In preparation for the thirty-sixth FAO Regional Conference at the United Nations for the Near East, which will be held in early February, The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature organized a consultative meeting for civil society organizations, with a view to developing civil society positions, and unifying its organizations’ views, experiences, knowledge and technical capabilities, to be presented during The next ministerial conference, which will include taking decisions related to regional priorities, and will help in setting the organization's work program in the countries of the region.

This consultative civil meeting was held on January 30 and 31, 2022, independently by civil society actors, represented by APN, Tunisian Union of Agriculture, and Emirates Environmental Group, and in cooperation with the Arab Network for Food Sovereignty.

The meeting brought together 52 organizations from 22 countries, in which 32 experts and specialists representing civil society organizations, which in turn represent the relevant sectors from different countries in the region, spoke to assess the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations during the past two years, in addition to addressing the proposed items on the agenda of the Ministerial Conference.

In her welcoming speech, delivered by the APN Chairman of the Board, Eng. Razan Zuayter said: "Our presence today is evidence that the true, unified and independent civil society does not despair, and strongly believes in the ability of people and countries to reach food sovereignty, if the political and participatory will is available to achieve that goal”. Zuayter also wondered: "How can we allow the first region in which wheat was grown in the world to be itself the largest importer of it today?!"

Abdulhakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, expressed the organization’s belief in the need for the participation of all, especially civil society, to enable countries to fulfill their obligations, to ensure the improvement of living conditions in the region, by supporting Food systems to meet the challenges in the region.

Elwaer stressed that he is looking forward to seeing the outcomes that will emerge from this important meeting, as it will represent an important factor in supporting the decision-making communication circles, and he promised to convey the voice of civil society organizations and their recommendations to the upcoming ministerial meeting, to contribute to the formulation of general policies for countries in the region.

It is noteworthy that Eng. Razan Zuayter, APN Chairman of the Board, Habiba Al Marashi, the Chairperson of Emirates Environmental Group, and Mr. Laith Bin Bishr, the Vice-President of the Tunisian Union of Agriculture, were invited to be representatives of Arab civil society in the upcoming ministerial meeting.