About FAO News Multimedia Main topics Statistics Members Publications

FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia

News and events

News
FAO project scaled up rural women’s empowerment
11/12/2024

Women living in rural areas of Tajikistan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan are a large portion of the population and play vital roles in both farming and non-farming activities. Among the many challenges they face are gender-based barriers that affect their efforts to build resilient livelihoods. Poor social and physical infrastructure, climate variability (which affects crop yields and prices) and structural inequalities widen gender gaps and limit rural women’s access to economic opportunities. For the past three years, the FAO–Türkiye Partnership Programme on Food and Agriculture has helped these women gain access to technical skills and equipment and has guided responsible institutions to ensure that policies and practices in agriculture and forestry are aware and responsive to the needs and priorities of rural women.

Women behind push for resilience Bosnia and Herzegovinian agriculture
14/11/2024
The agricultural sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina faces significant gender disparities. Women account for nearly half (49 percent) of the rural population and 20 percent of employed women work in the agriculture sector, yet only 18 percent of farms are managed by women and only 38 percent of women own or have part-ownership of agricultural land. Strengthening capacities of women from rural areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina and supporting agriculture and rural development policies with an emphasis on gender equality are among the main goals of the project "Women Driving Resilience in Agriculture and Rural Areas," implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UN Women and financed by Sweden.
United Nations launches ambitious programme for sustainable digital transformation of Albania’s agriculture
08/11/2024

Albania, with United Nations partners, has launched a groundbreaking joint programme leveraging digitalization to advance sustainability goals with systemic interventions particularly targeted at smallholder farmers.  

The “Digital Agriculture and Rural Transformation" (DART), is a three-year (2024—2027) programme financed by the Digital Transformation Window call of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Fund with a total budget of USD 3.3 million.

From hardship to harvest in Kazakhstan
05/11/2024
In the village of Koram, around 150 kilometers east of Almaty in Kazakhstan, Aishagul's life has been marked by her husband’s debilitating injury and the severe illnesses of her elderly parents-in-law.A turning point came when Aishagul's sister-in-law, aware of her dire situation, introduced her to a greenhouse harvesting training programme. This initiative was part of the broader Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) project, known as CACILM-2, and funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF).
Consensus reached on land consolidation plan in Chiflik, North Macedonia
31/10/2024
On 18 October, the local landowners, by a qualified majority, approved the re-allotment plan, marking Chiflik as the eighth village in North Macedonia to undertake land consolidation. This initiative is part of the European Union-funded “Enhancing Land Consolidation in North Macedonia” project, co-funded and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy.
FAO: Rural women are key to building resilience in agrarian areas
15/10/2024
The role of women in agriculture and rural livelihoods and the opportunities for their economic participation, financial inclusion, and contribution to climate resilience is the central theme of a roundtable discussion that will take place today in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event is part of the project “Women driving resilience in agriculture and rural areas,” implemented by UN Women and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with support from Sweden. The roundtable discussion is scheduled for 15 October, the International Day of Rural Women for which this year’s theme is the role of rural women in conserving and protecting nature for our collective future.
Frameworks regulating Albania’s agricultural cooperatives need reform to support agricultural sector
30/09/2024
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Albania, held an important meeting to address the challenges faced by the country’s agricultural cooperatives and farmer associations. The event took place within the framework of the FAO project “Support for the amendment of the existing law on organizations of agricultural cooperation,” assisting to provide technical assistance for the final revision of the law and for the necessary institutional capacities building to ensure sustainability of the project’s objectives. Participants represented the line Ministry, FAO and various cooperative and agribusiness associations.
FAO project targets resolving public-private co-ownership of agricultural land and improved agricultural land management
27/09/2024
A new project by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will tackle issues arising when agricultural land is co-owned by the state and private persons and will also improve local capacity in agricultural land management. The project, “Support for resolving private-public co-ownership to improve agricultural land management and land tenure in the Pelagonija Region,” was launched on 19 September. The event in Bitola organized by FAO and the Macedonian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy (MAFWE), was attended by more than 60 representatives from the Ministry, the Municipality of Bitola, the National Extension Agency, the Agency for Real Estate Cadastre, local farmers, agricultural organizations, the academic community, and the media. 
New FAO-LEGS publication highlights pathways to resilience for crisis-hit farmers in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
20/09/2024
Livestock related emergencies, including conflict or disease induced crises, are becoming increasingly widespread. Their effects can be devastating on families, communities and whole countries, with serious economic and social consequences felt long after emergencies end. To help protect national and global food security as well as smallholder farmers’ livelihoods, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Livestock Emergency Guidelines and Standards (LEGS) published a desk review covering 25 years of lessons learned from livestock-related emergencies and response in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. 
International agriculture conference boosts support for Moldovan smallholder farmers
12/09/2024

A landmark declaration of support for smallholders and small-scale agriculture in the Republic of Moldova was adopted today at an international conference on strengthening the inclusion of small-scale farmers in agrifood value chains. The declaration will serve as a crucial road map for future policy actions aimed at empowering small family farms in the country.

Supported by all participants at the conference, the declaration is the result of collaboration from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, and the German–Moldovan Agricultural Policy Dialogue project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture.

Nigerian delegation's visit to Türkiye advances sustainable crop management project
05/08/2024
A project under the joint Partnership Programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Türkiye has become a productive gateway for strengthening bilateral relations between Türkiye and Nigeria. Entitled “Support to the Diversification and Sustainable Crop Production Intensification for Smallholder Farmers in the Drylands of Borno State, Nigeria”, the project connects relevant institutions in the two countries with the support of FAO. This collaboration promotes sustainable agricultural practices by diversifying cropping systems and fostering sustainable crop management techniques for drylands in the state. The ultimate goal is to transform agrifood systems in Borno State, Nigeria, where the livelihoods of 5.6 million people largely depend on small-scale subsistence agriculture.
FAO AgriTech Observatory expands with over 270 initiatives and a new alliance
30/07/2024

The  AgriTech Observatory, established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has made significant strides since its  launch in February and is now in full-scale operation. The tool monitors the rapidly evolving landscape of digital agriculture in Europe and Central Asia and identifies innovative solutions to regional challenges. One of the major advances includes the expansion of the platform's database to now host over 270 digital agriculture initiatives. This growing repository provides comprehensive insights into the latest innovations, helping practitioners, policymakers, and researchers stay informed about the current and emerging landscape of digital agriculture in the region.

First gender profile of rural Kosovan women shows gaps and opportunities for better livelihoods
23/07/2024

Women are vital to the livelihoods and the economies of rural areas and smallholder agriculture in Kosovo1, yet they do not benefit equally with men from their labour and contributions.

To map the situation and provide a possible way forward, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released the Kosovo gender profile for agriculture and rural livelihoods that aims to improve knowledge on gender related issues in agriculture, with special attention to the state of digitalization. The publication provides evidence based recommendations for advancing gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in agriculture and rural development for improved strategies and programmes.

In North Macedonia, EU-supported land consolidation process phase two
19/07/2024
Building on the success of the initial stage of the land consolidation programme, the European Union (EU), together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), continue to support the process of bringing together fragmented agricultural parcels, improving agricultural infrastructure and developing quality policy and legislation in North Macedonia. An equally important outcome is that it also helps the country come closer to sustainable land use and food systems, which are among the goals of the European Green Deal and the 2030 Agenda.
LANDNET workshop looks forward while celebrating 100 years of land consolidation in Europe
05/06/2024

Facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the fifteenth international LANDNET workshop, starting today in Middelburg in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is bringing together about 100 experts from roughly 30 countries to share their experiences on land consolidation. Specifically, the experts will discuss how multipurpose land consolidation can contribute to larger goals such as climate change adaptation and mitigation, nature restoration, and improved biodiversity and environmental conditions.

Members exchange experiences on key food and agriculture matters in Europe and Central Asia
16/05/2024

The Thirty-fourth Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Conference for Europe (ERC), scheduled from 14 to 17 May in Rome, is in full swing. This conference, which is the main FAO decision-making body for its Europe and Central Asia region, features ministerial round-table discussions and side events on current challenges and opportunities for the food and agriculture realm of the region. Hosted at FAO’s headquarters and webcast live online, the ERC side events welcome speakers from governments, the private and civil sectors, and the academic community to look at such key issues as sustainable locust management, foresight drivers and triggers, climate action, water resource management, true cost accounting, and the challenges of transforming agrifood systems in landlocked developing countries to be more inclusive, resilient and sustainable – all from a regional perspective.

Women and youth will benefit from new project on inclusive rural development and sustainable agriculture in Georgia
26/04/2024
On 25 April, Otar Shamugia, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and Raimund Jehle, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Georgia signed a project agreement for EUR 4 million, financed by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) on “Inclusive Rural Development and Sustainable Agriculture.” The goal of the project is to foster increased competitiveness within the agricultural sector, improve the effectiveness of policies related to gender responsive and social inclusivity, enhance food production, and concurrently alleviate rural poverty, with a specific emphasis on mitigating inequalities faced by women and youth.
Better land policy and management on the horizon for Montenegro
18/04/2024
Agricultural land is where food production starts; if managed well, it can boost rural economies. This is especially true for countries that are scarce of arable land. With this in mind, Montenegro has turned to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for support. A new project now in full swing is helping the country in formulating its new land policy, improving the management of state land, and piloting land consolidation.
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at centre of regional forum
25/03/2024

Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring a sustainable future for all is central to the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Data released by FAO from 2023 showed that the world is off-track to meet most of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets linked to hunger, food security, and nutrition. Given the increasingly short deadline to meet the 2030 Agenda, FAO, in collaboration with UN partners, has contributed to the 2024 Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, an event that provided a venue for participants to exchange knowledge, best practices, and policy solutions to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

First national forum of cooperatives held in Dushanbe
14/03/2024
On March 12–13 the first National Forum of Cooperatives in Tajikistan was convened, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture of Tajikistan. The forum provided a platform for participants who were representatives of government authorities of Tajikistan, FAO, cooperatives, development partners, scientific and expert circles of Tajikistan to share knowledge, debate current issues and consider potential future developments of national cooperatives.
Events

14/ 1

2025

18/1

2025

Training on RuralInvest toolkit (Kyrgyzstan)
(Kyrgyzstan), 14/01/2025 - 18/01/2025

Training for cooperatives from Naryn and Issyk-Kul regions to learn how to develop business plans using the RuralInvest toolkit. The RuralInvest toolkit offers users an interactive, hands-on path, going from theory to practice, to work together with the entrepreneurs and create feasible, appropriate, and sustainable business plans. Thus, beneficiaries in Kyrgyzstan will be equipped with knowled...

17/ 12

2024

19/12

2024

Speed dating consultations
Batken (Kyrgyzstan), 17/12/2024 - 19/12/2024

Within the framework of the project “Capacitated women civil society organizations sustaining peace in Kyrgyzstan”, so-called "Speed dating" sessions will be held in two rural areas of Batken district with the participation of national experts and local self-government bodies, local council deputies and residents.

19/ 9

2024

Workshop: Resolving private-public co-ownership to improve agricultural land management and land tenure in the Pelagonija Region
Bitola (North Macedonia), 19/09/2024

On 19 September 2024, FAO, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy of North Macedonia, will launch the project “Support for Resolving Private-Public Co-ownership to Improve Agricultural Land Management and Land Tenure in the Pelagonija Region”, under the FAO Technical Cooperation Programme. The workshop, taking place in the Council Hall of the Municipality o...

5/ 6

2024

7/6

2024

15th International LANDNET Workshop
Middelburg (Netherlands), 05/06/2024 - 07/06/2024

The 15th LANDNET workshop will take place from 5 to 7 June 2024 in Middelburg, Netherlands. The workshop is organized by FAO together with Kadaster and the Province of Zeeland in the Netherlands.

13/ 12

2023

Regional consultation on integrated land use planning
Virtual Event, 13/12/2023

FAO published the first 'Guidelines for land-use planning' in 1993 as the first key source of knowledge on land use planning. After 30 years, new challenges, demands and insights for integrated land use planning call for an update of these guidelines. In this context, FAO has been working on the new version of 'Guidelines for integrated land use planning - an update' in collaboration with key p...

29/ 11

2023

30/11

2023

Regional Rural Youth Forum for Europe and Central Asia
Budapest (Hungary), Hybrid Event, 29/11/2023 - 30/11/2023

To better coordinate the youth-related work and processes in the ECA region, under the Regional Priority Programme on Empowering smallholders, family farms and youth, facilitating rural livelihoods and poverty reduction, FAO organizes the Regional Rural Youth Forum for Europe and Central Asia.

5/ 9

2023

Youth consultation: Take action and scale up initiatives to reduce food loss and waste
Virtual Event, 05/09/2023

Join us for the conversation on shaping food waste policy in Europe and Central Asia. Food waste has wide-ranging consequences, impacting resources, the environment, and social equity. At the World Food Forum, we are dedicated to reducing food waste globally. In response to its importance, our Europe and Central Asia team conducted a comprehensive analysis of food waste policy in the region, id...

5/ 9

2023

7/9

2023

14th International LANDNET Workshop
İstanbul (Türkiye), 05/09/2023 - 07/09/2023

The 14th international LANDNET workshop will take place from 5 to 7 September 2023 in Istanbul, Türkiye, organized by FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye.

22/ 6

2022

24/6

2022

2nd Regional Workshop on integrated community development
Budapest (Hungary), Hybrid Event, 22/06/2022 - 24/06/2022

Based on country experiences, FAO aims at further developing the concept of integrated community development for Europe and Central Asia. FAO established an informal regional technical network on community development in 2019. The 2022 workshop should help revitalize the technical network and strengthen partnerships with key regional and national actors.

18/ 5

2023

Digital Villages in Action in Europe and Central Asia
Virtual Event, 18/05/2023

Join us for the “Digital Villages in Action in Europe and Central Asia” virtual event, where we will launch DVI actions in eight countries, bringing together policy actors, stakeholders, partners, and beneficiaries. The event will be held on Zoom on 18 May 2023, from 09.30 to 12.00 (CEST) with English-Russian interpretation.

26/ 4

2023

Promoting youth engagement in agriculture and food systems in Europe and Central Asia
Virtual Event, 26/04/2023

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) is organizing a series of regional youth consultations on promoting youth engagement in agriculture and food systems in Europe and Central Asia.

Participants will discuss how to enlarge youth engagement in agricultural value chains in the region. The event will consider the benefits and gains that youth can bri...

23/ 1

2023

25/1

2023

Training on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas
İstanbul (Türkiye), 23/01/2023 - 25/01/2023

Small-scale family farmers can be instrumental in elevating human rights in the food and agriculture sector – a key element in ensuring the sustainability of food security.

27/ 4

2022

28/4

2022

Subregional workshop on land market development in Central Asia
Hybrid Event, 27/04/2022 - 28/04/2022

The workshop will gather representatives of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as experts from the government, academia, civil society, and the private sector to share experience in land market management

6/ 6

2023

8/6

2023

Third Regional workshop on integrated community development
Budapest (Hungary), 06/06/2023 - 08/06/2023

Based on country experiences, FAO aims at further developing the concept of integrated community development for Europe and Central Asia. FAO established an informal regional technical network on community development in 2019.

24/ 6

2022

Regional Dialogue on the United Nations Decade of Family Farming
Hybrid Event, 24/06/2022

9:00 – 13:00 CEST In the framework of the 2nd Regional Workshop on integrated community development, FAO is organizing a regional dialogue on the United Nations Decade of Family Farming in Europe and Central Asia in a hybrid modality. The aim of the eve

14/ 9

2022

Leveraging the potential of multi-purpose land consolidation in Eastern Europe
Hybrid Event, 14/09/2022

FAO and the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) are organizing a joint sessions during the 2022 FIG Congress with a special focus on the potential for multi-purpose land consolidation in countries of Eastern Europe.   The objective of the session