In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,

His Excellency Mr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, esteemed guests, and distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

It is with great warmt...

FAO thanks the Italian Government, and particularly Deputy Prime Minister Tajani, for the opportunity to have participated in this strategic and timely Round Table, together with other partners, to discuss together the way forward in view of the deteriorating food insecurity situation in Gaza, and the surrounding regions.

The 37th session of the Regional Ministerial Conference for the Near East and North Africa (NENA) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) ended today with a Ministerial Declaration supporting the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31, supported by the Organization’s flagship initiatives, and calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The 37th Ministerial Session of FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (#NERC37) has issued a call for a ceasefire in Gaza to facilitate the entry of humanitarian and food aid into the enclave.

The conference's final statement articulated profound concerns over the worsening humanitarian conditions, the forced displacement of Gaza Strip residents, and the weaponization of food, water, and energy in the war. It strongly condemned the hindrance of humanitarian assistance and the consequent devastation of the agricultural sector, livelihoods, and infrastructure, resulting in critical food insecurity and famine risks.

H.E. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, received the Director-General of FAO, QU Dongyu, in Cairo.

The FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, was received today in Amman by His Majesty Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. 

The situation in Gaza, coupled with protracted crises in Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, is of "great concern," the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), QU Dongyu, said Monday as he addressed the 37th session of the FAO Regional Ministerial Conference for the Near East and North Africa (NENA).

QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), made a field visit to one of FAO’s projects to empower rural women in Sheikh Masoud village about 200 kilometers south of Cairo. 

Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) is a FAO programme, which aims to identify unique agricultural systems supported by agrobiodiversity, traditional knowledge, cultures and outstanding landscapes, aiming at conservation and development of the sites through a holistic approach.

The Mediterranean region – represented by Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Türkiye – has today been named one of seven new UN World Restoration Flagships under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration in recognition of country efforts to restore degraded ecosystems.

Conflict and hunger are inextricably linked to one another. Conflict often leads to severe humanitarian crises, resulting in heightened levels of hunger in specific regions. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges, often operating on the front lines alongside other UN and stakeholder partners to preserve lives and livelihoods.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today has convened with senior country member officials during the Regional Consultative Technical Meeting (RCTM) to discuss regional priorities amidst ongoing crises, in preparation for the 37th session of the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC). 

Amman, Jordan 4-5 March 2024
The importance of transforming agrifood systems to embed more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable systems that promote better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) has received concurrence from the Member States on the Programme Priorities for the 2024-25 biennium, focused on accelerating the transformation of  regional agrifood systems to ach...

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Global Forum on Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS), have launched today the Arab Forum for Rural Advisory Services (AFRAS), working towards the acceleration of Rural Advisory Services (RAS) and inclusive and sustainable rural transformation.

“Today, FAO and the private sector have a shared goal – to explore innovative, scalable, and sustainable solutions for the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region,” said Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General, during an interactive dialogue held today by FAO with key private sector players to collaborate, share insights, and collectively shape the future of agrifood systems in the region.  

Prior to the Ministerial Segment of the 37th session of the Near East Regional Conference (NERC37), FAO is organizing an interactive dialogue with the private sector on “Engaging the Private Sector in Accelerating Agrifood Systems Transformation in the Near East and North Africa”.

With the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Climate Change Conference ‘COP28’ taking place in the United Arab Emirates, agriculture, the water-energy-food nexus and food security continued to be at the centerstage of FAO’s support. Following from advocacy efforts during last year’s COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, the Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) with its partners continued to actively engage in shaping discussions on the unique challenges, opportunities, and needs specific to the Arab region. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development (EAPD) have signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening efforts in promoting south-south and triangular cooperation (SSTC) to boost the transformation of agrifood systems, improve food security, and support the global efforts towards the 2030 Sustainable Agenda.

The last quarterly bulletin in 2023 focuses on the critical importance of increased investments in the transformation of regional agrifood systems. FAO was a strategic partner in organizing the 2023 World Investment Forum in Abu Dhabi last October, with nine sessions dedicated to the theme “Investing in Transforming Agrifood Systems”.