Blogs
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.
.tmb-th600x400.jpg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=7120da2e_2)
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.
Technical Expertise
OCOP: How a Systems-Thinking Approach is leading to rural transformation, one product at a time
10/03/2026
Today’s agrifood systems are intricate, interconnected and rapidly evolving. To improve them effectively, we need a systems-thinking approach, which means looking at the big picture, understanding how different parts of the food system influence one another, rather than treating them as separate pieces.
Greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action
Empowering women for climate resilience: financing the future of sustainability
19/11/2025
Greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action
The WEFE Nexus approach in fragile and dry landscapes
06/11/2025
The Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is defined by vast drylands that shape its environment, economies, and cultures. Often wrongly perceived as barren, these landscapes host vibrant communities, unique biodiversity, and essential agricultural systems. Yet, they face mounting challenges.
Technical Expertise
From reaction to anticipation: Building agricultural resilience in the Near East and North Africa
26/10/2025
The Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is navigating an increasingly complex landscape of risks that threaten its agricultural systems and rural livelihoods. Droughts, floods, heatwaves and other climate extremes have become more frequent and severe, colliding with protracted conflicts, economic shocks, and disruptions to global food supply chains.
Opinions
Hack4SaferPlates:Catalyzing innovations for food safety in the NENA region
18/09/2025
In the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, food safety is key in the transition of our agrifood systems. Millions of people around the world suffer from foodborne diseases annually and over 32 percent of the cases affect children under the age of five years (WHO and World Bank).
Opinions
Miracle on the Edge of the Desert: Saudi Arabia's Mangrove Forests
25/08/2025
Mangrove forests stand as one of the world's most vital ecological assets, offering a multi-faceted defense system for both humanity and the environment. They are essential for preserving biodiversity and serve as critical sanctuaries for over 4.1 million small-scale fishers globally.
Greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action
From sand and dust storms to sustainability: How pastoral communities are reviving rangelands
12/07/2025
Every year on 12 July, we commemorate the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms (SDS), a day that calls for awareness and action against one of the world’s most pervasive yet underrecognized natural phenomena. In the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, the challenge is more pressing than ever.
Technical Expertise
Turning the Tide: Investing in Youth to Transform Agrifood Systems in the Near East and North Africa
01/07/2025
Across the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, a stark paradox is unfolding; while food insecurity and rural poverty are rising, so too is the untapped potential of a young and talented population. With over 60 percent of the population under the age of 25, our region stands at a crossroads, where deep-rooted challenges meet a powerful opportunity for renewal.
Greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action
Advancing the bioeconomy in the Near East and North Africa: A path to sustainability and innovation
25/06/2025
.tmb-th600x400.jpg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=fa3858de_3)
FAO Assistant Director- General
Land restoration in focus: NENA's agenda for Desertification and Drought Day
17/06/2025
Desertification and Drought Day 2025 is a timely reminder of the urgent need to restore our land and rethink how we manage natural resources. With this year’s theme, “Restore the Land. Unlock the Opportunities,” countries around the world are highlighting the benefits of land restoration.
Opinions
FAO reaffirms commitment to land restoration on World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
17/06/2025
On this year’s World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to Saudi Arabia’s transformative efforts to restore degraded land, combat sand encroachment, and strengthen climate resilience.
5577b63893dd43d6bde57a1df7fc2889.tmb-th600x400.jpeg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=63cbecc6_5)
Opinions
Pope Francis—A Moral Beacon for a Hungry World
27/04/2025
“The future of humanity is written in the fields, villages, and forests where the excluded fight for dignity.” These words, spoken by Pope Francis in 2017, have long echoed across the arid landscapes and conflict-scarred communities of the Near East and North Africa.
Greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action
Innovating knowledge sharing for sustainable forest and landscape management: how KHIBRA can connect lessons from Lebanon, Algeria, and beyond
07/04/2025
To enhance regional collaboration, KHIBRA serves as a crucial tool in facilitating structured dialogues, technical exchanges, and capacity-building initiatives between Lebanon and Algeria. By focusing on land restoration and sustainable forest management, KHIBRA can support the development of national strategies tailored to each country’s needs, promoting investment in long-term sustainability.
FAO Assistant Director- General
Forests for food: A pathway to food security in the Near East and North Africa
21/03/2025
As we celebrate the International Day of Forests (IDF) in 2025 under the theme Forests and Foods, it is important to acknowledge the often-overlooked role of forests in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region's food security.
FAO Assistant Director- General
A path to end hunger and malnutrition in the Arab States: Can innovative and strategic financing accelerate transformation of Agrifood systems?
18/12/2024
In 2023, the Arab States faced a significant escalation in hunger and malnutrition. A staggering 14 percent of the population, equivalent to 66.1 million people, suffered from hunger.
FAO Assistant Director- General
UNCCD COP16: FAO’s role in building resilient agrifood systems and restoring NENA’s landscapes
02/12/2024
As global attention converges on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), the urgency to combat land degradation and desertification takes centre stage.
.tmb-th600x400.jpg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=88f6df1b_2)
Greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action
NENA’s restoration revolution: Investing in people and planet
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
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)