The initiative highlights the importance of recognizing interconnected regional ecosystems that require coordinated regional efforts to manage the challenges that traverse multiple countries. In addition, regional organization or mechanisms can contribute to a significant degree to more efficient utilisation of resources by contributing to enhanced collaboration between NFPs from the different Biodiversity-related Conventions. Despite lack of funding preventing regular attendance by all countries, the working group is regarded as a key partner by the UNEP Regional Office for West Asia (UNEP-ROWA) and Convention secretariats in order to conduct regional meetings in the most efficient and most effective way. The Working Group is a regional MEA mechanism under the auspices of the Arab League that meets annually and informs the advisory body and the secretariat.