Thumbnail Image

Reimagining sustainable returns on investment for planet and people

A Near East and North Africa regional approach to ecosystem restoration and development solutions - White paper

Copyright licence

Year of publication 2025

Place of publication Cairo, Egypt ;

Pages 62 p.

Author Haddad, F.; Mukarji, O.; Fetsi, T.;

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (stand-alone)

Category Working paper

ISBN 978-92-5-140063-0

To cite or share https://doi.org/10.4060/cd6632en

Synopsis (short abstract) This white paper presents a strategic response to the environmental, social, and economic "poly-crisis" affecting the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. As one of the most land- and water-scarce regions globally, NENA faces mounting challenges from land degradation, climate change, food insecurity, and fragile ecosystems. Restoration efforts to date remain fragmented, underfunded, and insufficient to address the scale of these threats.Anchored in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), the paper introduces a Regional Investment Framework co-developed by FAO and partners to catalyse integrated solutions that deliver measurable sustainable returns on investment (SROI). It identifies six investment pathways to align public and private finance, strengthen governance, support small businesses, and leverage regional knowledge and innovation.The framework promotes cross-sectoral partnerships and policy alignment with the Rio Conventions and Sustainable Development Goals, offering a roadmap for transitioning toward inclusive, resilient development. With less than 4 percent of degraded land currently under restoration and a USD 35 billion annual funding gap, the paper underscores the urgency and opportunity for redirection of investments toward nature-positive, climate-resilient outcomes.The Paper builds on a regional mapping exercise and outlines a phased roadmap from evidence-building and partnership design to implementation and scaling. It calls for coordinated action to shift the region from a cycle of vulnerability toward long-term resilience and prosperity, backed by political commitment and innovative financing.

Cite this content as:

Haddad, F., Mukarji, O. & Fetsi, T. 2025. Reimagining sustainable returns on investment for planet and people - A Near East and North Africa regional approach to ecosystem restoration and development solutions. White paper. Cairo, FAO.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cd6632en

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Brochure
    Forests and rangelands in the Near East and North Africa 2025
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    This fact sheet provides a snapshot of forests and rangelands in the Near East and North Africa, emphasizing their value for rural economies, biodiversity, and climate resilience. It highlights the growing threats of land degradation, invasive species, and climate change, and situates the call for action within global milestones such as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. The sheet urges restoration, sustainable investment, stronger fire governance, and community empowerment to safeguard these ecosystems as pillars of regional resilience and prosperity.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Flagship
    The State of Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture in the Near East and North Africa region 2022
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The State of Land and Water Resources (SOLAW) in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is part of a FAO flagship series launched in 2011. Being one of the most land and water scarce region in the world, the preservation of land and water resources is of critical importance to ensure food security and address the increased food demand. The publication aims at providing policy makers, institutions and other stakeholders a comprehensive overview of the current situation for land and water and the effect of climate change and urbanization on food production facilitating informed decision-making. The report provides the latest land and water resource statistics for the region and outlines important challenges that NENA is facing in the lead up to 2030 and beyond. It also presents positive initiatives from the region and a range of options available to help authorities respond to the issues of land and water resources.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Flagship
    The State of Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture in the Near East and North Africa region
    Summary Report
    2022
    Also available in:
    The State of Land and Water Resources (SOLAW) in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is part of a FAO flagship series launched in 2011. Being one of the most land and water scarce region in the world, the preservation of land and water resources is of critical importance to ensure food security and address the increased food demand. The publication aims at providing policy makers, institutions and other stakeholders a comprehensive overview of the current situation for land and water and the effect of climate change and urbanization on food production facilitating informed decision-making. The report provides the latest land and water resource statistics for the region and outlines important challenges that NENA is facing in the lead up to 2030 and beyond. It also presents positive initiatives from the region and a range of options available to help authorities respond to the issues of land and water resources.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files
Show more