the efficiency and productivity of agriculture by enabling farmers to make more informed decisions. The increase of agricultural productivity in the region with scarce natural resources is crucial to meet sustainably the food demand of a growing population.
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=8bd62a66_1 "Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC)")
.tmb-th600x400.jpg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=b35f01d6_1 "Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU)")
.tmb-th600x400.gif?Culture=en&sfvrsn=ed8fcbc3_1 "Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=640a5a5f_1 "The Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID)")
Multimedia
Farmer Field Schools and Women’s Empowerment
15/08/2023
A video interview with Valentina Franchi, Gender Specialist at FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa. The interview took place in Al...