About FAO News Multimedia Main topics Statistics Members Publications

ARAB FORUM FOR RURAL ADVISORY SERVICES (AFRAS)

Who we are

Our institutional structure is composed of the following:

🔹 The Secretariat

AFRAS Secretariat serves as the coordination hub for the Network, while providing technical, organizational, communication and administrative support. It facilitates AFRAS activities in synergy with the Technical Advisory Committee and the Network of Focal Points and the wider AFRAS Community. It convenes members through meetings and events, manages knowledge and communication channels and liaises with other Regional Fora and the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services, supports the establishment of national fora. AFRAS Secretariat is currently hosted by FAO’s Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa located in Cairo, Egypt.

🔹 The Technical Advisory Committee

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) includes a small number of independent experts, champions of rural advisory services who played a foundational role in establishing AFRAS and/or possess specialized expertise to guide AFRAS and provide strategic advice to achieve its mission.

The Committee comprises a mix of skills and expertise from different sectors (public, private, NGOs, cooperatives, and producer organizations, academia), covering diverse fields aligned with AFRAS’s thematic areas.

The TAC provides strategic guidance on technical and institutional matters to achieve AFRAS’s vision and mission and advises on the design and implementation of technical activities (e.g. webinars, studies, general meetings, events, and establishment of national fora); knowledge products, and supports activities such as webinars, policy dialogues, regional events, and the establishment of national fora. The Committee serves on a voluntary basis

🔹 Network of officially appointed Focal Points National Focal Points

The Network of officially appointed Focal Points (NFPs) includes public officials from Ministries of Agriculture or other relevant ministries from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

In addition to government officials, the network also includes representatives of regional organizations, research centers, and technical networks relevant to rural advisory services.

  • Functions of Focal Points
    • Coordinate with national government and relevant institutions;
    • Maintain communication with the Secretariat and TAC;
    • Promote AFRAS’s digital platform at national level and expand membership;
    • Identify and engage champions of rural advisory services at national level;
    • Support the creation and development of national fora;
    • Participate in the annual AFRAS meeting and related events;
    • Contribute documents and technical materials to AFRAS’s knowledge repository;
    • Represent AFRAS in relevant national events;
    • Advocate for increased investments and financing to improve rural advisory services within national projects and programmes, as feasible.

NFPs perform a liaison role with governments and relevant institutions. They coordinate with other RAS stakeholders at the country level. support the establishment of Country Fora. They also provide technical inputs exchanging good practices, expanding knowledge repository, and engaging in policy advocacy.