Technical consultations set the stage for the 38th Session of FAO Near East Regional Conference

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) convened a Regional Consultative Technical Meeting (RCTM) this week as part of the preparatory process for the Thirty-eighth Session of the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC 38), which will take place in 2026.

The meeting brought together representatives from FAO Member Countries in the Near East, alongside regional and international experts, civil societies, research, academia and private sectors to engage in structured, evidence-based discussions aimed at informing the Conference’s priorities, technical focus and policy directions. The RCTM forms a key element of FAO’s consultative approach to ensure that NERC 38 is firmly grounded in the countries need, challenges and opportunities facing the region.

Mounting pressures on agrifood systems in the region

Agrifood systems in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) are facing increasing and interconnected pressures, driven by climate change, recurrent droughts, water scarcity, land degradation, biodiversity loss, conflict and economic shocks. These challenges continue to undermine food security and nutrition, livelihoods and resilience across the region.

Recent FAO report indicate that hunger and food insecurity in the Arab region have reached their highest levels in more than two decades, with tens of millions of people unable to access sufficient, safe and nutritious food. Conflict-affected and climate-vulnerable countries are bearing the heaviest burden, while rising food prices and high dependence on food imports continue to expose the region to global market shocks.

Recent assessments also point to a decline in food security, compounded by structural vulnerabilities such as high dependence on food imports, exposure to global market volatility and limited fiscal space to respond to shocks. Participants highlighted that these trends leave little room for incremental change and underscore the need for accelerated and coordinated action to transform agrifood systems into ways that are resilient, inclusive and sustainable.

Key thematic areas shaping the agenda towards NERC 38

Discussions during the RCTM were structured around four interrelated thematic areas that will inform the main documents and deliberations of NERC 38.

1. Regional context and emerging priorities

   Participants examined regional food security and nutrition trends, futures analysis and resilience considerations, emphasizing the importance of aligning policies and investments with evolving risks and long-term development objectives in the NENA region.

2. Inclusive agrifood systems and market transformation

   The meeting explored people-centred rural transformation pathways aimed at strengthening agrifood value chains, improving rural services and institutions, and enhancing access to markets, finance and opportunities for small-scale producers, women and youth. Strengthening market integration and reducing vulnerabilities linked to supply chain disruptions were identified as critical priorities.

3. Sustainable natural resource management for resilience

   Given the region’s acute water scarcity, recurrent drought, and exposure to climate stress, participants discussed integrated approaches to land, water and marine ecosystem management to enhance climate resilience, combat desertification and drought, and support sustainable agrifood and aquatic food systems.

4. Scaling anticipatory actions for agrifood risk management

Participants emphasized shifting from reactive crisis response to proactive, risk-informed approaches by scaling up anticipatory action and strengthening early warning systems. Agriculture should be positioned at the core of humanitarian, recovery and development strategies, supported by multi-hazard risk management, strengthened governance and regional coordination, including on transboundary plant and animal diseases. Investing in innovative solutions and protecting gains from agrifood interventions were highlighted as critical to building resilient systems and enabling communities to build back better.Innovation and partnerships as cross-cutting enablers

Across all thematic areas, participants underscored the role of innovation—including policy innovation, data and foresight tools, technologies, financing mechanisms and institutional approaches—as a critical enabler of agrifood systems transformation. Strengthening partnerships across governments, development actors, the private sector, civil society and academia was seen as essential to scaling solutions and translating policy commitments into impact.

Cross-cutting considerations such as gender equality, youth engagement and inclusion were emphasized as integral to ensure that transformation efforts contribute to reduced inequalities and leave no one behind.

Informing evidence-based policy dialogue at NERC 38

The Regional Consultative Technical Meeting forms part of a broader and inclusive consultation process that will continue in the lead-up to NERC 38, including targeted engagements with civil society, the private sector and senior officials. Insights and recommendations emerging from these dialogues will contribute to the preparation of the Conference’s agenda and support informed discussions among Senior Officials and Ministers.

Through this process, FAO aims to ensure that the Thirty-eighth Session of the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East is anchored in robust evidence, reflects diverse regional perspectives and focuses on practical, actionable solutions to strengthen resilient, inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems across the NENA.