FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa

FAO at The Third Arab Land Conference

Rabat (Morocco), 18/02/2025 - 20/02/2025

©FAO/SolimanAhmed

The Third Arab Land Conference, hosted by the Government of Morocco in Rabat from 18–20 February 2025, will focus on “Land solutions for investments, resilience, and innovation.” Organized by the Ministry of National Territory and Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy, UN-Habitat, GLTN, and the Arab Land Initiative, in collaboration with regional and international partners, this conference marks an important opportunity to advance good land governance in the Arab region. 

Land in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is both vital and vulnerable, facing challenges from population growth, urbanization, and environmental pressures. Water scarcity, soil erosion, and desertification threaten agriculture and food security, while urban expansion and conflicts disrupt land management. Despite agriculture's importance, many NENA countries rely heavily on food imports, underscoring the need for sustainable practices to protect natural ecosystems and ensure stability. FAO works to halt land degradation, promote sustainable land and water management, and build resilience in agriculture and ecosystems. Complementing these efforts, FAO’s Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) advances sustainable land governance, empowers rural communities, and promotes gender equality to strengthen resilience and development. In addition, FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia support countries in implementing land consolidation projects, a practice with renewed interest in the NENA region and a valuable tool for sustainable land management. 

This year’s conference aims to share knowledge on good practices and innovations, develop capacities, and foster collaboration among diverse land stakeholders. Discussions will address country experiences, present research findings, direct investments, and encourage high-level commitment to improving the land sector. 

The programme features high-level ministerial sessions, plenary sessions on civil society and youth, and three parallel tracks of technical and partner-led sessions.   

FAO at the conference  

FAO will actively contribute to the conference by organizing and participating in key sessions on themes that align with its mission to advance sustainable land management and development in the Arab region. Through these sessions, FAO will highlight its work in promoting sustainable land use, advancing food security, and fostering resilience in the region. 

Join us virtually at the Third Arab Land Conference to explore FAO’s initiatives and solutions for addressing land governance challenges and driving sustainable development in the Arab region! Register online here

FAO events

Date 

Time/location 

Title 

Stream the event 

18 February 

16:00-17:30 - Plenary – Olive Room  

EN 

AR 

FR 

18 February 

18:00- 19:30 - Red Room  

Lessons learnt on biodiversity and drought resilience: UNCBD & UNCCD COP’s outcomes  

EN 
AR 

FR 

19 February 

11:30-13:00 - Blue Room 

Advancing women’s tenure security in the MENA Region: reporting, data and initiatives to close the gap 

EN 
AR 

FR 

19 February 

18:00- 19:30 - Plenary – Olive Room  

Multi-purpose land consolidation for inclusive rural transformation in the Arab region  

EN 
AR 

FR 

20 February 

9:30-11:00 - Blue Room 

Launch of Pinheiro Principles Handbook for the MENA Region 

EN 

AR 

FR