This document outlines the timeline and process for developing a roadmap on unlocking the potential of protected agriculture in GCC countries. It involves 6 phases from 2015-2017. Phase I involves preliminary activities like initial contacts and meetings. Phase II involves preparing and sharing a draft outline. Phase III involves preparing and sharing a first draft. Phase IV involves validating a second draft with stakeholders. Phase V involves editing and formatting the text for publication. Phase VI involves translating the publication into Arabic. The overall goal is to cut water consumption for crop production while improving food security through new greenhouse technologies.

1. The way forward: Roadmap
Unlocking the potential of Protected Agriculture in the
GCC countries:
Cutting water consumption while supporting improved
nutrition and food security”

2. Timing Phase I : Preliminary activities
Completed 1. Preliminary contacts between FAO and MoEW in UAE to agree on the need to look
at NGGH technologies specifically targeting on reducing water consumption for crop
production
Completed 2. Integrate regional expertise by involving ICARDA and ICBA and broadening to a
regional project for the GCC countries
Completed
(16-17 Feb 2015)
3. “In-person” (kick-off) meeting in Cairo, to start up the process and draft preliminary
draft of table of content
Completed 4 Obtain nomination of national focal points .
Completed 5. Identify authors and co-authors for the different chapters and sub-chapters. Min
Ongoing 6. Authors and national focal points start compiling information and write
contributions for different chapters

3. Timing Phase II :Preparation and sharing of draft text “0”
14 -15 September 2015 7. Inception workshop at ICBA (Dubai)

4. DUBAI workshop
The objective
to bring scientists and authors in tune and agree on a consolidated outline for the study,
distribution of responsibilities among authors and updated roadmap with timeframe
Issues at stake :
(i) Scoping of the study . Are we on the right track ? Are we focused ?
(ii)Outline of the study. Does it match the scope ? Does it need further
streamlining to avoid overlaps ? Who are the authors and co-authors ?
(iii)Take stock of the progress, were do we stand .
(iv)The roadmap with timeframe for completion of the project,

5. Timing Phase II :Preparation and sharing of draft text “0”
15 October 2015 8. All authors to submit their contribution to the chapter coordinating author
15 October 2015 9. Country focal points to submit the country paper.
30 October 2015 10. The coordinating authors to submit their chapter as (draft “0” )
During November 2015 11. Circulation of draft “0” and invite all authors and co-authors for cross review of all
chapters.

6. Timing Phase III Preparation and sharing of draft text “1”
December 2015 12. Consolidate comments and contributions from the cross-review process and
country focal points into draft text “1” .Checking draft “0” for consistency and integrate
all comments and elaborate into draft “1”.
January 2016 13. Circulate draft text “1” to coordinating authors for validation
February 2016 14. Stakeholders’ consultation workshop to create visibility on the ongoing work and
broaden the debate on the subject with partners from the public, private and academic
sectors. Get feedback on draft “1”. (Get feedback from our target audience)

7. Timing Phase IV : Preparation and validation of draft text “2” (final technical draft)
March 2016 15. Consolidate version “1”with the feedback obtained from the stakeholders
workshop
April 2016 16. Technical clearance and validation of the technical content by FAO units as
version “2”
May- June 2016 17 .External peer review of the text, to reach the final version “2” level (final
technical version).

8. Timing Phase V :Preparation of version “3”, ready-to-print
July 2016 18. Editing of the final text (draft 2) by English mother tongue editor to reach level
“3”, ready for printing and formatting of the document to conform the standards of
the FAO style and layout for a publication as a technical paper in FAO’s documents’
series in partnership with ICBA and ICARDA.
August 2016 19. Printing of the English version (select printer house and number of copies)
September 2016 20. Distribution of English version to interested parties

9. Timing Phase VI :Preparation of version 4, (Arabic version)
January-February
2017
21. Translation and formatting of document into Arabic, by Arabic mother
tongue translator
March 2017 22. Printing of the Arabic version (select printer house and number of copies)
April 2017 23. Distribution of the Arabic version to interested parties

10. We look forward to your views, and will distribute a hardcopy of
the study outline. Please feel free to annotate and to insert your
name as author to contribute to one or several chapters.