Highlights
Events
17/6
2026
Webinar 2: Local Barriers and Human Capital for AI in Agrifood Systems in the NENA Region
17/06/2026
Background:
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.
Social inclusion
In NENA countries, poverty is predominantly rural. With small scale producers – including fishers and pastoralists – and landless rural workers facing growing marginalization, rural communities are left increasingly vulnerable to economic, political and environmental shocks. This and the high prevalence of gender disparities, youth unemployment, child labour and other forms of exclusion constitute a significant barrier to more equitable agrifood systems in the region.
Stories
Blogs
Opinions
From burden to solutions: Advancing food safety across the Near East and North Africa
07/06/2026
Every meal should nourish, not harm. Yet millions of people continue to suffer from preventable foodborne illnesses every year, highlighting the urgent need for stronger food safety systems across the globe.
Categories: blog
Greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action
World Bee Day 2026
20/05/2026
Bees have long been part of life across the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. From the mountains of Morocco to the plains of Iraq, beekeeping is deeply connected to biodiversity, food production and rural livelihoods. Yet today, this centuries-old practice is under pressure from climate change, pests and diseases, habitat degradation, unsustainable pesticide use and weak market systems.
Technical Expertise
New governance pathways for food security in the Near East and North Africa
01/04/2026
Food security has become a central policy concern across the Near East and North Africa (NENA). Population growth, limited natural resources, high import dependence, and exposure to global market shocks have pushed governments to treat food security as a strategic priority.
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Greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action
Forests and economies in the Near East and North Africa
21/03/2026
On this International Day of Forests 2026, the theme Forests and economies resonates deeply in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. Here, forests are grazing grounds, food sources, water protectors and, increasingly, fragile lifelines.
Publications
Innovating rural advisory services in the Arab region: A compendium of practices
2026
Innovating rural advisory services in the Arab region: A compendium of practices showcases innovative experiences that demonstrate how rural advisory services are supporting farmers and rural communities across the Arab region. Drawing on practical case studies from governments, research institutions, civil society and the private sector, the publication highlights approaches that address key challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, market access and food insecurity.
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Meeting report on training and sensitizing communication practitioners Antibicrobial resistance (AMR) reporting and risk communication, August 13–14, 2025
2026
This report documents the proceedings and outcomes of a two-day technical workshop held on August 13-14, 2025, designed to train and sensitize communication practitioners and journalists on effective reporting and risk communication strategies related to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The workshop's primary objective was to bridge the knowledge gap between the complex science of AMR and the public's understanding of this global health threat.
Advancing sustainable locust management Central region annual report 2025
2026
This report provides a comprehensive and systematic overview of the technical activities, training programmes, workshops and field operations implemented during the year to strengthen national and regional capacities for desert locust management in affected member countries. These efforts are undertaken in a context of ongoing risks linked to desert locust dynamics and emerging environmental and climatic indicators, which require maintaining high levels of preparedness and readiness.
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=88e9f5ea_2 "Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=a8ad9034_1 "The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=dfbaa9f2_1 "Inter-Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=4eb83e5b_1 "Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=b68ea809_2 "Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=26bd6c6b_1 "Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=2b881a9b_1 "The Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=ae3a73a3_1 "Regional Centre on Agrarian Reform & Rural Development for the Near East(CARDNE)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=5fad0e0e_1 "Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=adacc503_1 "Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=8bd62a66_1 "Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC)")