NENA’s restoration revolution: Investing in people and planet

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. Yet, within this crisis lies an opportunity—a chance to chart a sustainable, inclusive, and collaborative future for the region.

At the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the High-Level Breakfast on Addressing Ecosystem Restoration and Development Goals will bring together ministers, investors, and experts to advance a bold vision: the NENA Regional Investment Framework for Ecosystem Restoration and Development Solutions. This framework, developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) alongside partners such as the United Nations Environment Programme West Asia Office (UNEP), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA), the UNCCD, and the League of Arab States, embodies the transformative approach our region urgently needs.

Bridging gaps for collective progress

The NENA region’s challenges are deeply interconnected. Land degradation affects biodiversity, climate change exacerbates resource scarcity, and socio-economic pressures fuel instability. Tackling these issues requires integrated solutions that align environmental restoration with socio-economic development. The NENA Ecosystem restoration investment framework does just that, emphasizing sustainable returns on investment (SROI) that deliver measurable co-benefits for nature and people.

This initiative rejects siloed approaches in favour of integrated cross sectorial collaboration and shared knowledge. By prioritizing policy coherence and evidence-based action, the framework calls for a new transformative way of doing business that is both practical and visionary. The first phase of three is currently being completed which is garnering support from potential champion countries as well as the identification of partner initiatives that can inform the next phase. This phase will focus on the identification and co-creation of an initial pipeline of partner initiatives and partnerships in champion countries that can be supported by the regional investment framework when it launches in the third and final phase.

Leading by example: The role of champion countries

The framework underscores the need for "champion countries" that lead by example, demonstrating scalable and replicable restoration efforts. These champions will inspire broader regional commitments, leveraging their successes to attract investment and build momentum. Going forward, the second phase will include the identification of suitable pipeline projects in champion countries that will be piloted in the third phase with a view of replication and scaling across the region based on implementation insights.

At the recent League of Arab States’ Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment (CAMRE) meeting, held in Jeddah October 2024, the framework was met with strong support, reaffirming the region’s shared commitment to reversing land degradation and achieving global restoration targets such as the Bonn Challenge and the Agadir Commitment.

Mobilizing partnerships and financing

Land in the NENA region plays a disproportionately vital role, contributing 38 percent to GDP and representing a key source of employment for 40 percent of the population. Globally, land contributes USD 10 trillion to GDP, underscoring its critical importance to economic and environmental stability.

There is growing recognition of the benefits of ecosystem restoration, namely, that for every dollar invested in restoration there is a potential of up to USD 20 in economic benefits. Nevertheless, the NENA region falls behind global restoration targets, with only 4 percent of land area committed to restoration.

While the challenges are immense, so too are the opportunities. The investment framework aims to close financing gaps by fostering partnerships that leverage the comparative advantages of public and private sectors. Innovative financing mechanisms, supported by knowledge-sharing platforms, will unlock resources to meet both immediate ecological needs and long-term socio-economic goals.

The framework also recognizes the diversity of the 22 countries across the region, for example, investments in clean technologies, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture can simultaneously support ecosystem restoration and strengthen regional trade. It advocates for a holistic approach to promoting the co-benefits of development and ecosystem restoration.

The framework learns from existing projects and their innovative business and development approaches. Below are some notable examples:

Adaptive Management and Restoration of Degraded Aleppo Pine Forests in Tunisia

This ambitious project, located in Tunisia, serves as a flagship initiative addressing critical challenges such as forest degradation, climate resilience, and sustainable development. It aligns strongly with SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 1 (No Poverty), while also reinforcing commitments under the UNCCD.

With a financing envelope of USD 29.3 million, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF-8), FAO, and national government contributions, the project—initiated in 2024—aims to restore 15 000 hectares of degraded Aleppo pine forest and sustainably manage an additional 30 000 hectares through adaptive, integrated, and participatory management plans.

A central focus of the initiative is the promotion of gender equity and youth engagement in all capacity-building activities. Furthermore, women and youth are empowered to create small businesses related to Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFP), supported by enhanced access to microfinance opportunities.

This project exemplifies a holistic approach to forest restoration, integrating forest conservation, sustainable land and water management, and livelihood improvement. Its ongoing efforts position it as a replicable model for achieving biodiversity conservation, climate action, and socio-economic development in vulnerable regions.

Tunisia’s leadership in forest restoration, alongside other Mediterranean countries, has been widely recognized under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, underscoring the nation’s commitment to advancing global restoration goals.

Cultivating a sustainable ecosystem for entrepreneurship: Saudi Aramco Entrepreneurship Centre

This transformative initiative in Saudi Arabia serves as a leading example of fostering a sustainable entrepreneurial approach, combining development and ecosystem restoration co-benefits. It aligns with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) while contributing to global commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), demonstrating how entrepreneurship can drive economic diversification and sustainable development.

Since its inception in 2011, the initiative has achieved remarkable milestones. By funding over 80 companies and providing collateral-free loans and equity investments in key sectors such as ICT, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing, it has created more than 2500 [AG1] high-paying jobs. Over 3000 entrepreneurs have been trained, including 500 applicants in the first 12 months alone, resulting in the finalization of 60 business plans.

The project emphasizes technology-driven ventures, intellectual property commercialization, and academic partnerships, all aimed at enhancing the knowledge economy. It supports job creation, financial sustainability, education and vocational training, and environmentally responsible governance, ensuring that the ecosystem it cultivates is both inclusive and resilient.

The initiative has been made possible through private sector financing led by Saudi Aramco, with implementation supported by partners such as SAEC, Waed, universities, and regional incubators. By championing innovation and entrepreneurial capacity building, it provides a replicable model for fostering economic diversification and sustainable growth.

This project demonstrates how community-based management, knowledge sharing, and diversified financing can transform national economies while embedding environmental and social responsibility into development frameworks.

Next steps – a roadmap for transformational change

Land degradation costs the region approximately USD 13 billion annually, and the future of its agricultural sector hangs in the balance. But with collective action, we can turn these losses into gains. By investing in this regional framework, we are investing in a sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for our region.

We call on governments, investors, donors, and civil society to join us in this transformative journey. Let us seize this moment to build synergistic partnerships, embrace innovation, and act with urgency. Together, we can ensure that the NENA region not only survives the challenges ahead, but thrives as a global leader in ecosystem restoration and sustainable development. 

By: Fidaa Haddad

Senior Programme Officer, FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa