First Meeting of Regional Organizing Group for the Implementation of the One Country One Priority Product Initiative in Near East and North Africa

The FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31, endorsed by the 42nd Session of FAO Conference in June 2021 focuses on supporting the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO developed the Global Action Plan on Green Development of the Special Agricultural Products (SAPs): One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) based on the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31. OCOP aims to promote inclusive, profitable and environmentally sustainable food systems through the green development of SAPs, through: (i) increasing productivity and ensuring healthy diets; (ii) reducing food loss and waste and protecting biodiversity; (iii) saving water and optimizing land use; (iv) minimizing agricultural chemical inputs; and (v) mitigating and adapting to climate change. Within this framework, the sustainable value chain of SAPs can play an essential role in ensuring food security and nutrition, more effective use of unutilized resources, supporting farmers’ livelihoods and economic growth, and protecting the environment and biodiversity for current and future generations.

To ensure a successful and impactful implementation of the OCOP at the global level, the OCOP Steering Committee was established at FAO headquarters, which is chaired by FAO Director-General. Following that, the OCOP Regional Organizing Group (ROG) for NENA is now being established to organize and coordinate the implementation of the OCOP initiative within the region and support the Steering Committee. At the country level, a National Task Force (NTF) for each participating Member nations will be formed to carry out the implementation activities in the country and to support the ROG.

FAO is holding first meeting of the Regional Organizing Group for the Implementation of the One Country One Priority Product Initiative in Near East and North Africa on 14 September 2023 in Cairo, Egypt.

The key objectives of the first meeting of the ROG on OCOP for NENA are:

• Provide an update on the status on the implementation of the OCOP initiative globally and in the NENA region, including countries’ expression of interest and project implementation at the regional and country levels.
• Discuss and endorse the Terms of References (ToRs) of the OCOP ROG for NENA.
• Discuss ROG’s role to support the implementation of the OCOP initiative within the region and support the Steering Committee.