Highlights
Events
11/ 12
2024
The New Extensionist Learning Kit and its operationalization in Arab Region
Virtual Event, 11/12/2024
Developed under the Tripartite Agreement between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the mapping exercise and its synthesis report identifies essential technologies across six thematic areas: 1) postharvest, reducing food loss and was...
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
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Greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action
NENA’s restoration revolution: Investing in people and planet
by Fidaa Haddad, Senior Programme Officer, FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa - 05/12/2024
The Near East and North Africa (NENA) region faces a sobering reality: about 86 percent of its total land area suffers from degradation and desertification (FAO, 2021), threatening the livelihoods of 410 million people. As climate change continues to intensify, reducing rainfall and straining water resources, the impacts on agriculture, biodiversity, and socio-economic stability grow more dire.
FAO Assistant Director- General
Investing in the planet and its people: Synergizing initiatives for accelerated climate action at the 29th Conference of the Parties
by Abdulhakim Elwaer - 19/11/2024
As the world looks ahead to the 29th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024, the call for transformative solutions in agrifood systems is stronger than ever. In this pivotal moment for climate action, two major initiatives are set to play crucial roles: the FAST Partnership (Food and Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation)
Opinions
The Right to Food in the Maghreb and Middle East: A Critical Moment for Action
by Juan Echanove - 11/11/2024
The right to food is a fundamental human right that ensures every person has access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs for an active and healthy life. It is not just about having enough food to survive but about having food that is appropriate, available, and accessible to everyone, without discrimination.
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Technical Expertise
Strengthening urban-rural food systems through local production and food waste reduction
by Ahmad Mukhtar, FAO Senior Economist and Fidaa Haddad, Senior Programme Officer - 30/10/2024
Urbanization in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is rapidly accelerating, bringing with it both opportunities and immense challenges. With projections showing that by 2050, 73 percent of the population will live in cities, surpassing 450 million people, food systems in the region are under extreme pressure to meet growing urban demands.
Greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action
Leading the way: Gulf countries' efforts in mangrove restoration
by Fidaa Haddad, Senior Programme Officer, FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa - 26/07/2024
On the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, we delve into the vital importance of mangroves. These unique coastal ecosystems provide critical habitats for a myriad of marine and terrestrial wildlife.
Greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action
Combating sand and dust storms in MENA: the role of tree plantation
by Fidaa Haddad, Senior Programme Officer, FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa - 12/07/2024
As we celebrate the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms 2024, it is crucial to delve deeper into the complexities of this issue. Sand and dust storms (SDS) are natural phenomena driven by a combination of environmental and human-induced factors.
Opinions
Leveraging Water for Peace: FAO’s Experience in Yemen
by Hussein Gadain - 03/04/2024
To leverage ‘Water for Peace,’ we urgently need to fully understand the water governance systems, how resources are extracted, used, shared and replenished. Our experience in Yemen has shown glaring gaps between policy and the ultimate use of the precious commodity. Another gap is limited funding to replicate best water management practices which have been piloted and proven effective.
FAO Assistant Director- General
Innovating today for a greener tomorrow: FAO's initiatives in the Near East and North Africa region
by Abdulhakim Elwaer - 21/03/2024
As we approach the International Day of Forests on 21st March, it's crucial to recognize the significance of forests, especially in dryland regions like the Near East and North Africa (NENA). With the region's population soaring, demands on land and water are escalating, making initiatives for greening agriculture, water scarcity, and climate action critical priorities for FAO.
Director-General
Accelerating the transformation of agrifood systems in the NENA region
by QU Dongyu, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - 27/02/2024
The MENA region faces severe water scarcity and climate shocks. As a result, we must prioritize the adaptation to climate change, as well as mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
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.
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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
Food policy monitoring in the Near East and North Africa, 3rd and 4th Quarter 2024 | Bulletin
2024
Economic growth continues to be subdued in the Near East and North Africa region due to uncertainties heightened by recent conflicts. This bulletin focuses on conflicts that have been severely undermining food security in the region, disrupting agricultural production, destroying infrastructure, displacing populations and weakening local economies, pushing millions into acute hunger.
The Sudan: Impact of shocks on livestock inputs, food supply chains and livestock livelihoods DIEM – Data in Emergencies Monitoring report, July 2024
2024
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, through the Data in Emergencies Monitoring (DIEM-Monitoring) System, implemented a survey to assess the functionality of markets, the supply and accessibility of food items and livestock inputs, and to identify challenges experienced by livestock keepers and traders in the Sudan.
Food policy monitoring in the Near East and North Africa region. 2nd Quarter 2024 | Bulletin Regional food safety – exploring challenges, strategies and actions
2024
The Quarterly Food Policy Monitoring Bulletin presents recent trends in international and regional commodity markets, food price developments, and regional crop situations. It also covers the recent food and trade policy measures adopted in countries of the NENA region. Each Bulletin has a focus topic that is strategic in enhancing food security and nutrition in the region. This quarterly issue focuses on Regional food safety challenges, strategies and actions.
Farmer Field Schools and Women’s Empowerment
15/08/2023
.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=a398d3ff_1 "International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)")
.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)")
.tmb-th600x400.jpg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=b35f01d6_1 "Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU)")
