FAO advances the mainstreaming of social protection across agrifood programmes in the Near East and North Africa

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) convened a regional technical session to strengthen the integration of social protection across its programmes in the region. The session brought together colleagues from FAO headquarters, the Regional Office, subregional offices and country offices to exchange knowledge, share regional experiences and identify opportunities for strengthening linkages between social protection and agrifood systems programming. 

Rural populations across the region face intersecting challenges, including poverty, food insecurity, climate change, water scarcity, economic shocks, protracted crises and conflict. Small-scale family farmers, agricultural workers, pastoralists, fishers, rural women and youth are often particularly exposed to these pressures, while many remain inadequately covered by social protection systems. 

In his opening remarks, AbdulHakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, stressed that social protection should be viewed as an integral part of agricultural and rural development, rather than as a separate social policy concern.

“Rural populations are our focus. They are often among the poorest and most marginalized communities in any country. It is through social protection systems that we can help ensure they have sustainable livelihoods and can contribute to their economies,” he said.

Elwaer also called on FAO country offices to strengthen partnerships with national institutions working on social protection, including those responsible for youth, labour, social solidarity and women's affairs, and to engage more actively in United Nations country team task forces and working groups on social protection.

The session highlighted how social protection can help rural households manage risks and shocks, safeguard productive assets and avoid negative coping strategies. When integrated into agricultural and rural development programmes, it can also support productive investment, livelihood diversification, decent rural employment and more inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. 

“Integrating social protection across our thematic areas is particularly important when responding to shocks and crises, which can severely affect the incomes and livelihoods of rural households,” said Faten Adada, Agriculture and Rural Development Expert at FAO’s Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa. She also emphasized the importance of collective action to advance the social protection agenda across the region.

Technical discussions addressed FAO’s approach to linking social protection with agriculture, rural livelihoods, resilience, food security and nutrition, climate action and economic inclusion. Participants were also introduced to regional evidence and ongoing work on social insurance for agricultural workers, farmer registries, the SCOPE analytical approach, and the linkages between cash and voucher assistance and national social protection systems. 

Country offices shared experiences from different contexts, including the use of cash-based assistance, support to cooperatives and community-based organizations, and efforts to protect and restore agricultural livelihoods. The exchange also highlighted the need to better identify, document and communicate existing social protection activities and linkages within FAO programmes.

Looking ahead, Omar Benammour, social protection officer at the  Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP), highlighted the importance of translating the discussions into concrete action by integrating social protection into Country Programming Frameworks, existing programmes and future proposals. Priorities also include strengthening social protection integration across the Regional Priorities on food security and nutrition, climate, resilience and inclusive rural transformation, and jointly mobilizing funding and expertise with governments, UN agencies, international financial institutions and development partners. 

The session reaffirmed the importance of continued collaboration across technical areas and offices to strengthen capacities, generate evidence and integrate social protection considerations more systematically into existing and future programmes. These efforts will support FAO’s broader commitment to inclusive agrifood systems transformation and to leaving no one behind.