Digital Transformation for Inclusive Rural and Agrifood Systems
Brief regional framing
Digitalization of agrifood systems is not only a future possibility but a proven and practical driver of rural transformation. Across the Near East and North Africa region, digital tools are already strengthening rural communities by improving agricultural practices, increasing the bargaining power of micro, small and medium enterprises, expanding access to finance for smallholders, creating new income opportunities through off-farm and value-added activities, and improving access to education and advisory services.
At the same time, the NENA region continues to face significant obstacles to digital transformation, including weak rural infrastructure, limited coordination among stakeholders and regulatory frameworks, climate change and water scarcity pressures, fragmented markets for digital solutions, high levels of digital illiteracy, and low connectivity and affordability.
For this reason, FAO’s Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa promotes and supports digital transformation as a cross-cutting enabler that strengthens participation in agrifood value chains, improves evidence-based decision-making, and enhances the resilience and inclusiveness of rural livelihoods.
Digital Transformation
- Accelerating rural transformation in the Near East and North Africa region increasingly relies on digital innovation and the effective use of science- and technology-based solutions across agrifood systems. Digital tools support improved agricultural practices, facilitate access to markets and finance, strengthen mechanization and agritech uptake, and create new opportunities that make agriculture more attractive to rural youth.
- Digital transformation enables smallholders, cooperatives, and rural micro, small and medium enterprises to increase productivity, improve bargaining power, diversify income sources, and access education and advisory services, contributing to more inclusive and resilient rural economies.
- Progress remains constrained by persistent barriers, including weak rural infrastructure, limited connectivity, gaps in governance and regulatory frameworks, digital illiteracy and skills shortages, low affordability of digital services, limited awareness of benefits, climate-related risks, and mismatches between the supply of digital solutions and local demand.
- Scaling and sustaining digital transformation requires strong collaboration between public and private actors. FAO plays a convening and enabling role by supporting policy dialogue, fostering partnerships, and promoting coordinated digital ecosystems that respond to country needs.
- Digital integration and capacity development are embedded across all Regional Priorities, including digital advisory services for inclusive rural development, traceability and transparency tools for food safety and quality, and real-time water and weather monitoring for resilient and climate-smart agriculture.
- FAORNE’s initiatives embed the development of digital public goods and services, the creation of new evidence-based solutions, and the adaptation of existing tools and best practices to local contexts, including demand needs, language, literacy levels, infrastructure and cultural limitations.
- The promotion and adaptation of artificial intelligence is a major trend in the region, with small-scale and locally adapted AI solutions empowering farmers through accessible, low-resource decision-support tools.
- In line with the FAO Science and Innovation Strategy and its Action Plan 2026–2029, FAO RNE aims to advance affordable and accessible digital solutions for sustainable agriculture and rural development, contributing to the elimination of hunger and poverty.
NENA Network on Digital Agriculture
FAO is establishing a regional NENA Network on Digital Agriculture to foster knowledge exchange, peer learning, and collaboration among governments, practitioners, researchers, and private sector actors. The network will serve as a regional community of practice,connecting country-level experiences, promoting scalable solutions, and strengthening coordination across initiatives.
A dedicated registration space will enable stakeholders to join the digital discussion group and receive regular updates on regional activities, learning opportunities, and events.
News
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Events
1/4
2026
Data Ecosystems for AI in Agrifood Systems Webinar
Virtual Event, 01/04/2026
Agrifood systems in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region are under increasing pressure from climate variability, water scarcity, land degradation and rapid population growth. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to support more efficient, resilient and data-driven agrifood systems, from improving resource management to enabling better decision-making for farmers, policymake...
25/11
2024
Empowering Smallholder Farmers: Mapping climate-smart technologies and enabling evidence-based technology investments
Virtual Event, 25/11/2024
Background
As we navigate an era marked by climate change, resource scarcity, and economic uncertainties, smallholder farmers find themselves at the frontline of these challenges. They are the backbone of our agricultural systems, yet often the most vulnerable. Empowering them with the right tools and technologies is critical for building resilience and...
7/10
2024
Launch of the Mapping Report on Affordable and Transferrable Climate-Smart Technologies for Smallholder Farmers
Virtual Event, 07/10/2024
10:00- 12:00 Cairo Time (GMT+3)
Background:
In response to the pressing need for innovative solutions to address food security challenges, a Tripartite Cooperation Agreement between the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa region, and the International Fund for Agricult...
Publications
Food policy monitoring in the Near East and North Africa region, 2nd Quarter 2025 | Bulletin Digital solutions for small-scale farmers in the NENA region: opportunities and challenges
2025
In the second quarter of 2025, the food security situation in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region remained fragile due to ongoing conflict,...
Mapping affordable and transferrable climate-smart technologies for smallholder farmers
2024
In response to the pressing need for innovative solutions to address food security challenges, a Tripartite Cooperation Agreement between FAO Regional...
Assessing the digital readiness and communication ecosystem of rural youth Methodological guidelines
2024
Digitalization is a potential game-changer to boost youth engagement and leadership in agrifood systems. Digital engagement can increase youth access...
Digital innovation for promoting decent rural employment in agriculture for youth and women in the Near East and North Africa
2023
This paper examines how information and communications (ICT) technologies can contribute to decent employment of youth and women in the agrifood sector....
Digital technologies in agriculture and rural areas Briefing paper
2019
Firstly, a significant challenge in understanding digital agricultural transformation is a lack of systematic, official data on the topic. Much of the...
Multimedia
Working Towards
- Better production
Main Regional Priority
Supporting Regional Priorities