High-Level Regional Dialogue on Women’s Empowerment & Financing Policies for Advancing Circular Agriculture in the Arab Region

The Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD)- the technical arm of the League of Arab States on food security and agricultural development—through its Arab Network for Rural, Bedouin, and Coastal Women, in partnership with FAO RNE, Greening Agriculture Programme, are convening a regional dialogue to promote coherent and inclusive policy frameworks that advance women’s empowerment and innovation in the agricultural sector.

This dialogue responds to the pressing need for evidence-based and inclusive policy discussions that foster enabling environments for gender-responsive financing mechanisms, particularly those that support women-led innovation in circular agriculture. The event aims to identify policy gaps, highlight best practices, and strengthen regional collaboration to mobilize financial and institutional support for enhancing women’s access to finance and advancing their contribution to circular agriculture and the green economy.
Participants will include high-level government representatives (ministers and senior officials), delegates from Arab countries, regional and international organizations, financial institutions, the private sector, NGOs, and youth entrepreneurs. Together, they will exchange experiences, explore innovative financing approaches, and co-develop actionable policy recommendations.

A policy brief will be produced as a key outcome of the dialogue, summarizing the main findings and recommendations. In parallel, a background paper is being developed to provide analytical insights on women’s empowerment and access to finance in the agricultural sector across the Arab region, serving as a foundation for the discussions.