FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC), 33rd Session, 9-13 May 2016

FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC), 33rd Session, 9-13 May 2016, Rome, Italy

Agriculture ministers and senior officials from countries across the region will join civil society organizations and the private sector at the 33rd Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC)to be held at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, May 9-13 2016.

Trends in various indicators of food security and nutrition in the region will be analyzed and discussed with a view to draw out lessons learned and best practices that can be used to respond to shared challenges. Work to address water scarcity, the gender gap in agriculture, and food losses and waste will also be reviewed, and participating countries will provide FAO with guidance on how the Organization should prioritize its work in the region over the next two years.

More information: www.fao.org/about/meetings/nerc33/en/

Programme
May 9-11: The conference will begin with a Senior Officers’ Meeting focusing on regional/global policy and regulatory issues. This includes those related to the contribution of livestock to food security; the implementation of the Blue Growth Initiative; and the empowerment of small-scale farmers and women in the region.

May 12-13: The conference will conclude with a Ministerial Meeting, on regional challenges related to food security and agriculture. That session will begin with a statement by FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva.

About the conference
The regional conference, currently chaired by the Government of Lebanon, convenes every two years to ensure the effectiveness of FAO’s work in member states and Regional Economic Communities. It is the highest FAO governing body at the regional level and sets work and budget priorities for the next biennium.

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