Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the

Near East and North Africa (AARINENA)

Summary Report 2019

Geneva Hotel, January 16, 2020

Introduction

AARINENA conducts its strategy 2019-2030 and plan of action 2019-2024.

In this report, achievements and activities during 2019 are summarized herein below. Efforts are

focused on achieving the goals set in the strategy as follows:

I. Establishing AARINENA as a global knowledge platform to facilitate, mobilize and coordinate

multilateral exchange and dissemination of actionable specific and transversal knowledge

among stakeholders at south-south and south-north levels.

II. Supporting and enhancing multi-stakeholder partnerships over collective dialogues and

actions, aiming at collectively building up open systems of agricultural research and innovation

that are more effective in finding innovative and applicable solutions.

III. Facilitating and coordinating education and capacity strengthening of various partners to

enable them to communicate and interact effectively within agricultural research and

innovation open systems. This will include promoting the transformation of higher education

and research, and reforming research and innovation organizations and their governances in

alignment with the goal of developing efficient open systems and in accordance with agreed

upon AARINENA mission and goals.

IV. Contributing to advancing rural women, youth and small holder farmers along the agricultural

value chains through promoting collective actions among open agricultural R&I systems that

prepare these targeted populations for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in

order to improve their income, enable them to impact relevant policies, and make rural areas

attractive to them.

V. Strengthening the architecture of AARINENA to enable the fora to perform and realize its

reviewed mission, goals and expected outcomes and impact.

AARINENA Constitution

AARINENA's constitutional changes were accepted by the Executive Committee

during AARINENA 14th General Conference, Marrakesh-Morocco. All changes

were reviewed a number of times by AARINENA's Ex. President Dr. Mohammed

Aziz Darghouth, Ex. Executive Secretary Dr. Mohamed Ajlouni, AARINENA

President Dr. Adil Abdelrahim and by current AARINENA's Executive Secretary

Dr. Rida Shibli. Finally, a hard copy with all accepted changes was produced and

circulated (in PDF format) to all members.

AARINENA Website

AARINENA’s website was modified by adding all important elements in terms of engaging people’s

interests pursuant with AARINENA's strategy (2019-2030). This change would make it easier and

attractive for all stakeholders. The most important elements that have been posted to the website

include:

The Blogs, Success Stories, Projects, Publications, Newsletter, Constitution, Strategy & Plan of

Action, Events, and Networks.

AARINENA Website: www.aarinena.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aarinena-new-375936729935905/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aarinena

The domain and hosting of the website were relinquished by the previous administrator (Masirhost,

Iran). Currently, AARINENA has full control of managing and administering the host and domain

(aarinena.org) through the American hosting firm “JUSTHOST”.

New Members to AARINENA

Four organizations have joined AARINENA as new members during 2019, these are:

1. Association of Moringa and Desert Plants, Saudi Arabia, contact person: Dr. Nasser

Alkhalifah, Vice-President of Association of Moringa and Desert Plants.

2. Faculty of Agriculture, Mutah University, Karak - Jordan, contact person: Dr. Adil Abdel-

Ghani, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture/ Mutah University.

3. Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Balqa’a Applied University, Al-Salt - Jordan, contact person: Dr.

Samih Abu-Baker, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture/ Al-Balqa’a Applied University.

4. Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology JUST, Irbid -

Jordan, contact person: Dr. Kamel Z. Mahmoud, Dean, Faculty of Agriculture/Jordan

University of Science and Technology (JUST).

Partnerships and Agreements with AARINENA

Five agreements of partnership were signed during the year 2019 as follows:

1. Partnership agreement between AARINENA and the Regional Centre on Agrarian Reform

and Rural Development for the Near East (CARDNE).

2. Partnership agreement between AARINENA and Association of Arab Universities (AARU).

3. Cooperation agreement between AARINENA and China-Arab States Technology & Culture

Transfer Centre (CASTCTC).

4. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AARINENA and the Arab Organization for

Agricultural Development (AOAD).

5. Partnership agreement between AARINENA and Jordan Dates Association (Joda).

In addition, there are ongoing arrangements for potentially new agreements that will be signed in

the next few months:

6. MoU between AARINENA and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

7. Partnership agreement between AARINENA and UN-ESCWA.

CFOWANA Meeting:

The Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East & North Africa (AARINENA)

arranged and held a meeting for the Consortium of Farmers Organizations in West Asia and North

Africa Region (CFOWANA) in September 12, 2019, Amman- Jordan. Decision-makers and experts

attended and participated in the meeting from farmers’ organizations in the Arab countries. During

the meeting, participating agricultural institutions identified their roles in the new agricultural

renaissance. For example, these organizations with their representatives were active participants

in this meeting:

1. Ibrahim Al-Tarchichi, Al-Beqaa Farmers and Peasants’ Association-Lebanon.

2. Ayed Al-Jassar, Federation of Agricultural Productive Societies and Livestock-Kuwait.

3. Raafat Al-Khunduqgee, Union of Palestinian Farmers Associations-Palestine.

4. Saed Al-Khrousi, Oman Agricultural Society-Oman.

5. Abdelsalam Al-Shami, Union of Organizations of Agricultural and Animal Production

Professions-Sudan.

6. Mohammad Basheer, Agricultural Cooperative Union-Yemen.

7. Odeh Al-Rawashdeh, General Union of Jordanian Farmers-Jordan.

CFOWANA Meeting:

Proceedings of the meeting:

1. Executive Secretary of the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North

Africa (AARINENA), Dr. Rida Shibli welcomed the attendees,

2. Participants introduced the roles of their institutions in general,

3. The current situation of the Consortium of Farmers’ Organizations in West Asia and North Africa

(CFOWANA) was discussed at length, and

4. The CFOWANA charter was discussed and the required modifications were agreed during the meeting.

Important decisions during the meeting:

▪ A decision was made to register the Consortium of Farmers Organizations in West Asia and North Africa

(CFOWANA).

▪ Following the deliberations, subsequent meetings would be held later to hold the elections of Executive

Committee for the Consortium. The Executive Committee would consist of six members; one member as a

Chair Person and five members as sub regions representing each of West Asia and North Africa (Maghreb

Sub-Region, Nile Valley and Red Sea Sub-Region, Mashreq Sub-Region, Arabian Peninsula Sub-Region

and West Asia Sub-Region).

AARINENA Newsletter 2019

Two newsletter issues were released during 2019; the first:

Vol. 24 No. 1, Biannual Newsletter, January - June 2019

and the second: Vol. 24 No. 2 Biannual Newsletter, June -

December 2019.

Participation in Different Workshops and

Conferences

Dr. Shibli gave talks and presentations, and participated in panel discussions on diverse challenges

and opportunities including climatic changes, natural and water resources, and agricultural

challenges that are facing the NENA region during different workshops, meetings and conferences

as follows:

❑ Land and Water Days, Cairo-Egypt, 31 March - 3 April 2019.

❑ UN-ESCWA “Expert Group Meeting on Green Technology Transfer, Adaptation, Investment

Required for Implementation SD12” and “7th Technical Committee Meeting ESCWA Technology

Centre”, Amman-Jordan, July 29-31, 2019. Dr. Shibli gave a presentation about “AARINENA’s

Role in Research, Networking and Innovation”.

❑ International Two-dimensional Code Industry Development Summit, China, August 23-25, 2019.

Dr. Shibli gave a presentation about “Crop Adaptation to Climate Change”.

❑ Transforming Higher Education Project, the American University of Beirut September 5-7, 2019.

Dr. Shibli gave a presentation about “AARINENA’s Role in Research, Networking and

Innovation”.

❑ International Conference on Semi-arid Mountain Environments, Abha-Saudi Arabia, September

16-19, 2019. Dr. Shibli gave a presentation about “Conservation of plant biodiversity in semi-arid

mountains: A holistic approach”.

❑ Principles of Decent Work in the Jordanian Agricultural Sector Workshop, Amman-Jordan,

October 13, 2019. Dr. Shibli gave a presentation about “AARINENA’s Role in Research,

Networking and Innovation”.

❑ Date Palm Festival, Amman-Jordan, October 16-18, 2019. Dr. Shibli gave a presentation about

“Impact of Climate Changes on Plant Productivity and Date Palm in Jordan”.

❑ International Conference on Higher Education in the Arab World, Beirut-Lebanon, December 6-

7, 2019, Dr. Shibli gave a presentation about “Innovation as Principle in University Governance:

A Holistic Approach for Arab Universities”.

❑ Workshop on Intellectual Property Rights for Innovation in Industrial and Agricultural Sectors in

Support of Economic Development Amman- Jordan, 14-15 December 2019.

Networks and Sub-Networks

AARINENA activated its networks and arranged with all members to name the

focal person/s for each network.

Further, AARINENA constructed two sub-networks (Agribusiness and Honey bees)

that were part of AARINENA's Strategy, then emails got circulated to all members

to name contact person/s for this matter.

Memberships

According to AARINENA’s constitution, Article II comprises twenty-seven countries

as follows:

▪ The following eight countries (Malta, Mauritania, Djibouti, Somalia, Cyprus,

Bahrain, Afghanistan, Pakistan) are included in the constitution, however no

contact and communication currently exists with them.

AARINENA’s Countries Decision letter

▪ Currently an official letter is in preparation by AARINENA’s Executive

Committee regarding the countries that are members of AARINENA (Malta,

Mauritania, Djibouti, Somalia, Cyprus, Bahrain, Afghanistan, Pakistan), with

memberships that are inactive.

Resumption of Memberships

The nine countries (Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine,

Syria, Iran) who did not pay their membership dues for a long time include:

Algeria 2013 -2019

Libya 2015 -2019

Egypt 2017 - 2019

Sudan 2015 – 2019

Yemen Dues were never paid

Lebanon 2015 – 2019

Palestine Dues were never paid

ACSAD Syria 2015 – 2019

Iran 2015 – 2019

This year AARINENA was able to collect membership fees that were not rendered

for the last four years from Saudi Arabia with the assistance of Dr. Nasser

Alkhalifah. In addition, ICARDA has paid their membership dues from the past

three years.

Dr. Adil Abdelrahim forwarded a formal letter to Qatar in an effort to retain them

member in AARINENA; earlier Qatar had asked to suspend its membership with

AARINENA.

Registration of AARINENA as an International

Organization

Preparing an official letter from AARINENA’s Executive Committee

regarding the registration of AARINENA as an international

organization.

AARINENA joins GCHERA as new member

During 2019, AARINENA joined GCHERA (Global Confederation of

Higher Education Association for Agricultural & Life Sciences) as full

member.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Conference 2020

AARINENA is collaborating with the Association of Arab Universities (AArU) and

the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) on organizing an

international conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in December 2020,

Amman, Jordan, http://iec2020.aaru-confs.org.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Conference 2020

Themes of the conference include:

Innovation Centers around NENA Region▪ Success stories to date ▪ Fostered start-ups

Technological Incubators▪ Building incubators▪ Incubator readiness to foster projects

Innovation in Higher Education▪ Technology Transfer Offices▪ Innovation processes for researchers

Industrial Innovation for the 4th Industrial Age▪ Linkages between academia and industry▪ Research commercialization

Innovation Platforms ▪ Platform development▪ Platform engagement▪ Platform management

Innovation-related Legislations & Policy▪ Incubator-supporting policies▪ Bylaws and regulations▪ IP registration & process

Conference Funding:

AARINENA as well as AARU will each render US $5000 as a 35% contribution

(each) as seed money for the conference. IEEE, on its part, will render 30% as the

announced share of IEEE. Other expenses will be covered through donations and

from conference registration fees.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

between AARINENA & AOAD

Cooperation Agreement between

AARINENA & CASTCTC

Partnership agreement between

AARINENAA & CARDNE

Partnership agreement between

AARINENA & AARU

Partnership agreement between AARINENA

and Jordan Dates Association (Joda)

Date Palm Festival

International Conference on Semi-arid

Mountain Environments

Workshop on Intellectual Property Rights

for Innovation in Industrial and Agricultural

Sectors in Support of Economic Development

Thank you