The Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA) was established in 1985 to strengthen cooperation among national, regional and international research institutions and centers through the dissemination and exchange of information, experiences and research results.

Its mission is to contribute to the enhancement of agricultural and rural development in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) Region. By fostering agricultural research and technology development and by strengthening collaboration within and outside the region, AARINENA aims to achieve greater degree of self-reliance in food and agriculture, and to improve the nutritional well-being and overall welfare of the people of the NENA Region while sustaining and further improving the productive capacity of the natural resources base.

Vision

AARINENA aspires to be the hub for NENA agricultural stakeholders who strive to jointly strengthen and transform agricultural research and innovation to effectively address challenges and realize together a sustainable, inclusive and prosperous future for the region.

Mission

As a unique network of representative multi-sector partners, AARINENA promotes and facilitates the development of state-of-the-art transformational solutions that enable NENA agricultural research and innovation systems to address more effectively critical and pressing agricultural and innovation challenges. In this respect, AARINENA focuses on mobilizing dialogue, knowledge exchange and partnerships over collective actions; empowering rural women, youth and small holder farmers; impacting policies, and strengthening capacities of NENA agricultural and innovation systems.

AARINENA has the following objectives:

Foster the development of agricultural research in the Near East and North Africa Region.
Promote the exchange of agricultural scientific and technical experience and information.
Strengthen national agricultural research capacities for providing timely and necessary data and information to policy-makers.
Encourage the establishment of appropriate cooperative research and training programmes in accordance with identified regional, bilateral or national needs and priorities.
Advise members on issues pertinent to research organization and management.
Strengthen cross-linkages between national, regional and international research centres and organizations, including universities, through involvement in jointly planned research and training programs.
Assist in the mobilization of financial and
other forms of support to all efforts aiming at strengthening agricultural research and technology development in the Region.