The NENA region is considered to be one of the most youthful regions in the world with a median age of 22 compared to 28 globally and with about 60 percent of the population under the age of 25. 

There is a growing divide between the conditions of living in the region’s urban and rural areas, with the majority of poor people living in rural areas. Youth in these areas struggle with poor basic services (health, education, communications, etc.), low exposure to and opportunities for innovation, limited access to productive resources, services and value chains, low access to social protection and limited decent employment opportunities. Many young people in the region, especially young men are choosing to migrate out of rural areas in pursuit of better opportunities. Young women on the other hand, are less likely to migrate due to constraints on their mobility and are more likely to be unemployed or employed in low quality jobs. 

FAO in the NENA region works to uplift youth and tighten the rural-urban divide, focusing on youth employment, women empowerment, and the development of inclusive value chains by availing equal opportunities and insuring inclusive economic growth.