This document summarizes information received from 13 countries regarding the status of 30 soil laboratories in the Near East and North Africa region. It provides data on the laboratories' facilities, staff, sample analysis amounts, needs, and expectations. The key findings are: - The laboratories range in size from less than 5 rooms to over 10 rooms, and less than 150 square meters to over 600 square meters. - Staff levels range from less than 5 people to over 20, with most having 5-10 staff. About 45% of staff have an M.Sc. degree. - The laboratories analyze 500-2000 physical samples and 500-2000 chemical samples per year on average, while analysis amounts vary more for biological samples. -

1. Overview on the status of Soil
Laboratories in NENALAB
Filippo Benedetti
GSP Secretariat

2. Information received from 13 countries,
regarding 30 laboratories:
• Algeria
• Bahrain
• Iran
• Iraq (x5)
• Jordan
• Lebanon (x2)
• Morocco (x2)
• Palestine
• Sudan
• Syria (concerning 9 labs)
• Tunisia (x2)
• United Arab Emirates (x4)
• Yemen

3. 9
11
10
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
< 5 1 to 5 > 10
Number of rooms
6
16
8
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
< 150 150 to 600 > 600
Surface area of the lab
(in m2)
Laboratory facilities

4. 5
8
7
10
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
< 5 5 to 10 10 to 20 > 20
Amount of staff
Laboratory Staff
23%
45%
32%
Degree
Ph.D. M.Sc. B.Sc.
30%
70%
Training
Regularly Not regularly

5. 6
11
4
9
< 500 500 - 2000 > 2000 N.A.
Physical analysis
5
9
16
< 500 500 - 2000 > 2000
Chemical analysis
Amount of samples analyzed every year
4 3 2
21
< 500 500 - 2000 > 2000 N.A.
Biological analysis

6. 32%
26%
18%
11%
8% 5%
Trainings Consumables and equipment
Quality Control (QC) Safety
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Technical assistance
Laboratories main needs

7. Expectations from GLOSOLAN and NENALAB
23%
7%
11%
16%
18%
25%
Improve laboratory capacity by providing technical assistance and organization of training programs
Awareness raising
Provide the necessary instrumentation
Organization of inter-laboratories proficiency tests
Harminization of methods and SOPs
Share knowledge between laboratories

8. Thanks for your attention