Ministers and senior officials from the Near East and North Africa will meet at FAO headquarters in Rome for the 31^st Regional Conference for the Near East. 

Ministers and senior officials from 30 FAO member states are expected to attend the meeting, in addition to observers.                    

Talks will focus on hunger and nutrition-related issues, including food waste and food losses, agriculture and climate change, forestry and food security, as well as policies and good governance. Another topic for discussion will be how to reduce the negative impact of desertification on agricultural production.

The first part of the conference, extending from the 14^-16 May, will consist of Senior Experts meeting to discuss policy issues, including FAO’s programme of work and budget , decentralization and the FAO priorities for the region. The ministerial meeting will take place on May 17 and 18.

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva will address the Ministerial Meeting on 17 May.

During the Ministerial meeting a strategic Framework for Food Security and Nutrition will be formulated as part of a multi-stakeholder dialogue, to include member countries, international organizations, grassroots and civil society organizations and private sector representatives.