Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the...
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Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the
Near East and North Africa (AARINENA)
Summary Report 2019
Geneva Hotel, January 16, 2020
Introduction
AARINENA conducts its strategy 2019-2030 and plan of action 2019-2024.
In this report, achievements and activities during 2019 are summarized herein below. Efforts are
focused on achieving the goals set in the strategy as follows:
I. Establishing AARINENA as a global knowledge platform to facilitate, mobilize and coordinate
multilateral exchange and dissemination of actionable specific and transversal knowledge
among stakeholders at south-south and south-north levels.
II. Supporting and enhancing multi-stakeholder partnerships over collective dialogues and
actions, aiming at collectively building up open systems of agricultural research and innovation
that are more effective in finding innovative and applicable solutions.
III. Facilitating and coordinating education and capacity strengthening of various partners to
enable them to communicate and interact effectively within agricultural research and
innovation open systems. This will include promoting the transformation of higher education
and research, and reforming research and innovation organizations and their governances in
alignment with the goal of developing efficient open systems and in accordance with agreed
upon AARINENA mission and goals.
IV. Contributing to advancing rural women, youth and small holder farmers along the agricultural
value chains through promoting collective actions among open agricultural R&I systems that
prepare these targeted populations for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in
order to improve their income, enable them to impact relevant policies, and make rural areas
attractive to them.
V. Strengthening the architecture of AARINENA to enable the fora to perform and realize its
reviewed mission, goals and expected outcomes and impact.
AARINENA Constitution
AARINENA's constitutional changes were accepted by the Executive Committee
during AARINENA 14th General Conference, Marrakesh-Morocco. All changes
were reviewed a number of times by AARINENA's Ex. President Dr. Mohammed
Aziz Darghouth, Ex. Executive Secretary Dr. Mohamed Ajlouni, AARINENA
President Dr. Adil Abdelrahim and by current AARINENA's Executive Secretary
Dr. Rida Shibli. Finally, a hard copy with all accepted changes was produced and
circulated (in PDF format) to all members.
AARINENA Website
AARINENA’s website was modified by adding all important elements in terms of engaging people’s
interests pursuant with AARINENA's strategy (2019-2030). This change would make it easier and
attractive for all stakeholders. The most important elements that have been posted to the website
include:
The Blogs, Success Stories, Projects, Publications, Newsletter, Constitution, Strategy & Plan of
Action, Events, and Networks.
AARINENA Website: www.aarinena.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aarinena-new-375936729935905/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aarinena
The domain and hosting of the website were relinquished by the previous administrator (Masirhost,
Iran). Currently, AARINENA has full control of managing and administering the host and domain
(aarinena.org) through the American hosting firm “JUSTHOST”.
New Members to AARINENA
Four organizations have joined AARINENA as new members during 2019, these are:
1. Association of Moringa and Desert Plants, Saudi Arabia, contact person: Dr. Nasser
Alkhalifah, Vice-President of Association of Moringa and Desert Plants.
2. Faculty of Agriculture, Mutah University, Karak - Jordan, contact person: Dr. Adil Abdel-
Ghani, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture/ Mutah University.
3. Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Balqa’a Applied University, Al-Salt - Jordan, contact person: Dr.
Samih Abu-Baker, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture/ Al-Balqa’a Applied University.
4. Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology JUST, Irbid -
Jordan, contact person: Dr. Kamel Z. Mahmoud, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture/Jordan
University of Science and Technology (JUST).
Partnerships and Agreements with AARINENA
Five agreements of partnership were signed during the year 2019 as follows:
1. Partnership agreement between AARINENA and the Regional Centre on Agrarian Reform
and Rural Development for the Near East (CARDNE).
2. Partnership agreement between AARINENA and Association of Arab Universities (AARU).
3. Cooperation agreement between AARINENA and China-Arab States Technology & Culture
Transfer Centre (CASTCTC).
4. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AARINENA and the Arab Organization for
Agricultural Development (AOAD).
5. Partnership agreement between AARINENA and Jordan Dates Association (Joda).
In addition, there are ongoing arrangements for potentially new agreements that will be signed in
the next few months:
6. MoU between AARINENA and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
7. Partnership agreement between AARINENA and UN-ESCWA.
CFOWANA Meeting:
The Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East & North Africa (AARINENA)
arranged and held a meeting for the Consortium of Farmers Organizations in West Asia and North
Africa Region (CFOWANA) in September 12, 2019, Amman- Jordan. Decision-makers and experts
attended and participated in the meeting from farmers’ organizations in the Arab countries. During
the meeting, participating agricultural institutions identified their roles in the new agricultural
renaissance. For example, these organizations with their representatives were active participants
in this meeting:
1. Ibrahim Al-Tarchichi, Al-Beqaa Farmers and Peasants’ Association-Lebanon.
2. Ayed Al-Jassar, Federation of Agricultural Productive Societies and Livestock-Kuwait.
3. Raafat Al-Khunduqgee, Union of Palestinian Farmers Associations-Palestine.
4. Saed Al-Khrousi, Oman Agricultural Society-Oman.
5. Abdelsalam Al-Shami, Union of Organizations of Agricultural and Animal Production
Professions-Sudan.
6. Mohammad Basheer, Agricultural Cooperative Union-Yemen.
7. Odeh Al-Rawashdeh, General Union of Jordanian Farmers-Jordan.
CFOWANA Meeting:
Proceedings of the meeting:
1. Executive Secretary of the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North
Africa (AARINENA), Dr. Rida Shibli welcomed the attendees,
2. Participants introduced the roles of their institutions in general,
3. The current situation of the Consortium of Farmers’ Organizations in West Asia and North Africa
(CFOWANA) was discussed at length, and
4. The CFOWANA charter was discussed and the required modifications were agreed during the meeting.
Important decisions during the meeting:
▪ A decision was made to register the Consortium of Farmers Organizations in West Asia and North Africa
(CFOWANA).
▪ Following the deliberations, subsequent meetings would be held later to hold the elections of Executive
Committee for the Consortium. The Executive Committee would consist of six members; one member as a
Chair Person and five members as sub regions representing each of West Asia and North Africa (Maghreb
Sub-Region, Nile Valley and Red Sea Sub-Region, Mashreq Sub-Region, Arabian Peninsula Sub-Region
and West Asia Sub-Region).
AARINENA Newsletter 2019
Two newsletter issues were released during 2019; the first:
Vol. 24 No. 1, Biannual Newsletter, January - June 2019
and the second: Vol. 24 No. 2 Biannual Newsletter, June -
December 2019.
Participation in Different Workshops and
Conferences
Dr. Shibli gave talks and presentations, and participated in panel discussions on diverse challenges
and opportunities including climatic changes, natural and water resources, and agricultural
challenges that are facing the NENA region during different workshops, meetings and conferences
as follows:
❑ Land and Water Days, Cairo-Egypt, 31 March - 3 April 2019.
❑ UN-ESCWA “Expert Group Meeting on Green Technology Transfer, Adaptation, Investment
Required for Implementation SD12” and “7th Technical Committee Meeting ESCWA Technology
Centre”, Amman-Jordan, July 29-31, 2019. Dr. Shibli gave a presentation about “AARINENA’s
Role in Research, Networking and Innovation”.
❑ International Two-dimensional Code Industry Development Summit, China, August 23-25, 2019.
Dr. Shibli gave a presentation about “Crop Adaptation to Climate Change”.
❑ Transforming Higher Education Project, the American University of Beirut September 5-7, 2019.
Dr. Shibli gave a presentation about “AARINENA’s Role in Research, Networking and
Innovation”.
❑ International Conference on Semi-arid Mountain Environments, Abha-Saudi Arabia, September
16-19, 2019. Dr. Shibli gave a presentation about “Conservation of plant biodiversity in semi-arid
mountains: A holistic approach”.
❑ Principles of Decent Work in the Jordanian Agricultural Sector Workshop, Amman-Jordan,
October 13, 2019. Dr. Shibli gave a presentation about “AARINENA’s Role in Research,
Networking and Innovation”.
❑ Date Palm Festival, Amman-Jordan, October 16-18, 2019. Dr. Shibli gave a presentation about
“Impact of Climate Changes on Plant Productivity and Date Palm in Jordan”.
❑ International Conference on Higher Education in the Arab World, Beirut-Lebanon, December 6-
7, 2019, Dr. Shibli gave a presentation about “Innovation as Principle in University Governance:
A Holistic Approach for Arab Universities”.
❑ Workshop on Intellectual Property Rights for Innovation in Industrial and Agricultural Sectors in
Support of Economic Development Amman- Jordan, 14-15 December 2019.
Networks and Sub-Networks
AARINENA activated its networks and arranged with all members to name the
focal person/s for each network.
Further, AARINENA constructed two sub-networks (Agribusiness and Honey bees)
that were part of AARINENA's Strategy, then emails got circulated to all members
to name contact person/s for this matter.
Memberships
According to AARINENA’s constitution, Article II comprises twenty-seven countries
as follows:
▪ The following eight countries (Malta, Mauritania, Djibouti, Somalia, Cyprus,
Bahrain, Afghanistan, Pakistan) are included in the constitution, however no
contact and communication currently exists with them.
AARINENA’s Countries Decision letter
▪ Currently an official letter is in preparation by AARINENA’s Executive
Committee regarding the countries that are members of AARINENA (Malta,
Mauritania, Djibouti, Somalia, Cyprus, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Pakistan), with
memberships that are inactive.
Resumption of Memberships
The nine countries (Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine,
Syria, Iran) who did not pay their membership dues for a long time include:
Algeria 2013 -2019
Libya 2015 -2019
Egypt 2017 - 2019
Sudan 2015 – 2019
Yemen Dues were never paid
Lebanon 2015 – 2019
Palestine Dues were never paid
ACSAD Syria 2015 – 2019
Iran 2015 – 2019
This year AARINENA was able to collect membership fees that were not rendered
for the last four years from Saudi Arabia with the assistance of Dr. Nasser
Alkhalifah. In addition, ICARDA has paid their membership dues from the past
three years.
Dr. Adil Abdelrahim forwarded a formal letter to Qatar in an effort to retain them
member in AARINENA; earlier Qatar had asked to suspend its membership with
AARINENA.
Registration of AARINENA as an International
Organization
Preparing an official letter from AARINENA’s Executive Committee
regarding the registration of AARINENA as an international
organization.
AARINENA joins GCHERA as new member
During 2019, AARINENA joined GCHERA (Global Confederation of
Higher Education Association for Agricultural & Life Sciences) as full
member.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Conference 2020
AARINENA is collaborating with the Association of Arab Universities (AArU) and
the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) on organizing an
international conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in December 2020,
Amman, Jordan, http://iec2020.aaru-confs.org.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Conference 2020
Themes of the conference include:
Innovation Centers around NENA Region▪ Success stories to date ▪ Fostered start-ups
Technological Incubators▪ Building incubators▪ Incubator readiness to foster projects
Innovation in Higher Education▪ Technology Transfer Offices▪ Innovation processes for researchers
Industrial Innovation for the 4th Industrial Age▪ Linkages between academia and industry▪ Research commercialization
Innovation Platforms ▪ Platform development▪ Platform engagement▪ Platform management
Innovation-related Legislations & Policy▪ Incubator-supporting policies▪ Bylaws and regulations▪ IP registration & process
Conference Funding:
AARINENA as well as AARU will each render US $5000 as a 35% contribution
(each) as seed money for the conference. IEEE, on its part, will render 30% as the
announced share of IEEE. Other expenses will be covered through donations and
from conference registration fees.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between AARINENA & AOAD
Cooperation Agreement between
AARINENA & CASTCTC
Partnership agreement between
AARINENAA & CARDNE
Partnership agreement between
AARINENA & AARU
Partnership agreement between AARINENA
and Jordan Dates Association (Joda)
Date Palm Festival
International Conference on Semi-arid
Mountain Environments
Workshop on Intellectual Property Rights
for Innovation in Industrial and Agricultural
Sectors in Support of Economic Development
Thank you