FAO REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE NEAR EAST ... ACHIEVEMENTS FAO REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE NEAR EAST 11...

FAO REGIONAL OFFICEFOR THE NEAR EAST

ACHIEVEMENTS

From 1991-2010

FAO REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE NEAR EAST

ACHIEVEMENTS

From

1991-2010

Table of Contents

AbbreviAtions And Acronyms ............................................................................................... 5

1. introdUction ....................................................................................................................... 9

2. AnALyticAL sUmmAry oF resULts-bAsed AcHievements ...................................... 9

2.1 Food Security and nutrition .............................................................................................. 92.2 Land and Water reSourceS ............................................................................................... 102.3 crop production and protection and Land management ...................................................... 102.4 animaL production and HeaLtH ...........................................................................................112.5 FiSHerieS and aquacuLture ................................................................................................ 122.6 ForeStry .......................................................................................................................... 122.7 Food and agricuLturaL poLicy ........................................................................................... 132.8 agricuLturaL reSearcH, extenSion and deveLopment ........................................................ 132.9 agro-induStry and ruraL inFraStructure ......................................................................... 132.10 agricuLturaL marketing and credit .................................................................................. 142.11 knoWLedge and inFormation management and netWorking programme ............................... 142.12 emergency and reHabiLitation ........................................................................................... 152.13 deSert LocuSt in tHe centraL region oF tHe near eaSt ................................................... 152.14 Women in deveLopment ..................................................................................................... 152.15 agricuLturaL StatiSticS .................................................................................................... 16

3. mAJor Activities And AcHievements ......................................................................... 16

3.1 Food Security and nutrition ............................................................................................ 163.1.1 Nutrition and Food Safety and Control ............................................................... 163.1.2 Food Security ...................................................................................................... 18

3.2 Land and Water reSourceS .............................................................................................. 193.2.1 Policy Shifts in Water Resources Management .................................................. 193.2.2 Water Recycling in Agriculture ............................................................................ 203.2.3 Irrigation Reform and Modernization .................................................................. 213.2.4 Regional Statutory Body on Land and Water...................................................... 213.2.5 Drought: From Crisis Response to Management Planning ................................ 223.2.6 Knowledge Development, Data Management and Information Dissemination ... 233.2.7 Awareness and Capacity Building on Climate Change Impacts ......................... 243.2.8 Partnerships and Networking .............................................................................. 25

3.3 crop production and protection, and range management ............................................... 263.3.1 Crop Production .................................................................................................. 263.3.2 Plant Protection ................................................................................................. 263.3.3 Range Management and Fodder Crop .............................................................. 27

3.4 animaL production and HeaLtH .......................................................................................... 283.5 FiSHerieS and aquacuLture ............................................................................................... 30

3.5.1 Major activities/achievements ............................................................................. 303.5.2 Examples of fisheries and aquaculture projects ................................................. 32

3.6 ForeStry .......................................................................................................................... 333.6.1 Near East Forestry Commission ......................................................................... 343.6.2 National forest Programme ................................................................................. 35

3.7 Food and agricuLturaL poLicy.......................................................................................... 383.8 agricuLturaL reSearcH, extenSion and ruraL deveLopment .............................................. 403.9 agro-induStry and ruraL inFraStructure ......................................................................... 41

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.

The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of FAO.

ISBN 978-92-5-106943-1

All rights reserved. FAO encourages reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product. Non-commercial uses will be authorized free of charge, upon request. Reproduction for resale or other commercial purposes, including educational purposes, may incur fees. Applications for permission to reproduce or disseminate FAO copyright materials, and all queries concerning rights and licences, should be addressed by e-mail to [email protected] or to the Chief, Publishing Policy and Support Branch, Office of Knowledge Exchange, Research and Extension, FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy.

© FAO 2011


5

Abbreviations and Acronyms

AArinenA Association of Agricultural Research in Near East and North Africa AcsAd Arab Center for the Studies of Arid and Dry LandsAFmAnenA Agricultural Food Marketing Association for the Near East and North

Africa AGeri Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute of Egypt AGorA Access to Global Online Research in AgricultureAGris International Information System for the Agricultural Sciences and

TechnologyAice Agricultural Information Centre in OmanAis Agriculture Information SystemALAWUc Agriculture and Land and Water Use Commission AmU Arab Maghreb Union AoAd Arab Organization for Agriculture Development ArKis Agriculture and Rural Knowledge and Information Systems AQUAstAt FAO global information system on water and agriculture cAeU Council of Arab Economic Unity cArdne Centre for Agrarian Reform and Development in the Near East ciArd Coherence in Information for Agricultural Research for DevelopmentciHeAm International Centre for Mediterranean High Agronomic Studies crc Commission for Desert Locust control in the Central Region of the Near

Eastdims Documents Information Management SystemsdLis Desert Locust Information Service of FAOeco Economic Cooperation Organization ectAd Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases escorenA European System of Networks in Agriculture escWA United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia eU European UnityFAo Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsGFAr Global Forum for Agricultural Research Gcc Gulf Cooperation Council GWP Global Water Partnership GAtt General Agreement on Tariffs and TradeHPAi Highly Pathogenic Avian InfluenzaicArdA International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry AreasinFosAmAK Centre for Marketing Information and Advisory Services for Fishery

Products in the Arab Region icid International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage icm Information and Communication Managementict Information and Communication Technology

3.10 agricuLturaL marketing and credit ...............................................................................443.10.1 Support the functioning of AFMANENA ...........................................................443.10.2 Support the functioning of NENARACA ...........................................................45

3.11 knoWLedge, inFormation management and netWorking programme ................................463.12 emergency and reHabiLitation ........................................................................................513.13 deSert LocuSt in tHe centraL region oF tHe near eaSt ................................................533.14 Women in deveLopment .................................................................................................563.15 agricuLturaL StatiSticS ................................................................................................57

4. sUccess stories ............................................................................................................59

5. AnneX i ...............................................................................................................................64

LiSt oF regionaL and Sub-regionaL projectS in ne region Since 1990-2010 .........................64

6

ACHIEVEMENTS FAO REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE NEAR EAST

7

PFF Peach Fruit Fly sAcred Scheme for Agricultural Credit Development sAdcn Saudi Agricultural Development Communication Network project in

Saudi Arabia sesrtcic Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Center for

Islamic Countries tcP Technical Cooperation ProgrammeWAnAnet West Asia and North Africa Plant Genetic Resources NetworkWFs World Food Summit Wdm Water Demand Management WHo World Health Organization of United NationsWto World Trade Organizationvercon Virtual Extension Research Communication Network in EgyptUnesco United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural OrganizationUniceF United Nations Children’s FundUndP United Nations Development ProgrammeUnFPA United Nations Population Fund in EgyptUtF Unilateral Trust Fund

iPm Integrated pest management idb Islamic Development Bank inPHo Information Network on Post-harvest OperationsiPPc International Plant Protection Conventions)isPm International Standards of Phytosanitary Measures isFP Initiative on Soaring Food Prices iUU Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated FishingiWrm Integrated Water Resources Management Kisr Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research mdG Millennium Development Goals.mAsscote Mapping Systems and Services for Canal Operation TechniquesnAAH National Alliances against Hunger nAPc National Agricultural Policy Center in Syria nArims National Agricultural Research Information Management System in

EgyptnAis National Agricultural Information System in JordannAKems National Agricultural Knowledge Management Exchange SystemnArKin National Agricultural Research Knowledge and Information Network

project in Egypt nenFire Near East Network on Forest Fire nePP-net Near East Plant Protection Network nerAKin Near East Rural and Agricultural Knowledge and Information NetworknePPo Near East Plant Protection Organization nesrUnet Near East Small Ruminant Network) neFFen Near East Forage and Feed Network neFc Near East Forestry Commissionnerc FAO Regional Conference for the Near East nFc National Forest ProgrammenemedcA Network on Drought Management for the Near East, Mediterranean and

Central AsianenArnAP Near East and North Africa Regional Network for Agricultural Policy nenArAcA Near East and North Africa Regional Agricultural Credit Association neWPAm Near East Working Group on Wildlife and Protected Area Management nGo Non Governmental Organizationnmdc National Drought Mitigation Center of Lincoln, Nebraska, USAPce Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation rAis Regional Aquaculture Information System rAdcon Rural and Agricultural Development Communication Network in Egypt rAdiscon Regional Animal Disease Surveillance and Control Network for North

Africa and Middle East recoFi Regional Commission for Fisheries rne Regional Office for the Near East, FAO of the United NationsrPFs Regional Programme for Food Security


9

1. INTRODUCTION

The Near East Region encompasses countries that are vastly different in their development and in their natural resource endowment1. They nonetheless face a common set of problems and challenges that have adversely impacted their development prospects and have multiplied the risks of instability in food supply and food security. The fragile resource base in terms of narrow and dwindling water availability, degrading agricultural land resources, declining rate of productivity growth of the major crops coupled with a persistence of high population and urbanization growth rates have amplified the structural imbalance between food needs and food production and increased the difficulties in balancing employment and income generation. Food insecurity is further aggravated by the increasing environmental degradation, natural and human- induced disasters including conflicts, as well as the looming climate change threat. With a growing food deficit, the region has become increasingly dependent on food imports and therefore vulnerable to vagaries of the international market and to possible food quality and price shocks.

The FAO interventions and support in the region have been geared to address these challenges and constraints and help member countries achieve tangible results in terms of food security and eradication of hunger through sustainable agricultural and rural development while ensuring coherent natural resource management. FAOs programme for technical assistance is articulated around the following priorities that have been jointly identified by member countries:

1. Enhancing food security and nutrition:2. Fostering agricultural production and rural development for improved livelihood3. Promoting sustainable natural resources management4. Responding to climate change impacts and developing adaptation strategies5. Preparedness for, and response to, food and agriculture emergencies

The implementations of this programme rests on working closely with sub-regional and country offices as well as FAO technical divisions in Rome, and through establishing partnerships with national institutions, UN agencies, regional and international organizations, civil society, and other development partners.

2. ANALYTICAL SUMMARY OF RESULTS-BASED ACHIEVEMENTS

The FAO activities implemented in the Near East Region since the establishment of FAO RNE in 1991 have resulted in significant contributions through its regular programme and field programme (see annex I) as summarized below under each theme.

2.1 Food Security and Nutrition

• Production of a food composition table for the Near East, • Establishment of a Regional and five National Codex Coordinating Committee • Production of Nutrition Country Profiles for the majority of the countries in the Region, • Establishment of two regional networks for food composition tables,

1 The region is now composed of 18 countries in three sub-regions namely: SNE for North Africa (Maghreb) with Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia; SNO for Oriental Near East (Mashreq) with Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria; and the SNG for Gulf States and Yemen (GCC) with Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Yemen. When relocated to Cairo in 1991, the region also included Turkey, Cyprus and Malta and was then expanded to include the Independent States of Central Asia (CIS) at some stage.

10


11

activities conducted were interpreted in the support that extended to international research conferences, regional workshops and promotion of inter-country cooperation for exchange of experience and technical information.

FAO-RNE also supported Unilateral Trust Fund (UTF) as well as TCP projects on Olive Industry Development and on Enhancing Organic Farming. Technical assistance to enhance capacity building for plant protection at national and regional levels were provided in order to promote adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), implement the International Code of Conduct on Distribution and Use of Pesticides and other International Plant Protection Conventions (IPPC) and International Standards of Phytosanitory Measures (ISPM) and Phytosanitory Capacity Evaluation (PCE).

Other main activities implemented included organization of experts’ consultations, technical meetings and workshops on problems and control of major pests of the main crops. Also emphasis and support has been provided, in collaboration with ICARDA, to control wheat rust disease (Ug99), as well as to the establishment, with assistant of FAO, of the Near East Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO). The dissemination of a wide range of guidelines and other material relating to specifications for pesticides, pesticides management and IPM and their role in promoting crop quality were strengthened in the Region. In collaboration with ICARDA, technical guidelines to Improve and Maintain Seed Quality of Range Fodder Shrubs and Grasses were prepared.

2.4 Animal Production and Health

The livestock sector plays an important role in the economics of the Near East countries, especially poultry, sheep, goats and cattle. They account for 30–60 percent of the value of agriculture output in these countries. Despite the region having a big number of animals, many of its countries are still depending on the import of animals and animal products to meet their food needs. The region is characterized by diversified livestock production systems including predominantly extensive, traditional animal husbandry, communal grazing, as well as nomadic or transhumant movements of animals searching for water and pasture. FAO-RNE supported member countries in the sustainable increase of livestock production for food security, poverty alleviation and economic development enhanced through improving livestock production and productivity, prevention, control and elimination of major animal diseases, sustainable use of natural resources (including animal genetic resources), building national capacities and strengthening regional coordination of research and development.

FAO-RNE Contributed to strengthen capacities of member countries for the improvement of the productivity of the livestock sector mainly through specialized trainings, workshops, expert meetings, networking and publishing of guidelines and manuals in different languages and strengthening public-private partnership. FAO has contributed to the spread of knowledge for the conservation and improvement of some local animal species (camel, buffalo, sheep, goat).

Feed shortage has been identified as major limiting factors for the development of animal production in the region. In order to solve the problem of animal products shortage, provide manure, diversify crops and sources of farmers’ income, FAO has supported countries in diversifying feeding resources including local agriculture by products; irrigated forages and improving feed conservation technologies.

During the recent years FAO has strengthened the animal health program in Near East through the establishment of decentralized units of the Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) established in Beirut for Middle East and Tunis for North Africa as well as a country ECTAD office in Egypt.

• The production, in collaboration with WHO, of regional Food-Based Dietary Guidelines which will guide countries in establishing their national Food-Based Dietary Guidelines, and

• Establishment of the regional thematic group on food security within the framework of the UN Regional Coordinating Mechanism and which has the role of coordinating food security interventions among all UN agencies in the region.

2.2 Land and Water resources

• Major policy shifts in water resources management have been achieved in with more focus on water demand instead of the conventional way of increasing supply, more attention to integrated water resources planning and management, as opposed to sectoral and fragmented approaches, and more consideration to water use efficiency and productivity than to yield maximization.

• Increased awareness and enhanced technical and managerial capacity for the use of non-conventional water resources in agriculture particularly treated municipal wastewater.

• Reform of irrigation water management strategies and water laws or establishment of new ones, with the direct support of FAO in more than seventy percent of the countries.

• Establishment of a Regional Commission (Agriculture and Land and Water Use Commission for the Near East), as a FAO Statutory Body, in 1997 as a forum for experience exchange and promotion of cooperation to address issues of regional dimensions. The Commission has met regularly every two years since its creation.

• Policy shift from the traditional reactive response to drought to a more proactive approach through planning and preparedness. At least five countries of the region have elaborated drought preparedness strategies, directly with FAO support, and all countries have improved their perceptions of drought and acquired greater capacity to manage it.

• Publication and dissemination of manuals, guidelines, and other documents adapted to the Near East region; development and implementation of a large number of national and regional projects addressing the issues of land and water for agricultural use. Better knowledge about land and water resources as well as on their use and vulnerabilities, through establishment and updating of FAO global information system on water and agriculture (AQUASTAT), data collection and dissemination and exchange of information.

• Greater awareness on and sensitization to the threats and impacts of climate change on food security related sectors and on-going capacity building to address these threats through adaptation measures.

• Over the last two decades, FAO RNE has established or became actively involved in an important number of formal and informal networks in the field of land and water. Similarly, a large array of bilateral partnerships have been established, including with national development and research institutions, regional, financial institutions particularly the World Bank, donor agencies, regional and international development organizations, NGOs, etc.

2.3 Crop production and protection and land management

As the general performance of agriculture in many countries of the Near East lags behind other regions and productivity of most crops is generally low, activities in crop production and protection were focused on enhancing national/regional capacities to increase crop yields and production, genetic improvements and selected seed production and technology as well as introduction and improvement of high yielding varieties. Small-scale agro-industries in rural areas, development of cost-effective, environment-friendly and energy-saving technologies were also promoted; in addition to that regional networks for research and development on major field and horticultural crops in the Region were enhanced. Emphases were also given to development of crop varieties tolerant to drought, salt and heat stress. Generally the main

12


13

forest and people, role of forest in food security, conflict management, mountains/watersheds, trees outside forests, urban and peri-urban forestry, etc.

2.7 Food and Agricultural Policy

Major achievements in the area of food and agriculture policy include the following:

• Increased focus on food security and agricultural development issues in Member countries’ policies, plans and strategies at the sectoral and national levels since the early 1990s. Assistance was provided for the formulation and implementation of more than 30 agriculture and food security related national strategies and plans as well as 3 sub-regional food security strategies and programmes. Direct policy advice was also provided to countries on priority issues of food security, water and natural resource management, investment and trade and regional cooperation;

• Improved human and institutional capacities of the agriculture and food related ministries in the region in policy analysis, project cycle and trade negotiations. More than 40 capacity building meetings and specialized workshops were organized at the regional and national levels benefiting a large number of government officials and other stakeholders in the areas of policy analysis, commodity chain analysis, project cycle, marketing, productivity enhancement and trade negotiations;

• Improved networking and exchange of information on agriculture and food security policy issues between countries. Fifteen comprehensive regional thematic policy studies and over 20 national technical reports were prepared and disseminated. A regional policy network - Near East and North Africa Regional Network for Agricultural Policy (NENARNAP- has been established to promote exchange of information on policy related issues across the region.

2.8 Agricultural Research, Extension and Development

FAO RNE implemented a number of activities to enhance capacities of the agricultural research and extension services to promote agricultural production and productivity and improve efficiency and resource use management. Thjis included 5 regional training, 4 regional workshops, 4 regional expert consultations, 5 studies/need assessments, joujnt research in Mediterranean Basin and many publications. In addition, RNE supported member countries in strengthening their research institutions through support to the Regional Forum (AARINENA), the Global Date Palm Network and the Olive Network.

2.9 Agro-Industry and Rural Infrastructure

Some of the major problems leading to food insecurity in the region have to do with the tremendous amount of food losses (qualitative and quantitative), and therefore activities on agro industry (value addition) are of vital importance towards the efforts to reduce the immediate major problem of the region (food unavailability, food insecurity, dependence on import, food safety problems).

Activities in agro industries in the last 8 years in the region include providing technical and financial support for several associations and organizations (such as AARINENA, Global Date Palm Network, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants network, INPHO). In addition organization of several events and activities such as 3 workshops on postharvest technology, expert consultation meeting on strengthening RAIS, Biosafety Workshop, seminar on Jojoba, technology transfer, molecular marker techniques with emphasis on dates, linkage between biotechnology and postharvest, expert consultation on utilization of agricultural residues, expert consultation on

In the face of Avian Influenza crisis, FAO has developed and implemented an action plan for HPAI preparedness and response in the Near East and strengthened the veterinary services through human capacity building, laboratory and field equipment and supplies and provision of physical resources hence creating capacity to respond to potential/actual outbreaks of HPAI and other TADs.

FAO has provided technical assistance to member countries and has been responsible for advancing practical knowledge and experience in prevention and control of other transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses in various countries in the region. These diseases include Foot and Mouth Diseases, Peste des Petits Ruminants, Rift Valley fever, Rinderpest, Old World screw worm, West Nile, Tuberculosis and brucellosis.

FAO-RNE has also supported harmonization of the national livestock strategies and enhanced cooperation between members countries. It organized more than 12 expert consultations and technical meetings; 18 training workshops and; supported 9 conferences; implemented 15 UTF, GCP and TCP project so established 6 networks and published 9 books; guidelines and manuals.

2.5 Fisheries and Aquaculture

• Establishment (1999) of the Regional Commission for Fisheries (RECOFI) as a regional fisheries management organization to provide member countries with scientific and management advice aimed at promoting the development, conservation, rational management and best utilization of living marine resources, as well as the sustainable development of aquaculture.

• Establishment of the Centre for Marketing Information and Advisory Services for Fishery Products in the Arab Region (INFOSAMAK) for the promotion and support of trade in fishery and aquaculture products, and the encouragement and promotion of investments in the sector. INFOSAMAK is an integral part of the FISH INFO network set up by the FAO and benefits from its technical support.

• Organization and secretariat support to the RECOFI subsidiary bodies: the Working Group on Aquaculture (2005) and the Working Group on Fisheries Statistics (2004) subsequently changed to Working Group on Fisheries Management (2008).

• Design and development of the Regional Aquaculture Information System (RAIS, 2009) a web-based information system to facilitate the exchange of aquaculture information in the Gulf and Sea of Oman region and to develop an informal, flexible and functional network of regional experts to promote and develop the sector in the region. The creation of RAIS has been requested by the Member countries in response to the rapid development of the aquaculture sector in the region

2.6 Forestry

During the last 50 years, the RNE Forestry Unit conducted wide range of activities which contributed in (i) raising the profile of forestry in the Near East; (ii) conserving and expanding the forest cover and resources; (iii) establishing adequate institutional and legal frameworks for the national forest services to operate normally; (iv) creating a science based forestry practices and; (v) maintaining foresters in the region abreast with global developments through encouragement for active participation in global conventions, processes and intergovernmental dialogue. The activities undertaken by RNE Forestry Unit covered also arid zone forestry, fire management, forest health, genetic resources, wood energy, non-wood forest products, combating desertification and sand encroachment, forest and water, climate change, forest law compliance and governance, extension, education, cross-sectoral linkages, forest finance,

14


15

Programmes for facilitating knowledge sharing through the establishment and facilitation of more than 10 thematic knowledge networks for development;

• Organized 8 regional training workshops on information management and knowledge exchange systems for ARD in cooperation with regional and international partners, organized 3 regional training workshops on agricultural information and communication management systems for development in cooperation with local and regional partners, organized 23 national training workshops in agricultural research information management and networking in cooperation with national partners, and supervised and participated in organizing 20 ICM/ICT training workshops and 7 trainings of trainers (TOT) workshop; and

• Built a robust infrastructure for managing information and knowledge in RNE and provided full technical support for FAORNE ongoing website information system development and content management/development for building strong infrastructure for regional agricultural Information and knowledge initiatives, gateways, portal and databases.

2.12 Emergency and Rehabilitation

Establishment of two regional Centers (Tunis and Beirut) and one country unit (Egypt) to respond to the avian influenza crisis in the region. These emergency entities contributed to the following achievements:

• HPAI country strategies developed and adopted • Better preparedness, detection and response to HPAI/FMD outbreaks • Improved in farm biosecurity practices• Establishment of an epidemio-surveillance system at country levels and a network and

coordination, information/knowledge sharing at regional level • Institutional capacity strengthened in the various HPAI related topics through country

and regional workshops, training sessions including abroad training as well as technical backstopping missions

2.13 Desert Locust in the Central Region of the Near East

The CRC managed and achieved the prevention strategy of Desert Locust control which resulted in preventing Desert Locust outbreaks and breeding in the Central Region in the last ten years. The Desert Locust invasions experienced during this episode originated from outside the region. Preparedness in human and material resources as well as plans for intervention were well in place

2.14 Women in Development

A Regional Plan of Action for Women in Agriculture in the Near East (RPAWANE) has been adopted and supported by FAO RNE for implementation through country programmes and projects. Other achievements include:

• Collected gender desegregated data, and carried out social impact analysis for agricultural development programmes and projects.

• Published a guidebook on Civil Society Organizations including information on research centres working with and for rural women in August 2001.

• Prepared, in Arabic, English and French, technical documents related to socio-cultural characteristics of the Near East

agro industries development in the region, regional training workshop on the implementation and application of traceability systems for food supply chain, among others), and preparation and publishing of several studies and publications ( e.g. postharvest manual, small-scale apiculture, vermiculture, bioenergy systems development in RNE, charcoal industries, losses and wastes in the food chain, waste management opportunities, among others).

2.10 Agricultural Marketing and Credit

Emphasis of FAO RNE programme in agricultural marketing and credit has been geared towards supporting member countries in enhancing their institutional and human resource capacities through training, formulation and implementation of projects, organization of forums and meetings for exchange of experiences and information concerning the formulation and development of effective agricultural marketing and credit systems and through carrying out studies to establish regional/sub-regional market information systems to stimulate intra-regional trade. Achievements include:

• Establishment of Near East and North Africa Regional Agricultural Credit Association (NENARACA) and the Agricultural Food Marketing Association for the Near East and North Africa (AFMANENA)

• Production of four training modules in agricultural credit administration • Production of proto-type curricula for marketing business management courses for Arab

universities

2.11 Knowledge and Information Management and Networking Programme

Knowledge and information management and networking has been provided on a continued basis to all member countries in the region during 2002-2010 and was one of the key areas of intervention identified as a priority by the various sessions of the Regional Conference and the regional Commissions and the framework of the contributions towards the achievement of the World Food Summit (WFS) Targets and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Work in this area included technical assistance, advisory services, policy assistance, and capacity building, within the framework of the specific priorities identified. The achievements include the following

• Assisted countries in formulating 7 UTF/TCP field projects for effective information management and knowledge exchange for rural and agricultural development;

• Technical Support Services were provided to 15 field projects. Work included 35 technical backstopping missions and 15 advisory missions as per the requests of member countries for the provision of technology systems and capacity building including policy assistance, institutional development and restructure, strengthening of national institutions and training;

• Provided capacity development support to member countries to strengthen their capacities for effective information management and knowledge sharing and exchange for development. More than 100 institutions received support for capacity building and development in information and knowledge management, sharing and exchange in partnership with national and regional organizations;

• Facilitated the establishment and development of institutional networks for member countries for strengthening knowledge exchange and accessing related information and knowledge.

• Continued to provide contributions for member countries in close collaboration with regional organizations to provide a framework for sustainability and ownership by the National

16


17

• national workshops on inspection of foods of animal origin, and inspection of foods of plant origin (2007),

• Regional workshop on Improving the Quality and Safety of Fish and Fish Products (2007), Regional workshop on obtaining Food security and Consumption Statistics from Household Income and Expenditure Survey (2005),

• regional workshop on improving household food security and nutrition (2001); • Regional Workshop on Nutrition in Primary School Curricula in the Arab Countries of the

Gulf, 1999; • Regional Workshop on Targeting Nutrition programs for Female and Elderly, 1999; Regional

Workshop on Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Arab Countries, 1999; Regional Workshop on Micronutrients and Diet – related Chronic Diseases in the GCC Countries, 1999;

• Workshop on Breast Feeding and Weaning Practices, 1998; • Workshop on Dietary Guidelines and Nutrition Education in the Near East, 1998; Workshop

on Scientifically Based harmonization of Regulatory food Control and Safety Measures in the Near East, 1998;

• Workshop on Establishing Food Composition Data for the Near East, 1998; Workshop on Targeting for Nutrition Improvement Programmes, 1998;

• Workshop on Diet, Nutrition and Healthy Lifestyle, 1997; • Inter-country Workshop on Nutrition Education and Consumer Awareness (Non-Arab

Speaking Countries), 1997; • Workshop on Dietary Fiber, Nutrition and Chronic Diseases in the Arab Middle East

Countries, 1997; • Inter-country Workshop on Food Composition Activities in the Middle East, 1997; Inter-

country • Workshop on Food Control, Marketing Improvement and Trade promotion, Cairo, 1996; • Workshop on Nutrition Education and Consumer Awareness in Arab Countries, 1996;

Workshop on the prevention and Control of Micronutrient Deficiencies in the Arab Countries of the Gulf, 1996;

• Workshop on Establishing Food Composition Data for Arab Countries of the Gulf, 1995; Workshop on Micronutrient Deficiencies in the Arab Countries, 1995;

• Workshop on Food and Nutrition in the Arab Countries of the Gulf, Follow – up, 1995; Inter-country Training Course on Pesticide Residues Analysis in Foods, 1994;

• In-Country Workshop on Linking Population, Food and Nutrition Issues in Agriculture 1994; • Regional Workshop on Nutrition and chronic diseases in the Arab Middle East Countries,

1994; • Inter-country Workshop on Linking Population, Food and Nutrition in Agriculture (Arabic),

1993.

Expert and Technical Consultation: FAO RNE organized a number of technical consultations on all of which have led to the production of papers and meeting proceedings. These include:

• Technical consultation on Food Safety and International Trade in the NE region (2003), • A series of 4 technical expert consultations on Regional Food Based Dietary Guidelines

between 2004 and 2007, • an expert consultation on Micronutrient Deficiencies: Can Agriculture meet the Challenge

in 2007

RNE collaboration with WHO/EMRO in the areas of food safety and nutrition has led to the preparation of many joint papers including a regional strategy on nutrition. Collaboration has also been active with WTO in regional meetings on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures.

2.15 Agricultural Statistics

RNE exerted efforts to improve the quality of the statistics and information of the countries. To form basis for the sort of technical assistance needs, Metadata from each country was collected. In addition, countries were trained in using modern census and survey methodology and advanced tools, and in collecting, compiling and analyzing production, and trade data, and preparing Food Balance Sheets/Supply Utilization Account for food security monitoring purposes.

Regional CountrySTAT was established through Arab Organization for Agriculture Development (AOAD). RNE assisted many countries to develop statistical projects. Many other countries were sponsored to participate in international conferences and meetings to gain experience and knowledge to further the agricultural statistics systems of their respective countries

3. MAJOR ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

3.1 Food Security And Nutrition

3.1.1 nutrition and Food safety and control

The food security challenge in the Near East region is somewhat unique, with countries that are wealthy but food deficit and poor countries with higher levels of production. Poverty is also widely spread and nearly one quarter of the population of the region are living below the poverty line and do not have access to balanced food consumption. The region could be described as passing through a “nutritional transition” in which problems of under-nutrition coexist with food-related chronic diseases. Many countries also face a major challenge of improving the capacity and efficacy of food control systems to guarantee a safe food supply to their population and raising the sanitary and phytosanitary standards of exports to reach internationally recognised levels

To address these challenges, FAO RNE the regional office has been actively engaged in collaboration with HQs in a program of capacity building and technical assistance activities for formulation and implementation of national and regional projects to raise the levels of nutrition and food safety. Activities and Achievements are summed up below.

Capacity Building: FAO RNE organized many regional and national workshops to raise capacity of national staff and institutions in the fields of food safety and nutrition; examples include:

• a regional workshop on Harmonisation, Equivalence and Risk Analysis in the Elaboration and Use of Codex Standards (2010),

• regional workshops as well as national workshops (in 10 countries) on Enhancing participation in Codex Alimentarius (2003-2008),

• National and regional workshops on Nutrition Education in Schools (2007), a regional workshop on Risk Analysis in Food (2004),

• a regional Course On Production and Use of Food Composition Data in Nutrition (2007), Two regional workshops on Improving the quality and safety of fresh fruits and vegetables (in English and repeated in French) (2006-2007),

18


19

Support continued to be provided to Member Countries in setting up FIVIMS at the national level through formulating projects and organizing training workshops in many countries. A report on FIVIMS Study on Food Insecurity and Undernourishment in Rural Damascus was finalized and submitted the Syrian Government, and FIVIMS project proposals prepared (Egypt, the I.R. of Iran and Yemen). Support has also been extended for the establishment of National Alliances Against Hunger (NAAHs) in the Region RNE encouraged the organization of regional and national alliances as well as the adoption of the Right to Food.

3.2 Land and Water Resources

The Near East Region is characterized by acute scarcity of land and water. With more than 70% of the total area located under desert and arid conditions, social and economic development in general and food security and agricultural production in particular are highly dependent on water availability. At the same time, it is the most water-scarce region in the world when considering its area, its population and its internal renewable water resources which account, respectively, for 10%, more than 5.4% and 0.5% or the world totals. On the basis of this, the Near East Region priority framework, elaborated lately by FAO RNE in collaboration with Member Countries, identified the scarcity of natural resources, particularly land and water, as the first priority that needs support from both Member Countries and FAO

FAO RNE programme work on land and water in the region has always been geared towards supporting Member Countries to address these issues. Working jointly with the Land and Water Development Division and other Units of FAO, the initiatives taken and the activities carried out have been planned and implemented in close collaboration with national institutions, international and regional development organizations active in the field of land and water, financial institutions and donors, as well as with NGOs and civil society.

The initiatives and activities on land and water implemented in the Near East Region have resulted or at least significantly contributed to in major achievements and thus to the transition in policy reforms and technological developments that the region has witnessed over the past few decades. These achievements and the main initiatives that led to them are summarized below.

3.2.1 Policy shifts in Water resources management

The shift in country policies from water supply to water demand management has been gradual over the years and had required a wide range of activities and initiatives the exhaustive list of which would include nearly everything that the organization has done in the Near East region. More specifically however, the work on initiatives such as Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Water Demand Management (WDM), Water Valuation, Water Accounting, Water Cost Service Recovery, Water-scarcity Management, carried out by FAO and other organizations over the past 2-3 decades, have contributed to this shift. Some of the specific activities carried out by FAO RNE in this respect are summarized below:

• Expert Consultations on National Water Policy Reform in the Near East, in 1996 and 1997.• Regional Training Course on Water Policy Analysis and Management for Central Asian

Countries, 2001,• Regional conference on Water Demand Management and Pollution Control, organized by

FAO RNE and four UN organizations, 2003.• Regional Consultation on Financing Water for Agriculture organized by the Global Water

Partnership (GWP), in collaboration with FAO and other organizations, in 2005,

Project Preparation and Implementation: Assistance has been provided to:

• Five member countries to set up and strengthen National Codex Committees (NCC) and to harmonize food standards and regulations with the international requirements;

• tThreecountries to improve quality of food stuffs; • Nine countries to improve their food control system and to meet international standards; to

one country in establishing and updating food composition tables; • Eight countries in assessing and improving nutrition situation and in defining food and

nutrition policies; and• Four countries in establishing their national Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Mapping

Information Systems.

Publications: RNE conducted studies and produced a number of reports on the food and nutrition situation in region and in individual countries of the region, namely:

1. Two studies on the Impact of the Structure Adjustment on Food Supply and Composition, in Egypt and Jordan

2. Two Studies on the impact of Population Growth and Urbanization on Food Production and consumption, in Egypt and Jordan.

3. Two studies on Socio-Economic, Nutrition and Food Safety of “Street Food”, In Iran and Pakistan.

4. Study on the effect of Agriculture policies and Development Strategy on Food Production and Consumption, in Iraq

5. Study on Traditional Food in the Arab Countries of the Gulf 6. Study on the State of Food and Nutrition in the Near East 7. Study on Nutrition in Primary School Curriculum in selected Arab Countries 8. Food control and consumer Protection9. A guide for Food and Nutrition Terminology – English / Arabic.10. A chapter on Poverty and Nutrition in a book entitled Poverty in the Arab World (in

Arabic)11. Food Safety and International Trade in the Near East.

3.1.2 Food security

Activities in Food Security in the region have been directed towards enhanced food production and reduction of hunger and malnutrition in line with the targets of the WFS and MDGs through support of regional and national food security initiatives.

RNE Continued supporting countries in reviewing and formulating national agricultural development and food security strategies, policies and plans of action. In response to request from regional economic organizations technical assistance has also been provided for the formulation of Regional Programmes for Food Security (RPFS) to promote regional cooperation and to identify specific regional projects for achieving sustainable food security within the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU) and for the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU). The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) requested FAO assistance within specific areas of interest to GCC countries including plant quarantine, integrated pest management (IPM) and food safety. FAO RNE also co-sponsored organizing a High-level Technical Joint Workshop, hosted by the Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah on “Regional Programmes for Food Security in the Near East: Towards Sustainable Food Security and Poverty Alleviation.”

20


21

3.2.3 irrigation reform and modernization

The harsh climatic conditions of the Near East Region, with more than 90% of the area under semi-arid to desert conditions, make reliable crop production tributary of irrigation. The rapid increase in the irrigated area in the Near East, from 1960 to 1980, brought by advances in irrigation technology and extraordinary investment in irrigation expansion by both public and private sectors, has been accompanied by FAO. Indeed FAO supported all countries one way or another in their endeavors to develop and manage their irrigation sector. The increase in the irrigated areas and agricultural production was mainly due to increase in water availability from both surface and groundwater sources. However, the policy to increase water supply to meet increased demand for water came to an end as the region allocates nearly 90% of its water use for agriculture.

To help countries of the region address this issue, FAO RNE activities have focused and continue to focus on improving water productivity, through irrigation sector reforms and irrigation modernization. The objective sought is to increase the overall agricultural production with the same amounts of water or even less. Sample activities and their outputs have included the following:

• Regional training on irrigation modernization based on the Mapping Systems and Services for Canal Operation Techniques (MASSCOTE) for Egypt, Iran, Jordan and Syria, organized jointly with FAO NRLW and IAM Bari,

• Application of the MASSCOTE approach in all the above four countries, production of the reports and their submission to relevant ministries,

• Organization of a regional Expert Consultation on Irrigation Extension and Advisory Services in the Near East,

• Development of two national projects on irrigation advisory services• Organization of an international expert meeting on spate irrigation• Regional expert consultation on irrigation of date palm and associated crops• Active involvement and collaboration with the World Bank in the elaboration of a national

water law and application by-laws in Yemen,• Support for the preparation of the “Programme national d’economie d’eau d’irrigation -

PNEEI” in Morocco• Active involvement and collaboration with the World Bank in the elaboration of a national

water resources strategy for Saudi Arabia• Provision of technical support for the implementation of a large number of projects

concerned with irrigation modernization and efficiency improvement.• Discussion paper on “Public Private Partnerships to finance, construct and operate irrigation

systems” during the fifth session of ALAWUC.

3.2.4 regional statutory body on Land and Water

FAO RNE hosts the Agriculture and Land and Water Use Commission (ALAWUC) for the Near East, a statutory body (RNE-708) established by Council Resolution 13/97 (Article VI-1 of the Constitution). The commission aims at strengthening a multidisciplinary approach and programmes of integrated and comprehensive agricultural and rural development. It also provides a forum through which member countries can exchange information and experience, promote regional and sub-regional technical cooperation in fields of mutual interest and undertake joint programmes of work. The Commission has 23 Member Countries, 13 Observer Countries and a large number of Observer Organizations, all from within and outside the Near East Region. FAO RNE hosts the Commission, fosters and supervises the preparation of its documents by FAO staff and provides secretarial services for organizing and holding its sessions as well

• FAO International workshop on irrigation advisory services and participatory extension in irrigation management. 18th Congress and 53rd IEC Meeting of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), 2002,

• A Framework for the establishment of irrigation standards in Syria, produced under project SYR/02/003

• Provision of technical support for the following events: Joint WHO/UNEP 1st regional conference on Water Demand Management (2001); Second Regional Conference on Arab Water (2004); 7th Gulf Water Conference (2005); International Conference on Water Demand Management in Dry Areas (2002); etc.

• Production and presentation of a large number of papers on water demand management, such as: Economizing on Water Use for Crop Production in the Near East Region (2001); Towards Improvement of Water Demand Management in Agriculture in the Near East Region (2001); A Comparative Assessment of Links between Irrigation Water Pricing and Irrigation Performance in the Near East (2002); Policies for Water Management and Food Security under Water-scarcity Conditions: The Case of GCC Countries (2005); etc.

3.2.2 Water recycling in Agriculture

The activities undertaken by FAO and other organizations in general and FAO RNE in particular have played a key role in creating awareness about the potential benefits of water recycling as well as in developing technological know-how and building capacities for their safe utilization in agriculture.

FAO RNE activities on the reuse of treated wastewater have been particularly intensive over the past decade, within the framework of both regular and field programmes. A sample of such activities is summarized below:

• Expert consultation on reuse of low-quality water for sustainable agriculture, 1997,• Production of a “Users Manual for Irrigation with Treated Wastewater”, its translation into

French and Arabic and dissemination to Member Countries.• Regional Workshop on Water Quality Management and Pollution Control in the Near East • Establishment of a Regional Network on Wastewater Re-use in the Near East, jointly with

the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean,• Organization of three regional expert consultations on wastewater treatment and reuse,• Guidelines/manual on the Valorization of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture and its translation

into English and French,• Contribution to the preparation and review of “WHO Guidelines for the Safe Use of

Wastewater and Excreta and Greywater”, published jointly by WHO, UNEP and FAO, 2006.• Formulation and implementation of a UTF project titled “Re-use of Treated Effluent and

Sludge at Iaat Wastewater Treatment Plant” in Lebanon.• Formulation and implementation of a TCP project titled “Strengthening Capacity for the

Reuse of Treated Wastewater in Irrigation” in Syria.• Pre-feasibility study for desalination of seawater for agricultural use in Morocco, within the

framework of a UTF project.• Study of the potential of brackish water and its use in Morocco, within the framework of a

UTF project.• Elaboration of national standards for the use of treated wastewater and sludge in Lebanon,

within the framework of UTF project.

22


23

Box 1. Progress in drought planning in the Near East up to 2010

• Morocco has established a National Drought Observatory within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

• In Tunisia, the Ministry of Agriculture is addressing desertification and drought issues through the Institute of Arid Zones (Institut des Zones Arides) at Medenine, and through a comprehensive programme of soil conservation and water harvesting implemented by the Soil and Water Conservation Directorate.

• In Algeria, the Arid Zones Research Unit has been established as part of Boumediane University of Science and Technology

• Syria has established an Early Warning Unit for Drought within the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, with support from FAO TCP. A GCP project on the same subject has also been developed and is under implementation with FAO technical support.

• Jordan has developed a national strategy and action plan for drought mitigation with assistance from FAO TCP. The World Food Programme supported the establishment of a Drought Early Warning Unit within the National Agricultural Research Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture.

• Egypt, though not much pressed with drought issues as a priority due to the marginal role of rainfed sector, has established the Desert Research Institute since over four decades ago. A multi-disciplinary national committee was also formed to draft strategies for desert control activities

• The Islamic Republic of Iran has established a National Strategy and Action Plan on Drought Preparedness, Management, and Mitigation in the Agricultural Sector with assistance from FAO Regional Office for the Near East.

• FAO Regional Office for the Near East is maintaining contacts and collaborating with international initiatives which complement local information and resources and keep the Near East Region within the global sphere of concern on drought issues.

• FAO Regional Office for the Near East, through its technical assistance activities to member countries, supports national endeavors to include activities aimed at strengthening resilience of the agriculture sector to drought in all projects supported by FAO.

3.2.6 Knowledge development, data management and information dissemination

Knowledge generation and technology transfer through the production and dissemination of practical guidelines, manuals and other materials on land and water, adapted to the conditions and context of the Near East region, have constituted one of the main axes of action by FAO RNE. Produced through both regular programme activities and field projects, these tailor-made materials have been instrumental for bringing new technological developments to the end-users, including policy-makers, technicians and farmers, and building capacities on their use.

Examples of the materials produced include: Users’ Manual for Irrigation with Treated Wastewater and six pamphlets covering different aspects of wastewater reuse in agriculture, Guidelines for Drought Mitigation and Preparedness Planning, Manual for the Use of Sewage Sludge from Wastewater Treatment Plants, and others. The importance of reliable information on the state of water resources and irrigation led FAO to initiate the development of AQUASTAT, an information system on water use in agriculture and for rural development. The system collects and compiles the most up-to-date country-based information on water resources and makes them available to users. The first water

as for preparing the sessions reports and submitting them to Member Countries. Since its establishment, the Commission has held six sessions. The recommendations of ALAWUC are reviewed and endorsed by the Regional Conference and serve as a basis for the elaboration of FAO RNE program of work during the biennium following each session. The materials prepared and discussed during previous sessions of the Commission are available in the proceedings of the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC) during the period 2000-2010.

3.2.5 drought: From crisis response to management Planning

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification adopted in 1994 and for which FAO is an implementing agency recommended that countries carry out activities to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought (UNCCD, 1994). At the First Session of the Agriculture and Land and Water Use Commission for the Near East (ALAWUC), held in 2000, Member Countries requested FAO to assist them in their efforts at national and regional levels for the formulation of long-term drought action plans in response to severe drought affecting the region. A similar request was made again in 2002, during the 26th FAO Regional Office for the Near East.An initiative launched by FAO RNE resulted in the co-organization by FAO, ICARDA and the European Union of an “Expert Consultation and Workshop on Drought Mitigation in the Near East and the Mediterranean”, in May 2001. The event adopted a set of recommendations aimed at constituting a framework for national action plans on drought mitigation. It was followed by a Regional Workshop on Capacity Building in Drought Mitigation in the Near East, organized by FAO RNE and the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (SESRTCIC) in Morocco, in 2002.

Follow-up initiatives and actions by FAO RNE included: organization of two regional consultations on drought management planning, the preparation and implementation of three national projects aimed at assisting the recipient countries to elaborate pro-active drought management strategies and to establish drought early warning systems and the preparation of bi-annual reports on drought impacts and progress in country preparations for its management for the Regional Conference.

Moreover, FAO, in collaboration with the National Drought Mitigation Center (NMDC) of Lincoln, Nebraska, USA, developed tailor-made drought planning guidelines for the Near East Region to assist countries to prepare and implement national drought programs. The guidelines cover the entire process of pro-active drought planning and the necessary tools for implementing the plan. A one-week training module on drought preparedness and management based on these guidelines has also been developed. Since its development in 2008, the training module has benefited twenty five countries from the Near East region and Central Asia, through two training sessions organized by FAO and NMDC, in collaboration with national institutions in host countries (Tunisia, 2008; Turkey, 2010). Moreover, FAO and NMDC provided technical support to UNESCO and UNICEF for applying the training module to Iraq, in 2010.

These initiatives and activities are progressively resulting in national policy shift from the traditional reactive response to drought to a more proactive approach through planning and preparedness. At least five countries of the region have elaborated drought preparedness strategies, directly with FAO support, and all countries have improved their perceptions of drought and acquired greater capacity to manage it (Box 1).

24


25

In addition to the priority given to biophysical issues, the workshop focused on secondary climate change impacts on capture fisheries and aquaculture in terms of human well-being and governance. It also identified adaptation strategies and analyzed their implementation capacity.

• During the last session of FAO Near East Forestry Commission held in April 2010 in Tunisia, FAO organized a parallel event on Forests and Climate Change focused on a regional analysis of forests and climate change socio-economic aspects of climate change and forests.

• At the country level, FAO and the World Bank conducted a study on the impact of climate change on Moroccan agriculture toward the end of this century. FAO and other UN organizations are also providing support for the implementation of a “Joint Programme on Climate Change Risk Management” in Egypt and Jordan. This joint programme provides assistance to countries around the world in reaching the Millennium Development Goals despite the threat of climate change. In addition, FAO is actively involved in the formulation and implementation of an Egyptian technical cooperation programme designed to set up a comprehensive monitoring system able to generate reliable forecasts of sea level rise impacts resulting from climate change on soil and groundwater in the Nile Delta.

• FAO RNE also collaborated with and supported a number of regional and international events on climate change organized by the World Bank, UN-ESCWA, and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR).

3.2.8 Partnerships and networking

Over the last two decades, FAO RNE has established or became actively involved in an important number of formal and informal networks in the field of land and water. Similarly, a large array of bilateral partnerships have been established, including with national development and research institutions, regional, financial institutions particularly the World Bank, donor agencies, regional and international development organizations, NGOs, etc. A roster of potential resource persons and institutions from within and outside the region has also been constituted and is continuously updated.

• An important network created by FAO RNE and other regional and international organizations active in the field of land and water the Near East region, and led by FAO RNE since its creation in the late 1990s, is the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Land and Water. It comprises over a dozen organizations such as FAO RNE, ICARDA, WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid and Dry Lands (ACSAD), WHO Center for Health and Environment (Amman), etc., and provides forum for consultation, information exchange and joint planning and collaboration..

• An initiative launched by FAO RNE, ICARDA and CIHEAM in 2001 resulted in the establishment of a Regional Network on Drought. The latter was later on enlarged to other organizations and called “Network on Drought Management for the Near East, Mediterranean and Central Asia (NEMEDCA).” The network has become very active and is playing a leading role on drought issues and the region and internationally.

• A Regional Network on Wastewater Re-use in the Near East was established by FAO RNE and the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean in 2003. The network membership comprises designated representatives from all countries of the region and constitutes a forum for experience exchange, information dissemination and data collection on wastewater treatment and reuse in agriculture.

• Partnership and collaboration between FAO RNE and the World Bank in the field of water resources have been significant since the year 2000. A wide range of activities have been carried out through this collaboration, including the elaboration of national water laws and

report for the Near East Region was published in 1997. A new survey has been conducted between 2005 and 2008 in the Near East to update the data and main changes in water use by agriculture and other sectors. The resulting new FAO water reports for Africa and the Middle East were published in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Moreover, FAO RNE produced a report titled “Water Resources in the Near East: Facts and Figures” that puts together, summarizes and analyzes the most up-to-date information on water resources in the countries covered by FAO NE region. The document is based on water resources data obtained mainly from the AQUASTAT information system, complemented with data from other sources as indicated. The information presented is intended to serve as a quick reference to professionals and decision-makers in the water sector in the Near East region and elsewhere.

3.2.7 Awareness and capacity building on climate change impacts

FAO Regional Office for the Near East has dedicated considerable attention to climate change issues and in this context has conducted a wide range of initiatives and activities in the Region. In response to the conclusions of the Regional Conference for the Near East that was held in March 2008, FAO has set climate change as a priority area for coordinated actions and established a multi-disciplinary Working Group to carry forward an agenda addressing climate change in the Region. This Working Group involves experts on agriculture, food security, forestry, fisheries, animal production and health, water resources and crop production and protection. It also liaises with other staff from across the Region, including sub-regional offices, country offices and project staff. The Working Group has elaborated a concept note on Climate Change and Food Security in the Near East Region” aimed at strengthening the lead role of the Organization in identifying a framework for devising counteractions against climate change for sectors likely to be affected by food security questions. The note outlined eight priority areas, with a particular focus on adaptation measures integrated with mitigation responses. Moreover, the Group has integrated climate change activities in RNE work plan for the biennia 2010-11 and 2012-13.

In November, 2009 the first Forum on Climate Change in the Near East and North Africa Regions was organized in Rome in collaboration with the World Bank, WFP, IFAD and with the participation of UNDP. Also present at that forum, which focused on financial mechanisms and regional cooperation, were representatives of climate change financial mechanisms, Near East member countries and regional research and development organizations. The forum laid the groundwork for an agenda for financing climate change responses in the agricultural sector through the identification of key activities, potential financing mechanisms and regional cooperation. The forum also identified sub-sectors requiring urgent intervention and developed a draft road map for collaboration. A Second Forum is planned to be held in the Near East Region in 2011, with the objectives of taking stock of new developments in Member Countries of the region, helping countries to access and benefit from financial mechanisms, strengthening regional collaboration and providing support for the formulation and implementation of climate change projects.

Activities of FAO RNE in this area also include:

• In 2009, FAO RNE actively participated to the “United Nations and the League of Arab States Ninth Sectoral Meeting” which was devoted to climate change and concluded with an agreement that UN and LAS specialized organizations would collaborate on the preparation of a vulnerability assessment regarding the impact of climate change on water and land resources.

• FAO RNE also organized in 2009, in collaboration with the Egyptian Office of the WorldFish Center, a regional workshop on the “Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries and Aquaculture”.

26


27

(IPPC) and International Standards of Phytosanitory Measures (ISPM) and Phytosanitory Capacity Evaluation (PCE) as well as address problems of major crops.

The main activities implemented included organization of experts’ consultations, technical meetings and workshops on problems and control of major pests of the main crops; biological control and participatory approaches to IPM; regional training on Peach Fruit Fly (PFF) Management; sub-regional workshop on Pest Risk Analysis in collaboration with the Egyptian Plant Quarantine Directorate; a Regional consultation on International standards for phytosanitary measures (ISPMs) in collaboration with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat; and sub-regional consultation and national seminars in support of the implementation of the Rotterdam Convention. Support has also been provided in collaboration with ICARDA to control wheat rust disease (Ug99) which have caused serious losses in several countries of the region and are becoming a threat due to the emergence of new highly aggressive pathogens races with a wide range of climate adaptation.

Regional project documents were prepared on Peaches Fruit Fly Management in Near East and North Africa countries and on the Enhancement of Phytosanitary Systems in the North Africa countries and support extended for implementing several country-specific projects to strengthen national capabilities in plant protection. Assistance has been provided to modernize and harmonize the phytosanitary legislation for the Arab Gulf Council Countries and a regional technical consultation on draft international standards was organized. In addition RNE promoted IPM in the region through the use of the Sterile Insect Technique to effect area-wide suppression of the Mediterranean fruit fly and facilitate long-term sustainable agricultural and rural development.

FAO also assisted in the establishment of the Near East Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO); initiation of a regional database related to national and international plant protection policies and provided support to the Arab Society for Plant Protection. Support was provided for the exchange of information and expertise on phytosanitary control policies and techniques across the Maghreb region. This included measures to strengthen surveillance of palm trees for Bayoud fungal infections in countries that are currently disease-free, drawing on the experience of affected countries. One result has been the sensitization of member countries regarding the Red Palm Weevil and on measures to combat this pest through procedures such as surveillance and border controls along with import and export restrictions for dates and palm tree species. FAO RNE assisted in the dissemination of a wide range of guidelines and other material relating to specifications for pesticides, pesticides management and IPM and their role in promoting crop quality in the Region, and continued to produce and disseminate the biannual issues of the Arab and NE Plant Protections Newsletter

3.3.3 range management and Fodder crop

FAO RNE in collaboration with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) prepared technical guidelines to Improve and Maintain Seed Quality of Range Fodder Shrubs and Grasses; initiated technical trials in Syria and KSA on restoration ecology, specifically for the successful stand establishment of the key forage species “Salsola vermiculta” for degraded sites; and initiated a detailed study on the management and use of oat and vetch genetic resources in Libya, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria; and a regional review of the status and potential of halophytes in reclamation of salinized soils for forage production. Technical case studies were also prepared on Assessing the Impact of Civil War on Natural Resources in Somaliland in North West Somalia; System Approach to Improvement

water strategies, the joint supervision of projects, the organization of an important number of regional events, the entrusting of technical assistance components of World Bank projects to FAO, the collection of data and guidelines, etc.

3.3 Crop Production and Protection, and Range Management

Agriculture performance in many countries of the Near East lags behind other regions and productivity of most crops is generally low. Fostering agricultural output and productivity by relying on efficient methods and techniques of production has been set as a priority for the Region.

3.3.1 crop Production

Activities in the area of crops centred on technical assistance and advisory support services to enhance national/regional capacities to increase crop yields and production through genetic improvements and selected seed production and technology, introduction and improvement of high yielding varieties; promotion of small-scale agro-industries in rural areas; and the development of cost-effective, environment-friendly and energy-saving technologies, in addition to promotion of regional networks for research and development on major field and horticultural crops in the Region. Emphases were also placed on development of crop varieties tolerant to drought, salt and heat stress. The main activities conducted include the organization of a regional expert consultation to review status of seed technology in the Region and to provide support to member countries in the techniques of rapid seed multiplications and a technical meeting on seed policy and programs in NE and North Africa convened with the objective to review status of the seed sector in the region and support developing national seed policy as a blueprint for the development of a genuine seed industry. Support has also been extended for convening the 2nd International Food Legume Research Conference. FAO RNE also organized regional workshops on vegetable crop production under protected cultivation and on promotion of inter-country cooperation for exchange of experience and technical information on citrus production improvement in the Mediterranean area. A regional meeting, in collaboration with ICARDA and SGRP, was organized to promote the implementation of the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in central and west Asia and North Africa.

RNE also supported the preparation for the Conference on Organic Agriculture in Arab Countries in collaboration with AOAD; the Date Palm Global Network Meeting; the Workshop on Rice Integrated Crop Management for Food Security in the Near East; and Expert Meeting on the Establishment of a Gene Bank for Plant Genetic Resources in the Arab World. Unilateral Trust Fund (UTF) projects were also formulated on Olive Industry Development in Saudi Arabia and on Enhancing Organic Farming in the United Arab Emirates as well as TCP projects on Agronomic Practices for Rice Straw Management in Egypt and Training on Improved Rice Technologies for the Enhancement of Irrigated Rice Production in the White Nile State in Sudan. 25.

3.3.2 Plant Protection

The Near East region has historically been inundated by outbreaks of plant pest and diseases which have resulted in major food problems through reductions of crop yields and quality. FAO/RNE programme continued to provide technical assistance and support to enhance capacity building for plant protection at both national and regional levels and to promote adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and implementation of the International Code of Conduct on Distribution and Use of Pesticides and other International Plant Protection Conventions

28


29

region for the evaluation and performance of veterinary services and gap analysis; Recent Advances in Goat Production under Arid Conditions; Prepared project document for the control of RVF and submitted for financial support under the “One World One Health” umbrella; Training: Organized many regional and national training workshops/courses on upgrading veterinary Laboratories in Maghreb countries; development of fat-tail sheep; artificial insemination of sheep; African horse sickness; milk preservation using the Latoperoxydase goat milk processing; Animal Genetic Resources; Diagnosis of Avian Influenza for the Near East Region; Recent Advances in Goat Production under Arid Conditions; Good Practices for the Animal Feed and Livestock Industries in the Near East; Epidemiology Data and Organization for Effective Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases; controlling an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants; Risk Assessment and Epidemiology Surveillance for the Effective Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases; Animal Identification, Traceability and Performance Recording; Molecular Biology Techniques for Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases; Strengthening Small Ruminant Producers Associations in the Near East.

Networks: Launced the Regional Animal Disease Surveillance and Control Network (RADISCON) for North Africa, the Middle East to improve/establish animal disease information at the national and regional levels through capacity building for disease surveillance and control of certain diseases; Support to FAO-ESCORENA (European System of Networks in Agriculture) Buffalo Network (processing, printing and distribution of Buffalo Newsletter); supported FAO-CIHEAM (International Centre for Mediterranean High Agronomic Studies) Network of Cooperative Research on Sheep and Goat; the Near East Small Ruminant Network (NESRUNET) and the Near East Forage and Feed Network (NEFFEN)

Studies: Market chains and ways to mitigate market shocks and the impact of animal diseases on poor farming communities; socio-economic analysis studies in several pilot countries to delineate market chains, and mitigate market shocks and the impact of the Avian Influenza on poor farming communities; country studies on the role of livestock production in poverty reduction and food security;

Publications: Prepared Manual on “Technology of Making Cheese from Camel Milk”; Second Edition of the “Veterinary Vaccine Production in Near East”; Manual “Protein sources for animal feed industry”; Family Poultry Manual; Milk Producer; Group-Resource Book; “3 User Manuals on Veterinary Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasonography in Farm Animals”; and Prepared the 2nd Edition of “Dictionary on Poultry Scientific Terms & Relevant Sciences” –English/Arabic, Arabic/English. Translated publications include Guide to Good Dairy Farming Practice, Development of Successful Animal Recording Systems for Transition and Developing Countries and Good Practices for the Meat Industry. Printed the 2nd Edition of Poultry Dictionary after being upgraded in 2006; and Arabic version of FAO-OIE Manual “Preparing for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza” in association with the Egyptian Agricultural Magazine; and Proceeding of the workshop on milk chain from stable to table in countries of the Near East. In addition to the above edited / printed:

• Proceedings of a workshop on milk chain from stable to table in countries of Near East.• Practical guide on poultry diseases – Arabic • Proceedings of an expert meeting on irrigated forage production in the Near East• Proceedings of a workshop on strengthening small ruminant production in the Near East• Report on the role of livestock production in poverty reduction and food security in the Near

East• A guide on Technology of Poultry Products – Arabic

and Management in a Desert Ecosystem in KSA; Ground Monitoring Techniques to Evaluate their Adequacy, Efficiency and Problems for Sultanate of Oman and Jordan; and Problems and Prospects of Irrigated Forages in Syria and Sultanate of Oman.

3.4 Animal Production and Health

Livestock production is an important socio-economic activity and an integral component of the agricultural system in the Near East region. However, the sector faces the challenges of harsh climatic conditions, frequent drought, rangeland degradation and chronic feed shortages, inadequate utilization of adapted local animal genetic resources, rampant endemic zoonotic and transboundary animal diseases, low investment in the sector, and poor market access.

FAO activities in the region have made its focus on enhancing the contribution of livestock to food security, poverty alleviation and economic development through improving production and productivity of the sector, prevention, control and elimination of major animal diseases, sustainable use of natural resources (including animal genetic resources), building national capacities and strengthening regional coordination of research and development.

Expert Consultations and Technical Meetings: Organized/participated in expert consultations and technical meetings for improvement of Small Ruminant Production in the Near East; Camel Health and Transboundary Animal Diseases; Brucella melitensis Infections in Eurasia and the Middle East; Rift Valley fever – disease recognition epidemiology and preparedness plans; Roundtable on foot-and-mouth disease in the Near East; Emergency assistance for screw worm outbreak control”; Conservation of Farm Animal Genetic Resources; OIE/AU-IBAR/FAO Seminar on the Implementation of Animal Health Standards – The Quest for Solutions; Good Practices for the Livestock Feed Industries – Implementing Codex; Good Practices for Animal Feed and Livestock Industries in the Near East; and Regional approach in analyzing animal health and disease data for forecasting, alerting and prevention

Conferences: Convened the International Conference on Animal Tuberculosis, Egypt 1992; the international symposium on buffalo production in Egypt in 1992, which supported the establishment of an interregional network for buffalo; the Annual Veterinary Conference at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt 2004; Zoonotic Diseases & Human Health; 27th Arab Veterinary Medical Associations: Supported the 9th Scientific Conference on Transboundary Zoonotic Diseases and Human Health, held from 24–27 April 2007 in Egypt.

Projects and Technical Assistance: Prepared project documents on fasciolosis in Egypt and project documents for UTFN/SAU/002 (2006-11) and TCP/KUW/3001 {3 projects}; and provided lead technical support to projects UTF/SAU/033/SAU and UTF/SAU/021/SAU. In the latter case the livestock feeds situation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was assessed which revealed that irrigated forages are highly likely be affected by mycotoxins because of extreme heat and humidity at certain times of the year and the inadequacy of suitable storage. FAO recommended that training be provided to farmers on storage and treatment of residues, supplementation and consideration of other materials that could contribute to the food chain and reduce dependence on imported materials. The Ministry of Agriculture and Water of Saudi Arabia was advised to establish an effective livestock extension team to implement the recommendations. RNE also provided technical assistance for accreditation of Rinderpest Freedom in the countries of the region according to the pathway set by the OIE (Office International des Epizooties) as well as for the control of TADs and other zoonoses such as foot-and-mouth disease, Rift Valley fever and brucellosis; deployed a disease information database developed by FAO (TADinfo) in several countries of the region for better animal disease information management; participated in several OIE-led missions to countries in the

30


31

• FAO promoted the introduction of the spatial dimension in fisheries management and aquaculture planning through the organization and implementation in 2008 and 2010 of regional and sub-regional training workshops on the Use of Geographic Information System in Fisheries Management and Aquaculture Development .

• FAO/FI in cooperation with RNE prepared the first Arab-English Field Identification Guide to the Living Marine Resources of the Eastern and Southern Mediterranean which will be made available and understandable to Arabic-speaking users. The FAO Arab-English Field Identification Guide to the Living Marine Resources of the Eastern and Southern Mediterranean is due to be published in 2011.

• FAO, upon request of countries in the region for assistance to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, and in partnership with the relevant regional fisheries management organization has convened a series of regional and sub-regional Workshops (2005, 2009 and 2010) addressing IIU fishing in the region and to develop national capacity and promote regional coordination so that countries would be better placed to combat IUU fishing activities. Moreover, in the context of combating IUU fishing and related activities, FAO produced the Review of fisheries laws of certain Members of the Regional Commission for Fisheries (2009) that is essential step to proceed toward harmonization of fisheries legislation of countries exploiting shared fishery resources. The international seminar on Fish Trade and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing in the Near East and North Africa: Implication of Certification and Traceability Schemes for the Region constituted a further key action fostering regional cooperation against illegal fishing.

• FAO released a training video that explores the issues and solutions to manage bycatch and reduce discards in tropical shrimp fisheries. The video “Managing Bycatch and Reducing Discards” was translated into Arabic language to permit wide dissemination in RNE Arabic speaking countries. The use of shrimp bycatch reduction devices is gradually being adopted by the Gulf countries in the Persian Gulf.

• Climate change and its impact on the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the region was addressed through specific regional multidisciplinary workshops such as “Adapting to Climate Change: the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Near East and North Africa Region” (2009).

• Improvements in aquatic animal health capacity are considered essential if regional aquaculture production is to achieve the hoped levels of growth. FAO has assisted RECOFI Members to formulate a Regional Programme for Improving Aquatic Animal Health Capacity. Moreover, in consideration of the growing interest in marine cage aquaculture, the Sustainable Marine Cage Aquaculture Development” is actively promoted in areas such as the Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Mediterranean.

Grouper broodstock in captivity at the Fish Farming Centre in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

3.5 Fisheries And Aquaculture

The Near East region encompasses a wide and dispersed geographical area of different marine and freshwater ecosystems and fisheries with different characteristics and complexity. Moreover, fisheries in the region rely upon ecosystem services and goods that are often shared with other coastal countries, and which therefore demand regional cooperation to ensure their responsible management and sustainable exploitation.

Promoting fisheries management cooperation among Iran, I.R., Iraq and Kuwait(1-2 November 2010, Kuwait)

The FAO/RNE Fisheries Unit in cooperation with FAO/FI implemented a number of activities in support of sustainable and economically viable fisheries and aquaculture sectors in RNE region. Initiatives were also realized and achievements reached concerning the knowledge and information on status and trends of fisheries; management and conservation of fishery resources; and development of regional cooperation to pursue same objectives at the regional level.

3.5.1 major activities/achievements

• The FAO RNE and FI reviewed, analyzed, and disseminated information on the current status and trends of RNE marine capture fishery productions in the Near East and North Africa region. Two analytical stand-alone IT packages “Trends and Patterns of RECOFI Fisheries Production (1986-2006)” and “Trends and Pattern of Capture Fisheries Production in the Near East and North Africa Region (1950 – 2007)” have been designed and produced to allow the easy visualization and preliminary analysis of trends and patterns of national, sub-regional and regional RNE fishery production time series by most important species, by country and statistical areas. Simple indicators are elaborated and displayed.

32


33

encouraged the collaboration between the participating states and supported their contribution to the scientific activities promoted by the regional fisheries management bodies. The Project generated a common scientific strength in the western Mediterranean region facilitating the participatory approach in the preparation of the activities, their implementation and the evaluation of results. The CopeMed Project has developed in the sub-region a sound scientific collaboration. This approach has much contributed to the subsequent development in the Mediterranean basin of other projects of similar characteristics and that today continue the collaborative scientific activities in the Mediterranean.

The Straits of Sicily is one of the most important fishing areas of the Mediterranean Sea, where significant fleets operate with high fish production. Yet, the available knowledge on fishery resources and their ecosystems in the region is often scarce. The MedSudMed Project (Assessment and Monitoring of the Fishery Resources and the Ecosystems in the Straits of Sicily) was created in 2001 to strengthen the national and regional research capacities and to promote scientific cooperation in the southern part of the central Mediterranean (Libya, Malta, Tunisia, and Italy) for the assessment and monitoring of fishery resources. The Project’s main objective is to improve knowledge on fishery resources and their ecosystems – as a contribution to the development of responsible fisheries management – by supporting research activities related to the interactions between fishery resources and biotic and abiotic environmental factors.

MedSudMed’s most important achievement is the establishment of a sub-regional system for monitoring fisheries resources that involves the research institutions of the participating countries. The Project has successfully produced baseline scientific information on fishery resources relevant to fisheries management. MedSudMed has promoted scientific and technical cooperation in the central and southern Mediterranean and created a basis for cooperative fisheries research among the participating countries.

The EastMed Project (Scientific and Institutional Cooperation to Support Responsible Fisheries in the Eastern Mediterranean) was designed to improve management at national and regional levels in order to achieve sustainability in the fisheries of the eastern Mediterranean and, through this, to support national economies and protect the livelihoods of those involved in the fisheries sector. The Project was established in 2008 involving the participation of Egypt, Lebanon, Gaza, Cyprus, Malta, Turkey, Greece and Italy. EastMed assists participating countries to develop effective sub-regional cooperation for the sustainability of fisheries of common interest.

3.6 Forestry

The Near East is characterized by low forest cover. However, despite the scarcity of the resources compared to other regions, forests and rangelands in the Middle East and North Africa are still pillars to sustainable development and provide a social safety net. Sustainable management of forests and natural rangelands remain the cornerstone of sustainability of the natural resources base in biodiversity, soil, water resources as well as of the ecosystem functions and productivity. The fragility of the region’s natural ecosystems, due to the combined effects of unfavourable climatic conditions and anthropogenic pressure, has aggravated degradation of forest and ranges or lead in certain situation to their permanent loss.

Since its establishment, the FAO office for the Near East invested extensively in the region’s national forest programmes development and implementation. That was to control the process of deforestation and land degradation through:

- Regional Aquaculture Information System (RAIS) have been successfully installed and is hosted on the server of the Kuwait Public Authority for Agriculture and Fisheries. The RAIS was developed to facilitate the exchange of aquaculture information in the RECOFI area among regional experts and stakeholders, and to promote and develop a sustainable aquaculture industry.

- FAO actively pursues a regional and sub-regional approach in the Near East and North Africa region. The regional dimension has been fostered particularly in the Mediterranean sub-region, through the formulation of four inter-regional field projects supporting sustainable fisheries development and involving a total of eighteen Mediterranean coastal countries of which seven are RNE members.

3.5.2 Examples of fisheries and aquaculture projects

All Mediterranean coastal States face local issues and problems which require marine scientific research for their solution. However, they also have to cope with problems that can only be resolved by investigations on a wider geographical scale. Over the years, a pattern of international cooperative programmes has emerged, and procedures for planning and implementing these have been worked out by several of the coastal countries. Cooperative programmes are mutually beneficial to the parties concerned, in so far as they provide an excellent opportunity for interaction and for strengthening of national scientific capacity in various disciplines of marine sciences including fishery sciences. It may be seen as inevitable that, in the semi-enclosed Mediterranean Sea basin, intergovernmental arrangements will eventually become a basis for rational management. FAO has established sub-regional networks through sub-regional data collection schemes and research programmes, addressing jointly identified priorities.

Through the establishment of the CopeMed Project in 1996 a new mechanism was created to foster scientific cooperation in sub-regional fishery research and management in the Mediterranean. In the southern and eastern Mediterranean the CopeMed and the ensuing MedSudMed and EastMed Projects emphasized, from the start, regional activities through concerted action, with the participation of the countries involved, international organization and the relevant regional fisheries management organization.

Projects like those FAO operate in the Mediterranean also provide tools for the improvement of scientific communication within established networks, resulting in joint field activities, data analysis, and publications. In this respect, the network of FAO regional projects in the Mediterranean has brought new light on the perception and interpretation of multilateral regional and sub-regional cooperation for fisheries research and management. The projects facilitated the broadening of intra-regional contacts which promote closer cooperation among Mediterranean scientists and countries on a regular basis.

The CopeMed Project (Advice, Technical Support and Establishment of Cooperation Networks to Facilitate Coordination to Support Fisheries Management in the Western and Central Mediterranean) was established in 1996 to strengthen scientific collaboration among Western and Central Mediterranean countries involved in the management of fisheries in this area. Morocco, Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Spain and Tunisia participated in the first phase (1996-2005) and second phase (2008 to present) of the Project. The main objective of the Project was to widen scientific knowledge and regional cooperation for the sustainable management of the Mediterranean fisheries. Within the frame of international cooperation, CopeMed reinforced the capacities of the Southern Mediterranean countries,

34


35

3.6.2 national forest Programme

Normative Work:Although the national forest programme (nfp) is widely quoted nowadays, its concept is as old as the forestry practices in the Near East. FAO support to the development and implementation of the nfp in the near East goes back to the sixties and seventies and covered all facets of forestry. It assisted member countries in developing and implementing their nfp that effectively address, through country leadership, participation and integration of cross sectoral issues, local needs and national priorities and reflect internationally agreed principles The aims of the FAO support to its member countries in forestry in the region were (i) to increase the capacity of public forestry services and stakeholders alike for the development and implementation of nfp processes; (ii) to generate knowledge through forestry research and information; (iii) to design policies and legal frameworks; (iv) to introduce the concept of sustainable forest management and; (v) to integrate forestry into national strategies and plans Since it was established the FAO Forestry Unit in RNE contributed to implementation of a comprehensive programme of institutional strengthening in all countries. The work covered organization of the forestry administrations and definition of their mission, training of the national personnel overseas and in FAO supported national forestry schools and training centres. In compliance with the priorities set and recommendations made by the Near East Regional Conference and the Near East Forestry Commission, the RNE Forestry Unit conducted in recent years significant activities taking into consideration World Food Summit (WFS) targets and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). These activities were and still are part of the programmes supported by both the FAO regular budget and field projects funded through FAO TCP and extra-budgetary resources (UTF, GCP…) At the country level, the field programme focused on stakeholder’s involvement in forest issues and forest management in particular, insisting on the participation of communities concerned.

In the last 20 years, the RNE Forestry Unit supported the following activities:

• Policy and legislation: (i) guidelines for policy formulation; (ii) capacity building through workshops on policy development and adaptation of national forestry legislation; (iii) integration of climate change in national forest programmes (nfps) and forest policy; (iv) integration of forestry practices into broader rural development policies.

• Institutions: (i) transfer of success stories to the region about institutional adaptation of forestry institutions to the evolving forest sector needs and requirements; (ii) support to improved governance by introduction of wide range of measures including organisational and working capacity.

• Forests outlook studies: (i) Forestry Outlook Study for West and Central Asia (FOWECA) and; (ii) Forestry Outlook Study for Africa (FOSA) – North Africa Region

• Voluntary guidelines on (i) best forestry practices in arid and semi-arid zones; (ii) Fire management - Principles and strategic actions; (iii) Responsible management of planted forests

• Forest Protection: (i) Establishment of Near East network on Forest Health and Invasive Species, NENFHIS, including website and newsletter hosted by RNE and (ii) establishment of the Near East Network on Forest Fire (NENFIRE)

• Wildlife: Establishment of the Near East Working Group on Wildlife and Protected Area Management (NEWPAM)

• National Forest Programme Facility: support to capacity building for participatory forest policy formulation, implementation and follow-up

• Forests and range resources assessment through regional workshops and support to countries national reporting to the global Forest Resources Assessment.

• intensifying agriculture which reduced pressure on forests and helped recover degraded lands for afforestation;

• a control of livestock in terms of numbers and management systems (intensive vs extensive farming);

• long-term management of natural forests• high quality yield plantations, in ecologically appropriate zones and sites, using the right

seed and genetic material

3.6.1 near east Forestry commission

The Near East Forestry Conference held in Amman, Jordan in 1952 recommended the establishment of the Near East Forestry Commission (NEFC). With coordination by FAO RNE, the NEFC held periodic sessions starting in 1952. Since then, nineteen sessions were convened in 10 countries (Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Sudan, Cyprus, Tunisia and Syria). The NEFC constituted a regional forum of exchange of experiences, knowledge and technologies related to forestry between the countries in the region. It provided guidance to memberships as well as to FAO on the formulation of management policies of forests, trees, ranges and their products, and coordinated their implementation at the national and regional levels.

During the NEFC existence, continuous efforts were made to strengthen country forestry services, and to establish a solid network among forestry institutions and forestry experts in the region. Various issues regarding the forestry sector development were discussed at the NEFC meetings based on the priorities identified by the NEFC technical committee. In this line, numerous regional studies, programmes and projects have been conducted, and specific networks and working groups established.

The Near East Forestry Commission covered wide range of forestry and rangelands issues such as institutions, forest policy, research and education, afforestation and reforestation, sustainable use of forest products, biodiversity conservation and protected areas management, local communities and resources use rights, watershed management, information, regional collaboration, role of forests in food security and climate change mitigation, etc. During its more than 50 years of existence, the NEFC has:

• Fulfilled to large extent its original mission of reviewing the political, economic and technical problems related to forests and forest products

• Initiated and consolidated the practice of scientific forestry in the Near East through its advocacy to forestry science as education, research, extension, resources assessment, data and information, introduction of exotic species, forest policy and legislation and harmonization of forestry policies with those of other economic sectors and land use

• Endeavoured to keep forestry institutions and personnel in the region abreast with global developments through encouragement and support to member countries to participate in and become party to global conventions, processes and intergovernmental dialogue.

• Initiated and nurtured the emergence of a distinct identity of the region through the fostering of relevant regional activities, processes and initiatives as Criteria and Indicators, Outlook Studies, Global Forest Resources Assessment, Needs and Requirements of Countries with low Forest Cover and Unique types of Forests.

• Supported and promoted inter/and intraregional exchange of experiences on forestry and rangelands on issues of forests and people, forests and climate change, biodiversity, desertification, etc

• Fed into the Near Ear Regional Conference (NERC) and supported its work on issues related to forestry and rangelands

36


37

• Technical assistance for forest development, UTF/TUN/020/TUN• Technical assistance for participatory community forest development, UTF/TUN/027/TUN• Forestry Development (Phase III), GCP /YEM/015/SWI

iii. Forest, watershed and protected areas management

• Strategy for sustainable development of cork tree forests in Tunisia, UTF/TUN/032/TUN• Design, Testing and Evaluation of Best Practices for In-situ Conservation of Economically Important

Wild Plant Species, EP /INT/204/GEF• Sustainable wildlife management for better conservation and enhancement of natural resources in

Morocco, GCP /MOR/031/CEH• Diagnosis and action plan for the development of Mountain zones, TCP/MOR/3202• Watershed management pilot project, MOR/93/010/ /01/99• Watershed Management, MOR/87/020/ /01/12• Pilot Hunting Installation, GCP/MOR/021/CEH• Technical Assistance for management, development, biodiversity conservation and

sustainable development of natural resources and training, UTF /TUN/033/TUN• Integrated watershed management in North West, TUN/84/004/ /01/12• Rehabilitation, Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Mangroves, TCP/EGY/0168• Support to the rehabilitation of Wadi Tanef watershed in the Ibb Governorate, TCP/

YEM/3303• Assistance to the Green Belt Project Around Aden, TCP/YEM/0156• Sustainable Environmental Management, YEM/97/100/ /09/12• Watershed Management and Waste Water Re-Use in Peri-Urban Areasof Yemen, GCP/

YEM/026/NET• Forestry Component Land and Water Conservation Project, UTF/YEM/023/YEM• Participatory and Integrated Management of Forest Resources in Syria, GCP /SYR/007/

ITA • Planning, Management and Monitoring of Pilot Watersheds, UTF /IRA/023/IRA • Hable Rud Watershed, IRA/97/002/ /01/99• Caspian Sea Forest Management, IRA/89/014/ /01/12

iv. Desertification control and landscape restoration

• Desertification Control Project, IRA/97/004/ /01/99 • Walnut plantation, IRA/89/029/ /01/12 • Rehabilitation of forest landscapes and degraded land with particular attention to saline

soils and areas prone to wind erosion, GCP /IRA/059/GFF• Preparation of a National Tree Planting and Development of Peri-Urban Forestry, TCP/

EGY/7821• Combating sand encroachment, TCP/TUN/2252• Inter Regional Program for Poverty Alleviation and Combating Desertification through

collaborative Watershed Management, GCP /INT/093/SPA• Forest Seed Centre, IRA/89/015/ /01/12• Afforestation, YEM/88/034/ /01/12

v. Forest protection:

• Monitoring and Rehabilitation of Juniper Ecosystem in Sarawat Mountains in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UTF/SAU/010/SAU

• Support of the establishment of national strategy for surveillance and monitoring of forest health - a pilot case of the Middle Atlas, TCP/MOR/3101

• Near East Forestry Commission: Meeting of the 11th to 19th sessions and inter-sessions activities for the NEFC Steering Committee.

• Teheran Process of Low Forest Cover Countries: the RNE Forestry Unit played a key role for the establishment of the Teheran Process and the support provided by the Organization for the functioning of the LFCC Secretariat. Coordination with the TP Secretariat of LFCCs continues to strengthen for increased and coordinated support to member countries.

• In order to reduce knowledge gaps, avoid duplication and provide member countries best technical assistance possible, the RNE Forestry Unit worked in unison with the NEFC to strengthen collaboration with regional organizations/institutions including League of Arab States (LAS), the Arab Centre for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD), the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), the International Centre for Agricultural Research for Dry Areas (ICARDA), etc.

• Near East Process on Criteria and Indicators (NEC&I) for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM): was initiated in 1996 and endorsed by the NEFC in 2000. The NEC&I for SFM was established to assist the countries in the region to report on their forest resources based on region’s specific seven criteria and sixty-five indictors. The foresters in the region have benefited from a number of regional workshops and expert meetings that reviewed the applicability of the criteria and indicators in countries concerned and the availability of information and national capacities for collection and analysis of data

• Coordination with Silva Mediterranea on wide scope of activities that benefited the countries south of the Mediterranean sea including policies and inter-sectoral collaboration, knowledge and information, public awareness, forest and finance, climate change, research, education etc.

• Climate change: adapting forests and ranges to global changes for sustainable development: A regional study was carried out on assessing the risk and vulnerability to climate change for the forestry and range sector in the Near East

Field programme:

At the country level, the RNE Forestry Unit contributed or lead large field programme focused on policies and legislation, forest, and watershed management, wildlife and protected areas management, capacity building and forest protection. It provided support and backstopping to projects and programmes in all countries of the region.

i. Forest policies, Legislation and institutions:

• Support to the implementation of national forest policy, UTF/MOR/028/MOR• Support to National Forest and Alfa Policy and Strategy Formulation, TCP/ALG/3101 • Support to co-management of Tunisian forestry resources (TCP/TUN/3101 (D)• Support to Forest Policy and Strategy for Sector Development, TCP/JOR/3002 (A)• Support to Forest Policy and Programme for Sustainable Development and Achievement

of Millennium Development Goals, UTF/LEB/…/LEB• Assistance to forest policy formulation, legislation and institutional reorganization, TCP/

EGY/3103 (A)• Forest sector policy and institutional development in Arab Republic of Syria, TCP/SYR/3103

ii. Forest development

• Forest development project, Phase II, UTF /MOR/011/MOR• Strategic study for integrated management of forests, UTF/TUN/032/TUN• Evaluation of development plan of Mamora forest, GCP /MOR/010/DEN• Forestry Development, JOR/87/007/ /01/12

38


39

examples include: (a) Senior Meeting/Workshop between FAO and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in Jeddah for spearheading the collaboration for Regional Programmes for Food Security; (b) A joint IDB/FAO seminar on Financing Agriculture Development; (c) Preparation and holding of the Side-Event Roundtable for Financing Agricultural Development during the 27th and 30th Sessions of the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East in Qatar and Sudan. Sepcialized policy advice was provided to many countries in the region on issues related to structural adjustment programmes, water management, WTO and trade negotiations, regional cooperation in agriculture, qat production and external investment in agriculture.

Field Programme Development and Project formulation and implementation: FAORNE led and/or participated in multidisciplinary teams for field programme development in many countries of the Near East. Fully fledged programming missions were organized for Jordan, Sudan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. As a result, national and regional project proposals were prepared and forwarded to development partners for funding. Assistance was also provided to countries in the region through the formulation and implementation of many regional, sub-regional policy-related technical and investment programmes and projects. More than 45 policy-related UTF, GCP and TCP projects were formulated and implemented during the period 1994-2010. Ten food security-related projects were formulated for the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member countries within the Regional Programme for Food Security (RPFS) and assisted in negotiating their funding through the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

Strategies and Development plans: RNE continued its support to Member Countries in their efforts to review and formulate long-term sustainable agricultural and rural development strategies, policies and national plans of action, in order to enhance their food security situation and to meet their commitments under the WFS Plan of Action and the MDGs. Support was provided to 28 countries in the preparation of the “National Strategies for Agricultural Development and Food Security to the horizon 2010”, and to the horizon 2015-30 for 5 countries. ; the formulation and implementation of Regional Programmes for Food Security (RPFS) for three of the regional economic organizations in the region (CAEU, GCC and AMU) and long-term national agricultural development strategies towards 2015 and 2030 for five countries (Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Syria). In most cases, assistance was extended to also formulate detailed plans of action for the implementation of strategies.

Capacity Building: Capacity development support was provided to member countries to strengthen their policy analysis and planning capacities on food security and agricultural development. More than 40 regional expert meetings and technical workshops were organized in the region focusing on strengthening policy analytical capacities in areas of economic reform and structural adjustment, financing agricultural and rural development, water demand management, WTO, and regional and bilateral trade and cooperation agreements (including with the EU), food safety and standards, commodity chain analysis and marketing, and productivity enhancement. Numerous capacity building activities were also implemented at the individual country levels focusing on issues of particular interest to each country. Examples of capacity development activities frequently implemented include training on food and agriculture policy analysis with special emphasis on credit and rural finance policies; strengthening sustainability issues and environmental considerations in the planning and analysis of agricultural investment projects; impact of macro and sectoral policies on rural poverty; policy issues and implementation for water demand management; water policy analysis and management. Several trade related capacity building activities were carried out to serve countries of the region in their preparations for multinational trade negotiations. Eight training workshops and seminars on WTO agreements and trade policy analysis were held for countries in the Near East benefitting more than 120 government officials. Arabic resource manuals on Uruguay

• Participatory and Integrated Forest Fires Management Plan, GCP /SYR/010/ITA• Support to the implementation of national strategy for the control and monitoring of forest

health – pilot case of the Middle Atlas, TCP/MOR/3101 • Capacity Building in Sustainable Forest Management Planning and Forest Fire Management

in Syria, GCP /SYR/014/TUR

vi. emergency Assistance:

• Assessment of damage and needs in agriculture, fisheries and forestry following hostilities in Lebanon, TCP/LEB/3101 (E)

vii. capacity building

• Training of Trainers of the General Directorate of forests, TF/UTF 21 211• Improving the training capacity of the Arab Institute for Forestry and Range, TCP/RAB/3003 • Institutional capacity strengthening for the development of mountain quality products -

Case of safran, TCP/MOR/3201• Training on Watershed Management, IRA/86/004/ /01/12

viii. institutions

• Restructuring the Forestry Administration, TCP/MOR/0052• Strengthening of the Faculty of Natural Resources, RA/87/014/ /01/12

3.7 Food And Agricultural Policy

Policy assistance, including both policy advice and capacity building, remain an important area for FAO activities in the Near East Region. Assistance on a continued bases was provided to all countries in the region and to sub-regional and regional economic organizations and was focused on addressing key priority issues, including, formulation of sustainable agricultural development and food security strategies and designing policies and strengthening capacities in priority areas such as food production and productivity improvement, scarce water management, trade development and negotiations, livestock and transboundary animal and plant diseases. Policy Advice: Policy advice has been provided to support enhancing the responsiveness of the agricultural sector to national/regional/global policy environment signals and favour an economically sustainable development and investment environment that will promote SARD and food security. Advice has been provided to several countries in the region on the priority issue of water and expert consultations were organized on water policy reform at the regional and sub-regional levels to exchange information and experiences and to draw lessons learned for better programming and policy assistance. Through its Initiative on Soaring Food Prices (ISFP), FAO provided policy advice along with technical and financial support to several countries in the Region in their attempts to cope with the soaring food prices of 2008. This included assessments of the magnitude of food prices changes, their implications for food security and the short and medium term actions needed to deal with the food price crisis. FAO, in collaboration with the World Bank and IFAD, also prepared a regional study that outlines critical strategies for addressing the Region’s vulnerability to price shocks. Through the implementation of joint UN-FAO programme, FAO provided assistance to Tunisia for policies designed to deal with youth employment. The policy unit of the FAORNE has also been active in promoting policies favoring investment in rural and agricultural development and co-operation with development finance institutions and their support for agriculture and food security;

40


41

Studies and Publications: (a) prepared studies on “integrating communication for development in agriculture and rural knowledge and information systems (ARKIS) for collaborative natural resource management in the Near East; Needs Assessment for Improvement of Production and Marketing of Non-traditional, Exportable Products for Small and Medium-scale Farmers; status and performance of extension systems in the region; (b) collaborated with the Mediterranean Basin in undertaking joint research relating to (Buffalo, Sheep and Goat; Rice, Cotton, Pasture and Fodder Crops; Nuts and Olives); (c) initiated studies on the institutional need assessment of agricultural research and technology, extension and higher education for the Near East Countries; Strategic Extension Campaigns (Jordan) Participatory Training Methodology (Syria), and integrating new themes into agricultural extension programmes, such as Environmental and Population Education (Egypt); and (d) translated into Arabic the Compendium of FAO Experiences in Basic Education” and several key FAO publications on extension and education. FAO RNE also developed a Database for Extension Organizations in the Near East and prepared a paper on “Targeting the Rural Poor: the Role of Education and Training”.

Networking: FAO continued giving support to member countries in strengthening their research institutions through support to the Regional Forum (AARINENA), the Global Date Palm Network and the Olive Network.

RNE has been actively involved in preparation and implementation of the following projects:

• a pilot project on virtual extension and research communication work in Egypt, Agricultural knowledge and information system for Rural Development in Morocco, environmental protection in Algeria, development of environmental management plan in Iran, development of agricultural meteorological sub-sector in Iraq

• provided technical support to field projects on Strengthening and Building Capacity of Extension Services in Lebanon; Rural and Agricultural Development Communication Network (RADCON) project in Egypt; Improvement of Agricultural Training Centres in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and Mainstreaming Population, Environment and Food Security Issues into Agricultural Extension Programmes in Egypt

• drafted a project proposal on “Intensification and Diversification of the Agricultural Production Systems to Support Food Security in the New Valley in Egypt”

• provided technical support to the FAO/UNFPA Field Programme Partnership on “Integration of Environmental and Population Education in Extension Programmes” conducted in several countries in the region;

3.9 Agro-Industry and Rural Infrastructure

Activities were directed towards tackling the varied problems of agro-industry in the Near East region and are related to value addition during the value chain of the different types of foods (cereals & grains, perishables, dairy, meat, fish, etc, whether fresh, semi processed or processed) and to enhancing exchange of information and experiences in these fields among countries of the Region.

Training:

• Regional course on utilization of agricultural residues for food and feed production with objective of providing the state of the art in cultivation of various mashroom production technologies, project management and animal feed from agricultural waste

• Organized, in collaboration with AARINENA, 3 training workshops on Post-harvest two in Amman, Jordan on Fundamentals of PH tech. with emphasis on sub-regions and important

Round and Multilateral Trade Negotiations and on Implications of URAoA (Agreement on Agriculture) for Developing Countries and other regional trade reports were published and distributed to Member Countries. A working document on “Trade Liberalization Policies, Intra-regional Trade and Sustainable Agriculture Development” has also been prepared to enhance intra-regional trade in view of promoting regional and national food security. Training material was produced and some of the important FAO training manuals were translated into Arabic.

Technical assistance programmes/projects for Near East countries to enhance institutional capacities for the policy analysis, planning, food security and trade units in the Ministries of Agriculture had also been provided. One of the successful examples is the project to support establishment and functioning of the National Agricultural Policy Center in Syria (NAPC) as an autonomous policy support institution.

Studies and Publications: Assistance was also provided to countries at the regional, sub-regional and individual country levels through the conduct of specialised studies on policy issues of particular concern to them. More than 15 comprehensive regional thematic studies were prepared and disseminated in the region covering issues of food security and its prospects in the region, agriculture outlook towards 2050, investment in agriculture and opportunities for increased flow of effective intra-regional investments, experiences with water demand management, soaring food prices and their implications for small farmers, WTO and emerging trade issues and their implications for food security in the region.

3.8 Agricultural Research, Extension and Rural Development

FAO RNE implemented a number of activities to enhance capacities of the agricultural research and extension services to promote agricultural production and productivity and improve efficiency and resource use management. The activities and resulted achievements are given below

Training: Organized regional training sessions on management improvement and capacity building in agricultural research to Directors of Agricultural Research institutions, Kuwait 1999; and on the integration of environment education in extension programmes. Regional seminars were also organized on curriculum development of mid-level agricultural technical training institutions, Malta 1995; development of agricultural marketing extension systems, Lebanon 1994; and the role of extension in the promotion of proper use of water and agro-chemicals at the farm level, Jordan 1994

Conferences and Workshops: organized in collaboration with national institutes and with the Centre for Agrarian Reform and Development in the Near East (CARDNE) on re-orienting Extension and in-service training programmes to improve Environmental management, SARD and Food Security, Iran 1996; Options of Reform for Agricultural Extension in the Near East” (Jordan, October 2004); Applications of ICTs for Enhanced Extension Linkages, Coordination and Services” (Tunisia, November2004); and Regional workshop on Reform of National Agricultural Extension Systems in Tunisia; Expert Consultations and Technical Meetings: included a Regional meeting on strategies for higher agricultural education for the year 2000 and beyond, Cairo 1992; Expert Consultations on strengthening agricultural extension systems in NE, Ankara 1993; higher agricultural education: its future role in sustainable agriculture and environment protection, and its linkages with agricultural research and extension, UAE 1995; and strengthening role of agricultural education and extension institutions in addressing environmental issues for SARD, Egypt 1994

42


43

• Organized a Seminar on JOJOBA (7 December 2003) in Collaboration with The Desert Research Center and Al Ahram Daily Newspaper in response to a request by some national producers, exporters, and processor. The seminar focused on new trends in utilization of the JOJOBA.

• Organized and participated in the Sub-Regional workshop on Technology Transfer in collaboration with NCARTT, JUST and AARINENA, Jordan, 2004,

• Organized and participated in the Regional Technology Transfer workshop held in Oman, 2004

studies:

• Preparation of a study on Vermiculture in Egypt: Current Development and Future Potential – to be published in the RNE web site.

• Preparation of a study on Bio-energy systems development for Near East and North Africa: Study finalized in December 2010 – to be published in the RNE web site very soon, and possibly a TCP project proposal will be derived from it.

• Preparation of a study on Charcoal industries in Egypt: Finalization in process – expected before end of January, 2011.

• Studies on Agro-Industries in Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia were prepared.

translations and Publications:

• Reviewed and printed a book in Arabic on Harvesting, Handling and processing of Dates.• Provided and financial support to print the proceedings of the 12th International Conference

and Exhibition on Recent Trends in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Production, Manufacture and Marketing (Current and Prospective Status), that was held in Cairo, Egypt from November 21 - 23, 2006.

• Preparation/publishing of Post harvest manual (English/Arabic).• Manual of traceability systems for Citrus, Olives and Dates: Finalized – to be published

soon.• Preparation of a manual on Apiculture: Finalization in process – expected before end of

January, 2011.• Translation into Arabic and currently in process of printing of 6 Diversification booklets on:

(1) Beekeeping and sustainable livelihoods, (2) Processed foods for improved livelihoods, (3) Milk for health and wealth, (4) Higher value addition through hides and skins, (5) Sheep and goats for diverse products and profits & (6) Growing vegetables for home and market.

• Translation of INPHO CD into Arabic. Crops of importance to the region were translated into Arabic. Currently a consultant is hired to put all documents on the CD format similar to the English version.

• Losses and wastes in the food chain: Translation into Arabic finalized – to be published soon.

• Agro industries, water resources & public health: Translation into Arabic finalized – to be published soon.

• Waste management opportunities for rural communities: Translation into Arabic finalized – printing in process.

• Small scale bio-energy initiatives: Case studies: Translation into Arabic finalized – printing in process).

crops, and the third in Antalya, with emphasis on economic aspects, international aspects & standards, international markets, regulations and impact of globalization, WTO & PH technologies in packing houses, packaging, storage, transportation, etc..

• Prepared for a training course on Molecular Marker Techniques with emphasis on dates finger printing in collaboration with the Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI) and Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) in Egypt.

• Organized and published Proceedings of the Regional Training workshop on the implementation and application of traceability systems for food supply chains, held in Amman, Jordan 26-28 January, 2009.

expert consultations, technical meetings and Forums:

• Regional expert consultation on the application of nuclear techniques in food eradication, Egypt 1993

• RNE co-sponsored, with Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, the First International Conference on Biotechnology application for Arid Regions, held in Kuwait, April 2001.

• Organized a sub-regional workshop on improving agro-industries, held in Mauritania on October 24-25, 2001.

• Completed study on utilization of date-palm residues in nine date-producing countries and discussed in Expert Consultation, Cairo 1997

• Organized the 1st Expert Consultation Meeting on the Utilization of AGR held in Cairo 6-8 June, 2004.

• Organized Second Arab Conference on Perspectives of Modern Biotechnology in collaboration with ESCWA and other UN agencies, Jordan 1993

• Provided technical and financial contributions to Global Date Palm Network (GDPN) to activate postharvest and Marking Working Group.

• Prepared for and organized an expert consultation meeting on strengthening linkages between biotechnology and postharvest, Tunisia 2006.

• Conducted and produced proceedings of the 2nd Expert Consultation on the Utilization of Agricultural Residues – Emphasis on Bio-fuels, Egypt 2007.

• Organized and published proceedings of Regional Expert Consultation meeting on Agro-Industries Development, 2009.

seminars and Workshops:

• Regional workshop on utilization of agro-industrial residues in countries of the Region, Egypt

• Regional Post harvests Workshop was held at Alexandria University, from 11-13 November 2001. Also, Date Palm and Olive Networks were expanded, and forged cooperation with ESCORENA for better exchange of information, harmonization of standards, and procedures.

• Regional workshop on Agricultural residue utilization, Syria 1994• Organized a regional workshop on food irradiation process control as part of the regional

cooperative project on research, development and training on food irradiation in NE.• Regional consumer information seminar on food irradiation, Tunis 1994• Regional workshop on date-palm post-harvest technology to increase value added products

and reduce post-harvest losses and encourage exports, Teheran 1999• Regional workshop on techno-economic feasibility of food irradiation, Syria 1995• Conducted a Bio-Safety Workshop in Syria in coordination with SDRR-HQ

44


45

studies and working documents

• Preparation of working documents on Urban Food Distribution Systems in selected Metropolitan areas in NE and their presentation at a regional seminar on same subject, Cairo 1997

• Prepared studies on olive oil Marketing and trade in NE as working documents for Regional seminar, held in Cairo 1997

• Finalized technical document on the impact of GATT on intra-regional trade in the Near East

• Review legislative constraints for liberalization and privatization of agricultural marketing• Proto-type curricula for marketing business management courses for Arab universities• Studies on improved post-harvest handling and export promotion in selected countries in

the Near East;

Preparation and backstopping of field projects

• Technical assistance in formulation of marketing programmes for projects on integrated production of cash crop in Yemen;

translation and Publications

• A number of technical agricultural marketing publications in Arabic were produced• Translation into Arabic of a number of publications concerning marketing policies, regulation,

information, marketing costs and contract farming.

3.10.2 support the functioning of nenArAcA

seminars, technical meetings and expert consultations:

• Sixth technical consultation of the International scheme for Agricultural credit development (SACRED), Jordan 1995

• Regional seminar on the impact of economic reforms, specially structural adjustment programmes on rural finance, Lebanon 1994

• A seminar on credit for marketing was organized in cooperation with AFMANENA, Syria 1997

• Introduction of automation in agricultural banks-micro-banker• Requirements for implementation of credit guarantee funds• Seminar on “Towards Universal Rural Banks,” organized for introduction of Micro-Banker

in some countries of the Region• Organizing a seminar on “Administration and Management of Rural Credit for Small Scale

Farmers• Development of micro-finance in the Near East;

training and workshops:

• Savings mobilization, Egypt 1994• Innovative credit techniques

studies and working documents:

• Providing support to NENARACA in carrying out studies on reforming rural finance institution in Jordan and Syria;

Projects:

• Prepared project document on Small-scale apiculture for livelihoods development in Sudan• Developed TCP projects proposals on Development of capacity building projects on the

prevention of food losses in the Near east and North Africa Region; and for Capacity building for food losses in North Africa

• Some projects have been developed either in the form of a concept note or in the form of project proposals and have been discussed with some authorities and stakeholders in some countries and will continue the discussion to identify funding mechanism.

• Provided technical backstopping to project UTF/EGY/021 (RADCON) and project TCP/EGY/3001 (A) (NARIMS).

3.10 Agricultural Marketing and Credit

Emphasis of FAO RNE programme in agricultural marketing and credit has been geared towards supporting member countries in enhancing their institutional and human resource capacities through training, formulation and implementation of projects, organization of forums and meetings for exchange of experiences and information concerning the formulation and development of effective agricultural marketing and credit systems and through carrying out studies to establish regional/sub-regional market information systems to stimulate intra-regional trade. The programme also continued to support the FAO established Near East and North Africa Regional Agricultural Credit Association (NENARACA) and the Agricultural Food Marketing Association for the Near East and North Africa (AFMANENA). Most of the activities performed were implemented in collaboration with these two Regional Networks.

3.10.1 support the functioning of AFmAnenA

Seminars, technical meetings and expert consultations

• Subregional seminar on agricultural MKTg for improvement and promotion of fruit and vegetable exports, Syria 1993

• Sub-regional seminar on marketing extension, Lebanon 1994• Regional seminar on Export Market Liberalization Programmes, Jordan 1995• Regional Expert consultation on the Impact of changing International Trade environment

on agricultural Trade in NE Region, Cyprus 1994• A regional seminar on the impact of effective food quality control on agricultural MKG and

trade in the NE, Cairo 1996• Urban food security and agricultural marketing• Marketing activities included Seminar on Urban Food Security, Amman, Jordan. • Regional Seminar on Agricultural Marketing Business Management, Cairo, Egypt; • Two regional meetings on contract-farming and on strategies and programmes for

elimination of major marketing constraints were held• Regional Seminars on Strategies and Programmes for Elimination of Major Marketing

Constraints (Lebanon, 2003); • Contract Farming (Jordan, 2003);

training and workshops

• Regional workshop on the planning, organization and management of food wholesale markets, Amman 1993

46


47

• UTF Down Stream project activity for the Establishment of Agricultural Information Centers in the three Pilot Governorates (Basra, Anbar, and Erbil) in Iraq approved in 2010.

• UTF/OMA/006/OMA - Development of Agricultural Information Centre (AICE) project in Oman [255,000 US$ budget for two years] approved in 2009;

• UTF National Agricultural Research Knowledge and Information Network (NARKIN) project in Egypt [12,750,000 US$ budget for five years] submitted for government/donor organizations in 2008;

• TCP/JOR/3202 - National Agricultural Information System (NAIS) project in Jordan [275,000 US$ budget for three years] approved in 2007;

• UTFN/SAU/021 Saudi Agricultural development Communication Network (SADCN) project in Saudi Arabia [4,000,000 US$ budget for five years] approved in 2006;

• UTF/EGY/021 - Rural and Agricultural Development Communication Network (RADCON) project in Egypt [1,500,000 US$ budget for four years] approved in 2004].

• TCP/EGY/3001 - National Agricultural Research Information Management System (NARIMS) project in Egypt [217,000 US$ budget for two years] approved in 2004;

Technical Support Services: were provided to projects TCP/EGY/0065 VERCON - Virtual Extension Research Communication Network in Egypt, UTF/EGY/021 RADCON - Rural and Agricultural Development Communication Network in Egypt, TCP/EGY/3001 NARIMS - National Agricultural Research Information Management System in Egypt, TCP/JOR/3102 NAIS – National Agricultural Information System in Jordan, UTF/OMA/006 AICE/NAKEMS - Agricultural Information Centre in Oman, TCP/EGY/3104 FIVIMS in Egypt, UTFN/SAU/031 - PCU - Projects Coordination Unit project in Saudi Arabia, and UTFN/SAU/025-IPHM-Integrated Plant Health Management project in Saudi Arabia. Work included 35 technical backstopping missions for the provision of technology systems and capacity building including policy assistance, institutional development and restructure, strengthening of national institutions and training, Conducted 15 advisory missions as per the requests of member countries (3 - Egypt, 3 - Emirates, 3 - Jordan, 3 - Oman, 2 - Saudi Arabia, and 1 - Iraq).

Capacity Development Support to Member Countries: FAORNE is giving due consideration to building capacities among policy makers, managers of agricultural institutions and information managers with a target to promote investment in agricultural information and knowledge management and appreciate the importance of effective information management strategies, structures and procedures in their institutions. FAORNE provided capacity development support to member countries to strengthen their capacities for effective information management and knowledge sharing and exchange as follows:

Organized 8 regional training workshops on information management and knowledge exchange systems for ARD in cooperation with regional and international partners. These training workshops were through face-to-face courses and IMARK distance learning, NERAKIN and NAIS and AGRIS training materials, targeted to needs of member countries and networks. Three proceedings workshops were edited, published and distributed to member countries; Organized 3 regional training workshops on agricultural information and communication management systems for development in cooperation with local and regional partners, for the establishment of Near East Plant Protection Network (NEPP-NET) and Near East Virtual Extension Research Communication (VERCON) Network. Organized 23 national training workshops in agricultural research information management and networking in cooperation with national partners. Supervised and participated in organizing 20 ICM/ICT training workshops and 7 trainings of trainers (TOT) workshops for RADCON stakeholders in Egypt.

Preparation and backstopping of field projects:

• Technical Backstopping TCP project on microcredit in Yemen

translation and Publications:

• The Second volume of the text for Arab Universities concerning agric. Credit and finance in selected NE countries is being finalized.

• Translated FAO Bulletin on Inventory credit from English to Arabic• Technical publications including 4 training modules in agricultural credit administration

were produced

3.11 Knowledge, Information Management and Networking Programme

Knowledge and information management and networking has been provided on a continued basis to all member countries in the region and was one of the key areas of intervention identified as a priority by the various sessions of the Regional Conference and the regional Commissions and the framework of the contributions towards the achievement of the World Food Summit (WFS) Targets and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Work in this area included technical assistance, advisory services, policy assistance, and capacity building, within the framework of the specific priorities identified.

Knowledge Management to Fight Hunger

The substantive activities and achievements of RNE during 2002-2010 in the area of regional knowledge and information management and networking can be summarized as follows:

support to project formulationAssisted countries in formulating the following seven UTF/TCP field projects for effective information management and knowledge exchange for rural and agricultural development.

48


49

Regional Trainings on the thematic knowledge networks

Promoted at a regional level the global AGORA “Access to Global Online Research in Agriculture” programme and CIARD “Coherence in Information for Agricultural Research for Development” initiative, for facilitating access to agricultural scientific information, strengthened partnerships and collaboration with key regional institutions, and implemented national capacity building activities (e.g. Sudan, Jordan and Oman). More than one hundred institutions have the capacity to access and use resources on AGORA. FAO and a large number of international and regional partners promoted the Coherence on Information for Agricultural Research for Development (CIARD) initiative aimed at making agricultural research information truly accessible to all (address: http://www.ciard.net/). The CIARD Manifesto was revised on the basis of feedback received from member countries in the region during a workshop held in 2009, and endorsed at the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) held in France in 2010. In addition to the Manifesto, the CIARD initiative facilitates access to practical tools to support coherent approaches to enhancing agricultural information access.

Prepared promotional leaflets, standards guidelines, proceedings and technical publications, in printed and online formats, and disseminated to all agricultural research institutions in the region.

Built a robust infrastructure for managing information and knowledge in RNE and provided full technical support for FAORNE ongoing website information system development and content management and development for building strong infrastructure for regional agricultural Information and knowledge initiatives, gateways, portal and databases in order to disseminate and improve access to information and knowledge as a knowledge organization to all the stakeholders in the region and to strengthen information dissemination and knowledge sharing with all stakeholders from member countries and regional organizations in the Near East Region and to improve FAO visibility and messages at regional level.

Provided technical support to develop the web Information for the Preventive Desert Locust Management Network (EMPRES) and the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC). It is successfully operational (http://www.crc-empres.org/).

Developed RAIS system (http://www.raisaquaculture.net/) as the creation of a Regional Aquaculture Information System (RAIS) has been requested by the RECOFI Members Countries in response to the rapid development of the aquaculture sector in the Region. During the third Session of the Commission (Doha, May 2005); Kuwait offered to host the RAIS and allocated funds to develop this regional information system. It was developed using an up-to-date information technology and database management and it is user-friendly, allowing rapid data entry from the administrators and easy retrieval from end users.

VERCON and RADCON in Action: Extension workers helping farmers using VERCON/RADCON Networks

Developed the Near East and North Africa Rural Agricultural Knowledge and Information Network (NERAKIN- http://www.nerakin.net/) for member countries, which includes one regional gateway and 17 national knowledge and information portals for member countries as a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration for development for strengthening regional networking, requested and driven by NARS at national and regional levels; In addition, assistance was provided in building capacities in information and knowledge management within the Region’s national agricultural research institutions. This was done in collaboration with the Association of Agricultural Research in Near East and North Africa (AARINENA), the Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR), the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA). FAO also helped to promote, at a regional level, the pre-existing global programmes and initiatives designed to facilitate access to agricultural scientific information, to strengthen partnerships and everyday collaboration with key regional institutions and to implement national capacity building activities.

Facilitated the establishment and development of institutional networks for member countries for strengthening knowledge exchange and accessing related information and knowledge; In-house development for the Institution based Agricultural Information System/Network (version 1.0) and web Documents Information Management System (Web-DIMS Version 2.0) which are disseminated and available online to be downloaded by member countries institutions. Twenty Five innovative tools (DIMS, AIS Modules, NAIS Modules, NAKEMS Modules, Knowledge Ring) were developed in compliance with AGRIS and CIARD initiatives, for dissemination to Near East countries.

Continued to provide contributions for member countries in close collaboration with regional organizations to provide a framework for sustainability and ownership by the National Programmes for facilitating knowledge sharing through the establishment and facilitation of thematic knowledge networks (Near East Plant Protection Network (), Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network (http://www.rabnena.net/) as a virtual community of professional staff and collaborating centers related to these thematic areas); and Near East VERCON Network (http://www.vercon-neareast.net/) for strengthening linkages between extension and research and farmers.

50


51

FAO/RNE, in collaboration with AARINENA, developed and facilitated the Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Network (http://www.rabnena.net/) for Near East and North Africa as a virtual community of professional staff and collaborating centers related to biotechnology.FAO/RNE, ICARDA and CIHEAM launched the Regional Network on Drought Mitigation, with EU endorsement and support. National action plans were encouraged and a Regional TCP to initiate the Network was prepared. FAORNE continued its support of the Regional Network on Drought Management and its assistance to member countries for developing drought mitigation strategies and preparedness planning.

FAO/RNE organized a consultation with ICARDA, IBPGR and ACSAD on the Establishment of WANANET (West Asia and North Africa Plant Genetic Resources Network).

FAO/RNE provided advisory services to Near East Plant Protection Organization (NEPPO) established in 2010 and the regional project on Fish marketing Information System in the Arab Region (INFOSAMAK) which was converted into an autonomous IGO by State of Bahrain in June 1993.

3.12 Emergency and Rehabilitation

FAO continued assisting countries in their attempts to prevent, mitigate, prepare for and respond to food and agricultural emergencies. FAO’s Emergency and Rehabilitation Programmes are being implemented in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and Gaza Strip and Yemen. In addition, several regional transboundary plant pest and animal disease control programmes were implemented. Additionally, FAO has responded to the scale and complexity of disasters in the Near East by providing technical support to rebuild agricultural based livelihoods as well as seed supplies and tools.

Assistance has been provided to control and ultimately eliminate highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and to prepare non-infected countries for rapid detection and response in case of disease occurrence. In this connection, two sub-regional TCPs have been undertaken in North Africa and the Middle East in order to assist member countries in developing HPAI preparedness plans. Direct country support was also provided to Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Palestine. In Egypt, FAO established a country unit of the Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) to assist the country’s efforts to control HPAI and provided extensive technical and capacity strengthening supports. Several bilateral and multilateral projects were implemented over the last 3 years focusing on strengthening epidemiological and laboratory capacity, implementation of cost-effective and feasible biosecurity measures, building functional private public-private partnerships and development of appropriate policies and instruments required for sound disease control program.

Capacity building of Veterinarian in Egypt Checking Minimum Bio-security measures applied by farmers

Developed the Near East and North Africa Regional Network for Agricultural Policies (NENARNAP – http://www.nenarnap.org/) in 2008; with immediate objectives to enhance capabilities of agricultural policy analysts and institutions to collect, document, synthesize, exchange and disseminate information on agricultural policies. FAORNE also supported NENARNAP in organizing “Agricultural Investment in the Near East: Constraints and Prospects”, a regional workshop held in Tunis in June 2005.

capacity development support to iGos/nGos:

FAO/RNE renewed cooperation with existing IGOs and NGOs operating in the field of FAO’s mandate and competence and established working relations with new IGOs and NGOs which have activities relevant to FAO program in the region. This was done in an effort to strengthening their contributions/inputs/actions to optimize the use of available resources and provide the necessary technical assistance and advisory services in order to improve their networking and cooperation. Many countries of the Region have developed successful experiences in the various fields of agriculture including knowledge and information management and networking. Member Countries could greatly benefit from the experience of each other either through in-service training or by the provision of technical assistance. This process will continue to be developed further. FAO-TCDC Partnership Programmes, Inter-Governmental Organizations, established either under the direct auspices of FAORNE or supported by it, as AFMANENA, NENARACA, CARDNE, NEPPO, INFOSAMAK, AARINENA, will continue to receive technical assistance, advisory services and necessary backstopping, in order to enhance their role and strengthen their intervention in their specific fields of specialisation. Thematic networks, specific to crops or to development themes, will continue to be supported and strengthened. Within this context not exclusive achievements includes the following:

• Continued collaboration with AARINENA, GFAR, AOAD and ICARDA to build capacities in information and knowledge management of national focal points in agricultural research institutions from countries in Near East and North Africa region, drawing on resource materials from IMARK and elsewhere, in the following areas:

• Awareness of strategic aspects of information and knowledge sharing in national, regional, and global contexts, especially between researchers and other stakeholders using IKM tools;

• Ability to identify priorities for early implementation of national agricultural information systems;

• Understanding and skills in the application and customization of information management systems and tools, to facilitate development of national agricultural information systems.

More than 100 institutions received support for capacity building and development in information and knowledge management, sharing and exchange in partnership with national and regional organizations (AARINENA, AOAD, ICARDA, NEPPO, ASPP, CALP, CLAES, ARC-Egypt, MOA-Jordan and MOA-Oman).

RNE Provided technical support to establish and develop the Arabic web sites of the regional collaborative knowledge networks in Near East Region (AARINENA, AFMANENA, WadiMena, and CARDNE).

52


53

3.13 Desert Locust in the Central Region of the Near East

The Commission for Desert Locust control the in the Central Region of the Near East (CRC) was established in 1965 within the FAO framework to support Desert Locust operations in the 16 member countries2 and is entrusted with planning and promoting national, regional and international actions relating to survey and control of Desert Locust, maintaining reserves of anti-locust equipment, insecticides and other supplies to be used in case of emergency and supporting member countries to build national capacities. The Commission also ensures that all member countries are provided with updated information with regard to Desert Locust infestations and assists their national research organizations and institutes and coordinates research activities in areas of desert locust.

Aerial control by aircraft Ground control by vehicle Activities/Achievements; The following is a summary of the CRC achievements and activities in above mentioned areas: information: Assisted front-line countries to establish their Information Offices, fully equipped with knowledgeable trained Information Officers and all facilities required for electronic transmission of locust reports from the field to the Locust Units and vise-versa. In the same context all front line countries are routinely and every month issuing and communicating a Monthly Desert Locust Bulletin to neighbouring countries and concerned organizations and institutions.

Joint-border survey: Encouraged, supported and supervised more than seven border surveys in some strategically important and inaccessible areas that are not adequately surveyed by national campaigns and used the results to estimate the scale of potential locust migration from one seasonal breeding area to another within the Central Region and arrange for necessary preventive actions.

2 Countries supported by CRC include Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

In 2008-2009, FAO had a portfolio of 18 operationally-active emergency projects in Iraq, with a delivery of more than USD 30 million. The focus was on the promotion of employment generation through cottage industries and micro-enterprises such as dairy processing and beekeeping, on restoring food safety and food processing capacity, on the resumption of fish farming and the commercial fish industry, on rehabilitation of the seed industry and the date palm sector and on strengthening the capacity of veterinary services for disease control.

In 2009, FAO assisted the Iraqi Government in formulating a Joint Programming Strategy for the Rehabilitation of Iraq’s Marshlands. The programme aims at assisting the marshlands people and supporting agriculture production and other post production activities in the area, in particular fisheries, horticulture, livestock, agro-industries, GIS applications and food safety.

In the West Bank and Gaza, FAO has devoted time and energy to the rehabilitation and revitalization of the agricultural sector, and has implemented multi-disciplinary projects valued at about USD 14 million, funded by the Governments of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Italy, Japan, Norway, Spain and Sweden and the Qatar Charity. More than 12 500 households, or 80 000 people, have directly benefited from FAO projects, with special attention being paid to female-headed households and the most vulnerable farmers, herders and fishers. Successful projects include: helping women establish home gardens and livestock production units; improving water efficiency by installing grey-waste water treatment units and drip irrigation systems in home gardens and farms; providing training in meeting international standards in good agricultural practices; training women in food processing and packaging; working with youth through Junior Farmer Field and Life Skills Schools that teach agricultural and life skills; developing capacity to cope with avian influenza outbreaks; and building feed centers.

FAO played an important role in the Early Recovery of the agriculture sector in Lebanon by providing rural farming communities with much-needed technical and financial support. During 2008-09, five active emergency projects were operational in the country, with a value of USD 8.4 million. FAO has helped to improve the food security, nutritional and economic status of low income rural families by helping increase harvest yields and animal production. Other assistance involved the introduction of new agriculture technologies for the increased production of vegetables, cheeses, yoghurt and milk.

Following the second consecutive drought in 2008/09 in Syria, which has seriously impacted crop and livestock production, FAO led a Joint Assessment UN Mission and supported the government’s efforts to restore food production and to safeguard agricultural livelihoods. Projects amounting to USD 1.8 million were implemented in 2008 and about USD 3.5 million in 2009.In Yemen, FAO is running three emergency projects as part of the UNFPA Humanitarian Response Plan, for a total of US$11.8 million, to address immediate needs in the agricultural sector. Their aim is to provide time-critical agricultural inputs to the worst-affected families. In addition, FAO is conducting an avian influenza response programme (USD 0.4 million), and a seed supply programme designed to repair the damages of the floods that in 2008 devastated part of the country (USD 0.5 million). It is also implementing a project for supporting livestock ownership by internally displaced persons. More recently, FAO has been actively involved in the preparation of the Humanitarian Response Plan 2010

54


55

4. International Training: Six “train the trainer” courses were held two in each of the United Kingdom and Oman and one in each of Egypt and Sudan to create Master Trainers to handle national training courses in the future.

5. DL Management Diploma Course: was provided for the seventh consecutive year (2001-2008) at the University of Khartoum, Sudan and benefited 43 persons from Sudan (12), Egypt (8), Yemen (7), Ethiopia (5), Saudi Arabia (2), Iraq (2), and Syria (2), and one from each of Eritrea, Jordan, Oman, Libya & India. The programme has been implemented in cooperation with the EMPRES/CR Program.

6. The Commission also supported a number of locust officers in long training courses for Ph. D. and M. Sc. from universities in the region and beyond.

7. Training Material: A Train the Trainer Manual Kit was prepared, produced and distributed to all member countries. It contains transparencies on all aspects of Desert Locust, including survey, control and training skills. Also it contains sessions for the trainers on how to organize and handle the training sessions.

research: Financial support was provided for research in the field of Desert Locust according to a priority list, guidelines and formats produced by EMPRES/CR and the Commission. Results of these research studies are posted to the CRC Web Page.

Desert Locust Research

Publications: To compliment the preventive strategy of locust control, the following publications were produced:

• Continued to translate into Arabic and circulates the monthly bulletin on the Desert Locust issued by the Desert Locust Information Service (DLIS) of FAO.

• Produced electronically in English and Arabic the Desert Locust Glossary of more than 3,000 technical expressions and terms used in the research field and in the control of Desert Locust and arrangements were made to publish it.

capacity building: The Commission conducted/organized/supported several national and regional activities to enhance capacity building and ensure effective Desert Locust survey and control operations in the region. These activities can be summarized as follows:

1. National Training: Financial and technical support were provided to front-line countries (Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Yemen) at organize at least one training course annually on Desert Locust survey and control.

2. Sub-regional Training: Organized and financed training for non-front line countries (Bahrain Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria and United Arab Emirates) to enhance capacities for preparedness in case of emergencies.

3. Regional Training:

a. Organized, in coordination with the Desert Locust Control Organization for East Africa (DLCO-EA) regional training courses on specific subjects such as Aerial Desert Locust and Bio-pesticides Application.

Regional training course on aerial operations

b. Held a number of workshops on RAMSES (data management) and eLocust2 (electronic Desert Locust reporting from the field) in coordination with the Desert Locust Information Service (DLIS) and the Locust Control Centre in Egypt held in Cairo with the objective of updating member countries on the use and improvement of the RAMSES, eLocust2 and forecasts

c. Organized a workshop on Contingency Planning, in coordination with the Desert Locust Group in FAO HQ and Locust Control Centre in Egypt, with the objective of assisting member countries prepare their national contingency plans for Desert Locust. control

d. Coordinated together with the Commission in the Western Region, workshops on testing and maintenance of spray equipment used in Desert Locust control operations. Reports and recommendations of the workshops are posted on the CRC-EMPRES website.

56


57

• Prepared and disseminated updated information relating to Gender, and Conservation and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources.

• Held a national workshop to develop a project on Gender, Environment and Food Security (Morocco 2000)

• Organized a SEAGA gender mainstreaming training course in conjunction with Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Rural Development and Forests, Morocco 2001

• Coordinated a Training of trainers (TOT) workshop in on “Participatory Methods for Village Women in Small Credit Projects”, in cooperation with the Nomad and Rural Women Affairs Office, Iran 2001.

• Published a guidebook on Civil Society Organizations including information on research centres working with and for rural women in August 2001.

• Technical advice was provided to member countries for the integration of a gender dimension in the formulation of policies, legislation and programmes, in agricultural censuses and in the SPFS projects.

• Organized Regional Training of Trainers sessions on the Socio-economic and Gender Analysis Programme,

• Prepared, in Arabic, English and French, technical documents related to socio-cultural characteristics of the Near East.

3.15 Agricultural Statistics

Agricultural statistics and information system is an essential tool for the formulation of development plans and policies, aimed at improving the efficiency of agriculture production and food security at the country, regional and global levels. And as such FAO mandate includes to collect, analyze, interpret and disseminate information that relates to food and agriculture of all countries.

Prior to September 2007, the statistical activities of the Near East region were handled and supported from the Head Quarters.

Normative statistical activities in the RNE Region include:

• To advise and assist countries on development of integrated systems of food and agricultural statistics and agricultural censuses,

• Assist in collecting data and information from national statistical offices to update FAOSTAT, • disseminate and Coordination of Statistics at FAO,• Strength the National Systems of Food and Agricultural Statistics,• Build the capacities of national agricultural statisticians through training workshops and

seminars,• Assist countries in developing TCP projects.

The capacities of the most countries in the region to collect, compile and dessiminate data and information is rather weak. Lack of fora and or agricultural statistical commissions contributes to this. Secondly, the absence of statistician in the region for more than 20 years had impacted the agricultural statistical systems of the region.

Achievements: To overcome the above referred problems, capacity building initiatives were initiated and include the following:

• Since 2007 four workshops were organized: (a) data collection and Metadata, (b) Production, Food Balance Sheets/Supply Utilization Account (c) Agriculture Census and (D) Food security statistics.

Desert Locust Glossary

• Produced, in collaboration with EMPRES/CR and DLIS, bilingual (English and Arabic) field and locust officers guidelines and standard operating procedures for Ground Survey Operations, Ground Control Operations, Aerial Operation, Green Muscle Mixing and Application Technique, Radio Communication, and Desert Locust Mobile Teams .

• Translated into Arabic and disseminate seven Desert Locust Guidelines (1. Biology and Behaviour, 2. Survey, 3. Information and Forecasting, 4. Control, 5. Campaign Organization and Execution, 6. Safety and Environmental Execution, 7. Appendices)

• Produced/translated and distributed various brochures, pamphlets, checklists and others.

The Commission produced the report on the Workshop on Spray Equipment Used in Desert Locust Control in Arabic and English, and distributed to all concerned authorities in order to benefit from the recommendations made. The report has also been uploaded on the CRC-EMPRES website.

• The Commission regularly updates the information documentations and the up-coming events presented by the CRC-EMPRES website.

3.14 Women In Development

The thrust of the WID programme in the Near East was towards promotion of the role of women in agriculture by streamlining the gender-anchored perspectives into the envisaged national agricultural/rural development plans. A Regional Plan of Action for Women in Agriculture in the Near East (RPAWANE) has been adopted and supported by FAO RNE for implementation through country programmes and projects.

Activities and Achievements

• Provided guidance to the concerned public and private institutions in assessing their needs for human resources development.

• Collected gender desegregated data, and carried out social impact analysis for agricultural development programmes and projects.

58


59

4. SUCCESS STORIES

Below are a few examples of selected projects/activities that are considered successful in the area of knowledge and Information Management for Development.

Project/activity success story

Rural and Agricultural Development Communication Network (RADCON)(UTF/EGY/021/EGY, 2004-2008).

This project has significantly contributed to capacity development of knowledge management and extension services in the region is the Rural and Agricultural Development Communication network project in Egypt.1 The project has developed a sustainable operational dynamic information and communication system that responds to the information requirements of poor farming communities. The system aims to improve the communication between extension, research and private and public institutions involved in rural and agricultural development. An innovative media communication programme has also been developed to increase the benefit of RADCON among the targeted population.

This project is founded on participatory communication and sharing information and knowledge by establishing a triangulation between extension agents, researchers and the community.2 The objective is to enable rural communities to participate in generating, developing and sharing knowledge. Over 115 extension agents in fifty villages were trained to work with farmers. A comprehensive curriculum for training of trainers (TOT) in Arabic was developed, field tested and implemented. Extension agents, particularly those in geographically dispersed areas, were enabled to have access to information online on various issues involving agriculture and rural development. The system has also been a catalyst for developing rural enterprise. For example, extension agents put small farmers in contact with NGOs to assist them market their crops. Equally, this has allowed facilitators to learn about what crops are in market demand, subsequently, provide farmers with the seeds to cultivate these crops.

During the project three training courses were provided to extension agents and twelve follow-up workshops. By project completion, approximately 804 participants were trained in using the system. Other outputs include five guidebooks for extension agents, which were further developed to be included in the curriculum of the Faculty of Agriculture, at the University of Cairo.

Since the RADCON project ended in 2008, it has successfully sustained itself; more so, up scaled its activities. It is situated in 240 sites in nineteen governorates in Egypt. Current plans are to expand it to cover one-third of Egypt (2010-2017) and to cover all Egypt by 2030.

This project has developed a sustainable operational dynamic information and communication system that responds to the information requirements of poor farming communities. The system aims to improve the communication between extension, research and private and public institutions involved in rural and agricultural development. An innovative media communication programme has also been developed to increase the benefit of RADCON among the targeted population.

3 RADCON was developed on the experience of VERCON (Virtual Extension Communication Network) that was based on the concept of connecting extension with researchers.4 The budget for RADCON was $US 1.5 million funded by the Italian government; project formulation and implementer was conducted by FAO.

• In each of these workshops more than fourteen countries of the region with at least 24 participants attended.

• Established regional CountryStat system for the Arab Organization for Agriculture Development (AOAD), technically assisted in implementing CountrySTAT system and trained their staff.

• Assisted the Islamic Republic of Iran in Implementing CountrySTAT system

Even though the impact of these workshops and programmes cannot be easily measured, the capacity of the national statisticians is improved, and the National Systems of Food and Agricultural Statistics are strengthened.

The response rate of the yearly questionnaires has improved by almost 10%. This means countries have strengthened their capacities to collect, compile and disseminate information and data.

60


61


GCP /SYR/002/ITA -“Assistance in Agricultural Planning, Policy Analysis and Statistics”

• The project was funded by the Government of Italy and continued for around 10 continuous years;

• The project assisted in Syria in its transformation from centrally palnned into a more market oriented economy;

• It provided strong support for strengthen the institutional and human capacities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform in the area of planning and policy analysis. More than 200 Government officials were trained at different levels;

• A major outcome of the project is the establishment of the “National Agricultural Policy Centre (NAPC)” which is now a fully functional and effective institution helping the country on agriculture and food security policy analysis and planning.

TCP/INT/2902 • The Regional Programmes for Food Security, prepared by the project for both the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) and Central Asia, are currently used as the main guide for the ECO Secretariat work on agriculture and food security. The project also resulted in the direct involvement of the Islamic Development Bank which has agreed to fund 10 national technical cooperation projects and 4 regional capacity building workshops with ECO.

TCP/EGY/3201 –“Support to the updating of the agricultural strategy and the preparation of a plan of action for agricultural development”

The project assisted in formulating a strategy for sustainable agricultural development to 2030, which is currently the major document guiding the work in agriculture in Egypt;

GTFS/REM/070/ITAIntegrated Pest Management for the Near East

Quantitative outputs

• 1,500 IPM/FFS established, 1,200 Facilitators (MoA and other institutions officials, civil society representatives and farmers) and 17,500 Farmers trained in 10 Countries

• On average 28% of the Facilitators and 15% of the Farmers are women

• Pesticide utilization reduced: from 51 to 73% throughout the targeted areas of the Region in Project target crops

• On average, 8 % higher yield levels obtained throughout the Project targeted areas and crops of the Region.

sustainable institutionalization of the iPm methodology

• IPM/FFS became consolidated extension methodology, fully incorporated and budgeted in the annual plans of some of the target Countries Governments.

• Syria, Iran, Jordan, and Palestinian Territories have also developed National IPM Programmes.


National Agricultural Research Information Management System (NARIMS) [TCP/EGY/3001- 2004-2006]

The project shows how FAO in collaboration with national counterparts had significantly contributed to capacity development for facilitating access to agricultural scientific information, strengthening partnerships and collaboration with key research institutions, and implemented national capacity building activities. It enabled agricultural researchers and scientists to carry out research more effectively by creating access to research information from Egypt and elsewhere and strengthening research through the sharing of information. The NARIMS system/network is designed to also prevent duplication of research, enhance coordination among various agricultural research personnel, and assist research directors in monitoring the achievements of current research plans as well as in formulating new ones. Its full implementation will lead to efficient utilization of human, material and financial resources.

The Key lessons learned are as follows: Institutional support, Locally adapted content and context, Building on existing systems, Capacity building, Strengthening partnerships and participation, Realistic approach to technologies, and Costs and financial sustainability.

VERCON- Virtual Extension Research Communication Network in Egypt.TCP/EGY/0065 - 2002

The VERCON has successfully demonstrated that the system and its users can improve linkages between research and extension in eight pilot nodes. It now forms the basis for creating a national electronic agricultural knowledge and information network. The network is helping overcome the physical, administrative, knowledge and communication barriers that sometimes hinder interactions between researchers and extension agents, limit their ability to share technical competence, and ultimately reduce their impact on improving agricultural productivity and increasing farm incomes. Farmers’ problems component has built a knowledge base for technical, production and administrative problems came from farmers and found solutions. Research agenda is built on this knowledge base as a bottom-up approach is utilized for making research designated for development.

FAO strategic paper on “improving food security bin the Arab World”

• The was Prepared jointly by FAO, the World Bank and IFAD• It provides comprehensive analysis of food security issues in the Near

East and outlines strategic elements for addressing food security challenges facing countries in the region;

• The paper is widely accepted by countries in the region and UN system organization as forming the basis of the strategic elements for improving food security in the region;

• Widely disseminated within the region.

62


63



Official Recognition of the Project Impact/Efficiency

• In order to face the arising pests related emergencies like the Tuta Absoluta Pest infestation of Tomato, the Red Palm Weevil Pest on Palms and the Rust on wheat, the MoA of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestinian Territories formally requested FAO and/or directly the Project assistance to tackle the problems trough IPM approach.

• In order to build up their agricultural strategy the MoA of Jordan and Iran are formally requesting support on Olive production planning;

• The Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation of Yemen has officially requested to be included in the Project highlighting that this issue is one of the most important priorities of the Government’s program in the agricultural sector.



marketing support

• In Iran, interested stakeholders (i.e. farmers, consumers, and other related representatives from the public and private sector), were supported to form the “IPM Group of Iran” in early 2010. More than 100 members have already joined (each contributing a membership fee of about $100) to cover initial administrative costs

• In Syria, in the Rural areas of Damascus (Housh Arab Village and Assal Alward), the Project is assisting to set-up a pilot case called through a farmers association. This association, composed by former trainees of Apple FFS, with the Project support, and, trough assistance of an international company, is trying to develop a Group Global GAP certification

64


65

symbol title eod ntetotal

budget, Usd

GCP /REM/057/SPA Apoyo Tecnico y Creacion de Redes de Cooperat. que Faciliten la Coordinacion en Apoyo de la Ordenacion Pesquera

1996-01 2006-09 7,836,704

RAB/96/008 Nile Basin Cooperative Framework 1999-03 2000-02 31,236

GCP /REM/059/IFA Regional Animal Disease Surveillance and Control Unit (Radiscon) in North Africa, Middle East and Arab Peninsula

1996-07 2004-06 1,511,173

TCP/RAB/6611 Appui a l›Organisation et a la Mise en Place du Reseau Regional de Chambres d›Agriculture des Pays du Maghreb

1996-09 1998-06 214,919

TCP/RAB/8921 Strategies for National Agricultural Development - Horizon 2010. One-Day National Workshop

2000-01 2000-09 151,000

FPTT/REM/9RJ/FPA CST Specialist in Amman (TSS/99/P10) 2000-01 2003-12 100,000

GCP /REM/064/IFA Marine Resources and Environmental Surveys in the Red Sea, Northwest Arabian Sea and the Gulfs

2000-01 2000-07 68,000

GCP /REM/065/ITA Regional FAO Ngo/Cso Consultation in Conjuction with the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East

2000-02 2000-06 50,000

TCP/RAB/0065 Mise en place d`un mécanisme de concertation à l`échelle du Système aquifère du Sahara septentrional (SASS)

2001-01 2002-12 302,000

TCP/RAB/9066 Training on Uruguay Round and Future Multilateral Trade Negotiations on Agriculture for the Arab Gulf Council

2000-06 2001-01 139,000

TCP/RAB/0067 Consolidation of INFOSAMAK Operations after Relocation

2001-05 2003-04 85,705

TCP/RAB/9067 Consolidation of INFOSAMAK Operations after Relocation (recoded from TCP/RAB/0067)

2000-09 2002-06 85,214

GCP /REM/067/CFC Supervision of CFC Project «Technical Information Services for Smallholder Fisheries and Promotion of Interregional Trade» (INFOSAMAK)

2002-08 2006-06 45,000

TCP/RAB/2801 Assistance with Forest and Wildlife Legislation (Advance Allocation) - Recoded from TCP/RAB/2901

2003-01 2003-03 14,257

TCP/RAB/2902 Management of the Peach Fruit Fly (Bactrocera zonata) in the Middle East and North Africa

2002-12 2004-11 376,000

TCP/RAB/2903 Support to CAEU for the Formulation of a Regional Programme for Food Security

2003-03 2004-12 287,000

GTFS/REM/070/ITA Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programme in the Middle Eastern Countries

2004-04 2011-12 7,609,370

TCP/RAB/3001 Assistance for the Processing of Regional Trade Statistics of Agricultural Trade Commodities

2004-01 2005-11 152,144

TCP/RAB/3002 Strengthening capacities for agricultural marketing adjustment to the changing national and international trade environments

2004-03 2005-12 310,342

TCP/RAB/3003 Improving the training capacity of the Arab Insitute for Forestry and Range

2004-09 2005-12 208,789

TCP/RAB/3004 Strenghtening phytosanitary services in the Gulf Cooperation Council States

2004-11 2007-01 324,133

5. ANNEX I

List of Regional and Sub-regional Projects in NE Region Since

1990-2010


budget, Usd

RAB/88/025 Control of Virus and Virus-Like Diseases of Fruitcrops 1990-05 1999-01 1,387,461

RAB/89/005 Mediterranean Region Aquaculture Development (Phase II)

1990-11 1993-11 1,551,368

RAB/89/034 Sand Dune Stabilization and Afforestation 1990-06 1993-06 878,784

TCP/RAB/0051 TCDC Development in Food Marketing Through Support to Afmanena

1990-02 1992-01 230,000

TCP/RAB/0052 Preparatory Assistance for a Joint EEC/FAO Programme for the Control of Varroa Honeybee Mite and Related Diseases

1990-04 1992-03 313,000

RAB/90/016 Fish Marketing Information for Arab Countries (Phase II) 1990-06 1992-02 252,719

GCP /REM/053/EEC Joint EEC/FAO for Control of Honeybee Varroa-Mite (Phase II)

1990-07 1994-03 89,458

RAB/90/034 Eradication Pilot Test of Screwworm from North Africa 1990-10 1991-10 500,804

FPTS/REM/2M1/FPA UNFPA/FAO TSS Advisers Near East (TSS/92/Pm1) 1992-01 1996-01 245,157

RAB/92/01T Review of the Agricultural Research Component 1992-11 1993-03 59,338

RAB/91/006 Umbrella Projetc for the Gulf Crisis 1992-04 1992-07 251,603

TCP/RAB/2251 Formulation of Guidelines for a Regional Brucellosis Control Programme

1992-09 1994-04 146,000

TCP/RAB/2254 Appui au Reseau Maghrebin de Lutte Contre le Bayoud 1993-01 1995-01 140,265

TCP/RAB/2252 Management of Parasitic Weeds ( Orobanche Spp. and Cuscuta Spp. ) in Crop Areas in the Near East

1993-03 1994-06 154,000

TCP/RAB/2253 Regional Training on Meat Inspection and Meat Technology

1993-07 1994-07 184,000

GCP /REM/055/FRA Assistance a la Mise en Place du Sipam (Systeme d›Info pour la Promotion de l›Aquaculture en Mediterranee)

1993-07 1997-07 524,049

TCP/RAB/2355 Assessment and Strengthening of Plant Quarantine Capabilities in the Near East

1993-11 1995-01 300,000

UNTS/RAB/001/GEF Conservation des Plantes du Maghreb (RAB/94/G41/A/1g/12)

1995-05 1996-05 290,725

TCP/RAB/4451 Management of the Whiteflies Viruses Complex in Vegetable and Cotton Production

1994-10 1996-02 196,000

TCP/RAB/4452 Emergency Assistance for Rinderpest Control 1994-08 1996-08 208,000

FPTT/REM/6RJ/FPA Cst Adviser in Amman (TSS/96/Prj) 1995-01 1999-12 267,703

GCP /REM/056/FRA Coop. Internationale dans le Domaine de l`Information sur les Incendies de Foret et Leur Prevention en Mediterranee

1995-05 2010-12 313,624

GCP /REM/058/ITA Develop. of Databases for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Italy

1995-12 1998-06 125,000

66

ACHIEVEMENTS


budget, Usd

TCP/RAB/3005 Emergency assistance for early detection and prevention of avian influenza in the Middle East regionEmergency preparedness for highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Middle East Region

2005-11 2007-10 400,000

TCP/RAB/3006 Emergency assistance for early detection and prevention of avian influenza in the region of North Africa

2005-11 2007-10 400,000

OSRO/RAB/601/SPA Refuerzo de los sistemas de vigilancia y control de la Influenza Aviar altamente patógena (IAAP) en el Magreb y Egipto

2006-09 2007-02 508,000

GCP /RAB/002/FRA Renforcement de la surveillance et des systèmes d’alerte pour la Bluetongue, la Fièvre du Nil Occidental et la Rage au Maroc, en Algérie et en Tunisie

2007-02 2011-02 250,002

GCP /RAB/003/SPA Identification et formulation du Projet Régional sur «Développement durable de la pêche artisanale méditerranéenne au Maroc et en Tunisie»

2007-02 2007-05 45,200

GCP /RAB/004/SWI Regional Initiative for Obsolete Pesticide Management - Syria, Jordan and Lebanon

2007-05 2011-05 938,539

GCP /RAB/005/SPA Développement durable de la pêche artisanale méditerranéenne au Maroc et en Tunisie

2007-12 2011-07 542,119

OSRO/RAB/701/SWE Support for the control and prevention of Highly Pathogenic Influenza (HPAI) in Middle East and North Africa. Extension of Cooperation Agreement: Second Ammendement to Sida A0000174 and Sida A0000180

2007-11 2010-06 2,452,234

TCP/RAB/3201 TCP Facility 2008-02 2009-12 78,667

TCP/RAB/3102 Gestion intégrée des plantes envahissantes, en particulier la morelle jaune au Maroc et en Tunisie

2008-05 2009-12 259,000

TCP/RAB/3202 Strengthening capacities towards the establishment of a regional platform for the detection of genetically modified organisms

2008-12 2011-04 413,000

GCP /RAB/006/IFA Understanding the impact of rising food prices on farming communities in the NENA - (Grant N. 1066)

2009-04 2010-12 175,000

GCP /RAB/010/SPA Strengthening systems of prevention and control of transboundary animal diseases in the Maghreb and Egypt: towards a Mediterranean Animal Health Network (REMESA)

2010-07 2012-06 1,035,502

GCP /RAB/007/MRK Prevention and disposal of POPs and obsolete pesticides in Syria

2010-04 2012-04 266,014

UNFA/REM/073/WHO Demonstration of Sustainable Alternatives to DDT and Strengthening of National Vector Control Capabilities in Middle East and North Africa - (Component #3: Collection, repackaging and disposal of obsolete public health and agricultural POPs)

2010-10 2012-10 400,000

total: 59 Projects year 1990

year 2012 36,674,321

FAO REGIONAL OFFICEFOR THE NEAR EAST

ACHIEVEMENTS

From 1991-2010

FAO Regional Office for the Near EastFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

11 El Eslah El Zerai Street, Dokki, Cairo, EgyptP.O. Box 2223 Cairo, Egypt

Tel: +202 33316000 Fax: +202 37495981/ +202 33373419/ +202 37497193E-mail: [email protected]

FAO/HQ Website: http://www.fao.org FAO/Near East Website: http://neareast.fao.org

BA0013E/1/08.11

ISBN 978-92-5-106943-1

9 7 8 9 2 5 1 0 6 9 4 3 1

FAO REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE NEAR EAST ... ACHIEVEMENTS FAO REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE NEAR EAST 11...

Documents

Transcript of FAO REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE NEAR EAST ... ACHIEVEMENTS FAO REGIONAL OFFICE FOR THE NEAR EAST 11...