Highlights
Exhibition
From Seeds to Foods
Events
FAO’s 80th anniversary
Events
2/10
2025
Science & Innovation Driving Food Safety - From Vision to Network
02/10/2025
Food safety is vital for agrifood transformation in the Near East and North Africa (NENA), where population growth drives rising demand and foodborne disease risks remain high. S...
29/9
2025
1/10
2025
Sixth Near East Forestry Week
Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), 29/09/2025 - 01/10/2025
The Near East Forestry Week (NEFW) is the region’s premier platform for forestry and rangeland dialogue, knowledge exchange, and partnerships. Convened every two years, NEFW brings together governments, research institutions, civil society, private sector, and international organizations to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing forests, rangeland...
29/9
2025
1/10
2025
The 27th session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission - 29 September to 1 October
Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Hybrid Event, 29/09/2025 - 01/10/2025
The Near East Forestry and Range Commission (NEFRC) is a statutory body of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), established to advise member countries in the Near East and North Africa region on forestry, rangeland management, and land restoration.
Established in 1953, the NEFRC proudly celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2025, coinciding with FAO’s 80th an...
5/10
2025
30/10
2025
E-learning course on agriculture in trade agreements
05/10/2025 - 30/10/2025
The Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) and Markets and Trade Division (EST), in partnership with United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) are launching the first edition of their joint online course titled "Agriculture in Trade Agreements" from October 5 - 30, 2025. Conducted exclusively in Arabic, the course aims to enhance the capacity of stakeholde...
Regional Priorities
Action Areas
Red Palm Weevil Eradication Programme
The Red Palm Weevil (RPW) Eradication Programme facilitates the coordination of regional efforts to ensure an integrated and sustainable approach to controlling the RPW and reducing its devastating effects on date palm production, the food and income security of rural communities, and the ecology of affected areas.
Youth empowerment
Young men and women have a key role to play in fostering sustainability, equity and resilience of agrifood systems in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. FAO works with youth across the region to improve their access to high quality education and training, decent employment, rural institutions and critical assets and services, in agrifood value chains.
Sustainable and Inclusive Agrifood Value Chains
Sustainable and inclusive agrifood value chains development is a market-oriented and systems-based approach for assessing, understanding and improving the performance of agrifood value chains, to ensure their economic, social, and environmental and climate sustainability.
The UN Decade of Family Farming
The UN Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028 (UNDFF) aims to shed new light on what it means to be a family farmer in a rapidly changing world and highlights more than ever before the important role family farmers play in eradicating hunger and shaping the future of our agri-food systems.
Addressing climate change in agrifood systems
FAO’s climate change activities aim to strengthen capacities of member countries to build resilient agrifood systems, and to plan, implement and report on climate change adaptation and mitigation actions in the agriculture sectors.
Rural advisory services for inclusive transformation in the Near East and North Africa
Rural advisory services (RAS) have a central role in equipping farmers with the knowledge and skills to cope with challenges and empower them to make informed decisions, link to markets and act collectively to improve their livelihoods and claim their agency in inclusive rural transformation.
The Regional Initiative on Water Scarcity for the Near East and North Africa
In order to help NENA countries address the food and water security challenges, the FAO’s Regional Office in the Near East and North Africa and its partners established the Water Scarcity Initiative.
Gender equality and women’s empowerment for inclusive food systems transformation
The Regional Office has a stand-alone programme of work on gender equality and women’s empowerment that addresses gender as a cross-cutting theme in all its regional priorities and initiatives.
One Country One Priority Product: Global Action on Green Development of Special Agricultural Products
The Global Action on Green Development of Special Agricultural Products (SAPs): One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) was launched by the FAO Director General in 2021. The initiative will aim to support countries in transforming their agrifood systems to be more sustainable, efficient, resilient and inclusive.
Social inclusion
In NENA countries, poverty is predominantly rural. With small scale producers – including fishers and pastoralists – and landless rural workers facing growing marginalization, rural communities are left increasingly vulnerable to economic, political and environmental shocks. This and the high prevalence of gender disparities, youth unemployment, child labour and other forms of exclusion constitute a significant barrier to more equitable agrifood systems in the region.
Stories
Blogs
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.
Publications
Empowering women in Egypt's livestock and dairy subsectors A gender-transformative approach to climate resilience and economic inclusion
2025
This report, titled Empowering women in Egypt's livestock and dairy subsectors – A gender-transformative approach to climate resilience and economic inclusion, investigates the critical role of women in Egypt’s livestock and dairy industries amidst escalating climate change pressures. It provides an in-depth gender analysis, focusing on women’s economic participation, challenges, and climate adaptation strategies within these vital agricultural subsectors.
Food safety and quality in the Near East and North Africa Mapping drivers, challenges and imperatives
2025
The FAO RNE has developed a comprehensive report that maps the food safety and quality landscape across the NENA region. Utilizing the One Health Approach and the DPSIR (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) framework, the report explores the multifaceted drivers influencing food safety governance in the region, including demographic changes, political and economic status, water scarcity, climate change, urbanization, and global trade dynamics.
Agricultural value chain assessment in Iraq 2024
2025
The objective of this report is to show the results of the overall programmatic food systems or value chain approach used, complementing the individual efforts of the partners (European Union, FAO, GIZ, ILO, IOM, ITC, UNESCO, and Cowater International).
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=88e9f5ea_2 "Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=a8ad9034_1 "The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=dfbaa9f2_1 "Inter-Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=4eb83e5b_1 "Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=b68ea809_2 "Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=26bd6c6b_1 "Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=2b881a9b_1 "The Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=ae3a73a3_1 "Regional Centre on Agrarian Reform & Rural Development for the Near East(CARDNE)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=5fad0e0e_1 "Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=adacc503_1 "Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)")
.tmb-th600x400.png?Culture=en&sfvrsn=8bd62a66_1 "Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC)")