Resource information
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and several development partners are working together with countries to prepare Voluntary Guidelines that will provide practical guidance to states, civil society, the private sector, academic and research institutions, donors and development specialists on the responsible governance of tenure. By setting out principles and internationally accepted standards for responsible practices, the Voluntary Guidelines will provide a framework and point of reference that stakeholders can use when developing their own policies and actions.
Regional consultations on the proposed Voluntary Guidelines are an important part of the process. They bring together regionally representative, multidisciplinary groups to assess regional priorities and issues that should be considered when the Voluntary Guidelines are drafted. The regional consultation for the Near East and North Africa was organized by Birzeit University, hosted by the University of Jordan under the patronage of H.E. Mr. Ali El-Ghzawi, Minister of Municipal Affairs. The consultation was attended by 42 experts from 11 countries (Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates) who brought a rich and extensive range of expertise derived from their experience in the public sector, private sector, civil society and academia. The workshop provided an opportunity for the participants to discuss their ideas and share their experiences which led to the formulation of common conclusions reflecting the region’s specificities and its related priorities.
