GREENING NEAR EAST AND NORTH AFRICAN CITIES TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE

FAO launched the Green Cities Initiative (GCI) in September 2020 aiming to improve the livelihoods and well-being of urban and peri-urban populations with a goal of reaching 1,000 cities by 2030 under the intiative. It focuses on enhancing the urban environment, strengthening urban-rural linkages, and increasing the resilience of urban food systems, services, and populations to external shocks. By promoting access to healthy environments and diets from sustainable agrifood systems and increasing the availability of green spaces through urban and peri-urban forestry, the initiative also contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
FAO have embarked in initiating a regional stocktake exercise aiming to provide a better understanding of the current state and impact of existing Green Cities-related initiatives, identify existing policies and projects, highlight successful practices and pinpoint challenges that need to be addressed to advance the Green Cities agenda in the region. The results of the regional stocktake exercise will be presented during the event followed by a working group session comprising three thematics (policy advisory, capacity building and partnerships) to discuss and validate the stocktaking findings. A roundtable will follow with partners showcasing their experiences and discussing how to support regional initiatives to implement the GCI and the urban food agenda.
The event will be opened by Mr. Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General, Regional Representative for Near East and North Africa and a representative of the Egyptian MoA or MoE or MoFA (TBC). Ms Fidaa Haddad, Senior Programme Officer will moderate the event and working groups session. She will also deliver the closing remarks for the event.
Co-organizers : UNHABITAT, UNCCD and LAS (TBC)