“Institution Building for Agricultural Policies in the Near East” Damascus, 6 - 7 December 2003

Information Note

The National Agriculture Policy Center (NAPC) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Syrian Arab Republic has been established from 2000 as a major instrument of the Government of Syria in determining adequate policies for the development of the agricultural sector in the context of the modernisation and reform of the Country. This achievement is the result of several years of fruitful co-operation between Italy and Syria through projects implemented by FAO, a co-operation that is continuing in order to reinforce and consolidate the capacity of the NAPC.

Many countries in the Near East Region are similarly facing the need for a suitable institutional and technical capacity for responding to the requirements of analyzing, formulating and adjusting policies for agricultural and rural development within the context of a changing domestic and international environment. A variety of responses have been given to such need in the different countries, according to their specific conditions and recent history.

FAO and the international donor community are collaborating with member countries in identifying needs and developing the institutional capacity of governments and other stakeholders in the area of agricultural policies. The comparison of, and the lessons drawn from, the experience of countries of the region will help each of them take advantage of the experience of others, establishing links within the region among institutions having to render similar services to the respective governments and countries, and improve the ability of international donor community to assist them upon request to meet emerging needs for adaptation and improvement. The Near East- North Africa Regional Network for Agricultural Policies (NENARNAP) with the support of FAO will also collaborate in providing the opportunity of exchanging experiences and lessons learned in that regard.

Workshop Objectives

To enhance the knowledge of participating institutions about the conditions for adequate technical and institutional capacity development for agricultural policy work;

To disseminate information about the different possibilities of addressing policy analysis requirements; and

To better identify needs for and ways of improving existing situations and practices; and to facilitate regional and international co-operation in this regard.

Participants

Senior/Middle level Officers at Ministries of Agriculture responsible for agricultural policy/agricultural economics and planning from the following countries of the Near East Region -potential members of the NENARNAP: Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria (host), Tunisia, Turkey and Yemen. All participants will be requested to provide a brief Country Information Paper (CIP) on institutions and capacity development for agricultural policies according to a common format.

In addition, Representatives from interested agencies and relevant international and/or regional organizations will be invited.

Cooperating Agencies

FAO Regional Office for the Near East (RNE), Cairo, Egypt;

FAO Agricultural Policy Support Service (TCAS), Rome, Italy;

National Agricultural Policy Centre (NAPC);

FAO/Italy Project (GCP/SYR/006/ITA), Assistance in Institutional Strengthening and Agricultural Policy;

Near East - North Africa Regional Network for Agricultural Policies (NENARNAP).

Further Information

For further details on the workshop please contact:

Dr Dyaa K. Abdou Chief, Policy Assistance Branch, FAO, Cairo, Egypt (FAO-RNE) Tel: + 20 2 3372789, + 20 2 3316100 (Direct) 00202 - 349 5981/337 8563 E-mail: Dyaa.Abdou@fao.org

Mr Atieh El Hindi Director, National Agricultural Policy Centre (NAPC), Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, , Damascus, Syria Tel: + 963 11 2213613 2213614 Fax: + 963 11 2244078 2244023 E-mail: apc@net.sy

Dr Mohamed A. Adam Consultant, Policy Assistance Branch, FAO, Cairo, Egypt (FAO-RNE) Tel: + 20 2 3372789, + 20 2 3316100 E-mail: Mohamed.abdelgadir@fao.org

Dr. Ciro Fiorillo Agricultural Economist,Chief Technical Adviser, FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA-Phase II Tel. 00963 (0) 11 5421547-5446175/6 Fax. 00963 (0) 11 5421702 E-Mail apc@net.sy