"Food losses and waste (FL&W) in the Near East & North Africa (NENA) region are high and contribute to reduced food availability, aggravated water scarcity, adverse environmental impacts and increased food imports, in an already highly import-dependent region. This document outlines a Regional Strategic Framework for reducing food losses and waste in the region. It responds to the FAO NERC-31 (in May 2012) recommendation calling on FAO to 'assist member countries in addressing the key challenges of reducing food waste and losses by conducting comprehensive studies on impact of food losses and waste on food security in the region and in establishing a plan to reduce food losses and waste in the region by 50% within 10 years'. The strategic framework was endorsed by the FAO NERC-32 in February 2014. This strategic framework has direct links to FAO's 'Global Initiative on Food Loss and Waste Reduction' with respect to vision, objectives and aims, but recognizes the unique characteristics of the NENA region in the actions being recommended. The components of the strategic framework are based on the region's socio-economic context, gaps in combating FL&W, and availability of resources. They are also based on the various efforts and contributions that have been accomplished, especially since NERC- 31, including important national and regional consultations, intensive awareness and advocacy mechanisms, networking platforms, a regional study, and national and regional technical support especially with regard to improvement of value chains, value addition, cold chain, and quality and safety management for the different food sectors in the region. Such efforts have already led to actions by member countries, namely the adoption of national initiatives to reduce FL&W in Egypt and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and some very important measures in other countries such as Iraq, Iran, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Tunisia. Implementation of the strategic framework would require the participation and cooperation of all actors in the food supply chain in addition to government agencies, NGOs, civil society institutions and local communities. Formative and summative evaluation processes would need to be carried out during the implementation process, including key indicators of losses and waste reduction as indicated in the objectives of this strategic framework. This document is intended to provide a strategic framework to FAO/RNE member countries to guide FL&W reduction through national strategic action plans and regional collaborative efforts."--Page v

The Guidelines for action on food loss and waste reduction in the Near East and North Africa provide support to Member Countries to implement the Voluntary Code of Conduct for Food Loss and Waste Reduction, an international instrument designed to guide FLW policymaking and interventions at global level. These regionally-tailored Guidelines offer a basis for developing national strategies, policies, and legislation enabling food loss and waste reduction in line with national agrifood system objectives of NENA countries. The actions and principles put forward herein have the ultimate goal of accelerating the region’s transition to sustainable and resilient agrifood systems.

Food loss and waste (FLW) is one of the key areas under SP4 and BN4 as well as the MPI on Resilient Food Systems in RAP. FAO is well positioned as a global knowledge leader on food loss and waste and many of the other regions already have a tailored regional strategy on FLW reduction. In reponse to the last two APRC's as well as in line with the ZHC, and more recently the new FAO Strategic framework, this publication provides a basis for FAO and others to understand the scope and depth of FLW issues, how these can be addressed, including some good practices from Thailand, China and Nepal. As a multidisciplinary publication, it includes strong elements on policy and statistics with FAO as leading a convenor on SDG 12.3 on FLW measurement and reduction, highlights the scope and opportunities for FLW reduction as part of climate change efforts and also in terms of improved nutrition. It builds upon the analysis and advice of the SOFA 2019 on food loss and waste and identifies key pillars for interventions as well as recommendations for the technical as well as policy/decision makers in the Asia Pacific region. It is strongly linked to the FAP Global Programme on food loss and waste being implemented by headquarters.

Food loss and waste (FLW) reduction is an important component in the transformation of the region's agrifood systems. Addressing the drivers of FLW along value chains provides an opportunity to tackle some of the inherent problems within the NENA region agrifood systems and to contribute to goals such as: boosting incomes and employment, improving access to nutritious food, reducing the climate footprint, and improving the use of scarce natural resources, particularly arable land and water.

Most countries in the Near East and North Africa saw a steady improvement in food security and nutrition up to the beginning of the decade. Food production was rising and undernourishment and poverty were receding. However, the situation has deteriorated since 2012, largely driven by increasing conflicts and protracted crises as well as water scarcity and climate change.

The Near East and North Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition provides new evidence for monitoring trends in food security and nutrition within the framework of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The in-depth analysis of progress made against Sustainable Development Goal 2 Target 2.1 (to end hunger and ensure access to food by all) and Target 2.2 (to end all forms of malnutrition), as well as the state of micronutrient deficiencies, is complemented by a review on rural transformation policies aimed at addressing food insecurity and nutrition issues. Updated estimates shows that the food security situation on the region continues to worsen since 2011 -2013. For, the Near East and North Africa, 11% of the region’s population – 50.2 million people – are undernourished. The findings of the report showed that the failure to reduce hunger in the area is closely associated with the increase in conflict and violence in several parts of the region, as also highlighted in last year’s edition. While the prevalence of undernourishment has risen from 23 to 26 percent in conflict countries since 2011-13, it has remained stable at about 5 percent in non-conflict countries. This year’s report goes further to explore the relationship between food insecurity, economic growth and rural transformation. It demonstrates that economic growth in the Near East and North Africa region has been slow compared to other regions, and suggests that rural transformation can improve growth rates and generate decent employment through strengthening rural-urban linkages, improving agricultural productivity, and expanding the rural non-farm economy.

The 'Gender in Agriculture Sourcebook' provides an up-to-date understanding of gender issues and a rich compilation of compelling evidence of good practices and lessons learned to guide practitioners in integrating gender dimensions into agricultural projects and programs. It is serves as a tool for: guidance; showcasing key principles in integrating gender into projects; stimulating the imagination of practitioners to apply lessons learned, experiences, and innovations to the design of future support and investment in the agriculture sector. The Sourcebook draws on a wide range of experience from World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and other donor agencies, governments, institutions, and groups active in agricultural development. The Sourcebook looks at: access to and control of assets; access to markets, information and organization; and capacity to manage risk and vulnerability through a gender lens. There are 16 modules covering themes of cross-cutting importance for agriculture with strong gender dimensions (Policy, Public Administration and Governance; Agricultural Innovation and Education; Food Security; Markets; Rural Finance; Rural Infrastructure; Water; Land; Labor; Natural Resource Management; and Disaster and Post-Conflict Management) and specific subsectors in agriculture (Crops, Livestock, Forestry, and Fisheries). A separate module on Monitoring and Evaluation is included, responding to the need to track implementation and development impact. Each module contains three different sub-units: (1) A Module Overview gives a broad introduction to the topic and provides a summary of major development issues in the sector and rationale of looking at gender dimension; (2) Thematic Notes provide a brief and technically sound guide in gender integration in selected themes with lessons learned, guidelines, checklists, organizing principles, key questions, and key performance indicators; and (3) Innovative Activity Profiles describe the design and innovative features of recent and exciting projects and activities that have been implemented or are ongoing.