The Strategic Dialogue on Cooperative Development for Rural and Agrifood Systems Transformation in the North East and Northern Africa (NENA) Region brought together key stakeholders to discuss the role of cooperatives in advancing sustainable rural and agrifood systems.

Hosted in Morocco, in partnership with FAO, ICA Africa, and ICA-AP, the event gathered representatives from government institutions, cooperatives, and international and support organizations to explore pressing challenges and emerging opportunities in cooperative development. Mr. Balu Iyer, Regional Director, and Ms. Monalisa Kashyap, Program Coordinator & Advocacy Officer, represented the ICA Asia and Pacific regional office as part of the ICA-EU partnership program.

The opening session featured remarks from high-level officials, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Fisheries, Rural Development and Waters and Forests of Morocco, FAO RNE (Mr. Ahmad Mukhtar), and ICA Asia and Pacific. The keynote address by Ms. Aicha Errifaai, General Director of ODCO, set the stage for discussions on cooperative resilience and growth.

The plenary session delved into the positioning of cooperatives as key agents for rural transformation, highlighting FAO’s situation analysis and policy frameworks for cooperative development. Experts, including Ms. May Hani (FAO RNE), Mr. Balu Iyer (ICA Asia and Pacific), and Ms. Rym Ferchichi (UMNAGRI), shared insights on regional trends and regulatory needs.

Parallel panel sessions explored four critical areas: 1) Inclusion of women, youth, and indigenous people in cooperatives; 2) Cooperatives as institutions for peacebuilding and resilience; 3) Strengthening cooperative identity in the NENA region; 4) Services and innovation within cooperatives. The third session was moderated by Ms. Monalisa from ICA-AP and Mr. Melvin from ICA Africa. Each session featured expert speakers from countries of the NENA region.

The second day provided a platform for direct engagement between government representatives and cooperative leaders, with two high-level roundtable discussions. The discussions featured officials from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Qatar, and other NENA countries, addressing policy and institutional support for cooperative development. The day concluded with a field visit to local cooperatives, including Biobenzaf Cooperative and Nissaa Al Horat Cooperative, showcasing successful cooperative models in agribusiness and women-led enterprises.

The final day focused on translating discussions into actionable strategies. Participants engaged in working group discussions to develop a Common Vision for Cooperative Development and outline concrete steps for a regional roadmap.