About FAO News Multimedia Main topics Statistics Members Publications

FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia

News and events

News
Women at the forefront of agrifood systems transformation
08/03/2024
For International Women’s Day, the perspectives of three remarkable women, are in the spotlight: an entrepreneur and community organizer from rural Albania, a distinguished academic from Türkiye, and a forward-thinking policy-maker from Uzbekistan.
Women-led cooperatives foster resilience amidst adversity in Türkiye
06/03/2024
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which had been supporting the cooperative even before the earthquake, stepped in to help the collective get back on its feet. By providing machinery and equipment, FAO ensured that women-led cooperatives received the help they needed to rebuild and recover. Such initiatives align with FAO's commitment to invest in gender equality and women’s empowerment in agrifood systems. These go a long way in advancing progress and enhancing the resilience and food security of households and communities.
Tajikistan’s rural women and youth increase resiliency against gaps left by labour migration
04/03/2024
Approximately ten percent of the Tajikistan’s population is working abroad. This income-driven migration has serious socioeconomic impacts such as divorce, labour shortages in agriculture, legal and financial issues, and increased hardships for rural women’s livelihoods. A joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Women and UNICEF project, “Empowerment of Abandoned Families for Improved Migration Outcomes in Khatlon”, tackled multiple issues faced by rural women and families made vulnerable by outmigration of family members. 
From tradition to innovation: FAO report sheds light on the future of small ruminant farming in the Western Balkans
09/02/2024
The small ruminant sector is poised for significant change in the Western Balkans, a region deeply rooted in agricultural tradition. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has released Small Ruminant Value Chains in Western Balkan Countries, a report that provides an unprecedented look into the current state and future direction of this important sector.
FAO supports small farmers and rural families affected by the war
26/01/2024
The German Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture, Cem Oezdemir and the Italian Minister for Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida, hosted a special event on Ukraine. Maximo Torero, Chief Economist of the Food and Agriculture of the United Nations (FAO), presented FAO’s current assessment on the situation in Ukraine and neighbouring countries as well as FAO’s rapid response plan for Ukraine in 2024 and the FAO Development Strategy for Ukraine (2024–2027). 
Kosovan farmers rise above the floods
23/01/2024
In the agricultural heart of Kosovo1, under the radiant sun, stands Pajazit Thaci. At the age of 81, his face bears the traces of seven decades of farming, yet his spirit remains young and vibrant. Pajazit's presence is felt by all who pass by, his standard white shirt recognizable to all the village. He cares deeply for the land and is always looking forward to the next harvest.

FAO and agritech innovators join hands to create digital demo farm
19/01/2024

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recognizes that scaling up science, technology and innovation is necessary for a profound transformation of food and agricultural systems. Engagements with the private sector help energize digital ecosystems and catalyse innovations and integration of digital technologies. 

Digital technologies make inroads into rural Uzbekistan and Tajikistan
19/12/2023
The Digital Villages Initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is rolling out at full speed in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The Hack4DigitalVillages innovation challenge concluded at the end of November, awarding agricultural startups and innovators for creative technical solutions to agricultural challenges faced by rural Fergana. Simultaneously, two Memoranda of Understanding were officially signed to foster cooperation between Fergana valley (Uzbekistan) and Hisor valley (Tajikistan), solidifying the basis for knowledge exchange between rural communities of the two countries.
FAO embraces youth issues in rural areas of Europe and Central Asia
08/12/2023
After two days of intense discussions and information sharing, the first Rural Youth Forum for Europe and Central Asia concluded on 30 November. Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),  it gathered representatives of 20 countries, farmers’ associations, youth groups in Budapest, Hungary – and online – to share ideas and build bridges for advancing the well-being, livelihoods and prosperity of rural youth. 
Kazakhstan to host dialogue on responsible land governance to support land restoration
06/12/2023
Kazakhstan will be the first country to host a national dialogue supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The consultation will be convened by the UNCCD Focal Point for the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Committee for Land Resources Management in the Ministry of Agriculture from 6 to 7 December 2023 in Astana.
LANDNET workshop focuses on land banking and land consolidation issues
20/09/2023
The fourteenth International LANDNET Workshop took place from 5 to 7 September 2023 in Istanbul. Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI) and the General Directorate of Agrarian Reform (GDAR) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Türkiye, the workshop brought together approximately 100 participants from around 30 countries, mostly from Europe and Central Asia.

UN advice for better prospects for rural women in Türkiye and Ukraine
17/08/2023
Following the evidence-based analysis of gender in the regional response to the war in Ukraine published last year, the Regional Gender Task Force, the leading advocacy and information and coordination platform on gender in humanitarian action in Europe and Central Asia, has released a new gender brief on Ukrainian refugees’ livelihoods and access to work in neighbouring countries.
Digital land cadastre launched in Ashgabat
22/06/2023
On 6 June 2023, a group of experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) conducted an inception workshop in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, for a new digital cadastre project, “Support for the establishment of a digital land cadastre.”
Integrated rural development improves prosperity in rural communities
06/06/2023
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is hosting the third regional workshop of an informal technical network on community development for Europe and Central Asia. Members will discuss ways to promote the principles of the territorial approaches to rural development in the region. The event is a forum to exchange knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and share lessons learned from regional and country-level experiences.
Digital village hubs can transform quality of life in rural Europe and Central Asia
18/05/2023
In 2021, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO) launched the global Digital Villages Initiative to promote digital innovations to rural communities. Now the initiative is being scaled up in Europe and Central Asia, aiming to improve livelihoods, wellbeing, and social cohesion in this region.
New project aims to further land consolidation in North Macedonia
03/11/2022
Today is a significant milestone in the development of the agriculture sector in North Macedonia, as one five-year undertaking concludes and another begins.
Emergency support allows families in the Republic of Moldova to feed their cattle
29/03/2023
Nearly 2 000 rural families in the Republic of Moldova are receiving emergency cattle feed through a EUR 2 million project being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with financial support from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). 
Smartphones are boosting gender equality in Georgia and beyond
08/03/2023
Nestled in the vast plains of Georgia, in the shadows of the snow-covered Caucasus mountains, Malika Machalikashvili’s farm in Pankisi Gorge was once pretty traditional. She and her family shared the day-to-day work of caring for the livestock and poultry, gardening the vegetables and taking care of the hazelnut orchard, along with a few fruit trees and berry bushes. She used to bring the produce to the local market or sometimes even the one in the country’s capital, Tbilisi. Today, on top of the farm’s new additions, such as a greenhouse and modern irrigation, perhaps the most novel change is that she now sells her produce using a smartphone.  
FAO continues push to address land abandonment in North Macedonia
03/03/2023

The abandonment of agricultural land in North Macedonia is a pressing concern, with approximately 32 percent of arable agricultural land in the country having been abandoned – a much higher rate than in most other European countries.

Inclusive junior field schools leave no one behind
13/02/2023
In the Republic of Tajikistan, one in four families has at least one family member working abroad. Representing about 10 percent of the total population, labour migrants from Tajikistan are predominantly men and mainly from rural areas. Families of labour migrants struggle to manage the farming work previously done by those who are away, they face inequities and are considered a vulnerable and marginalized group with poor economic resilience.
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