THE INTER-AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR COOPERATION ON AGRICULTURE – IICA
WHO WE ARE
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is a specialized agency of the Inter-American System. IICA encourages and supports the efforts of its Member States to achieve agricultural development and well being for their rural populations. IICA has offices in 34 of its member countries in the Americas and headquarters in Costa Rica. The Jamaica office opened its doors in 1975 and became the first IICA outpost to be established among the English-speaking Caribbean member states.
IICA’s guiding vision is to be the leading agriculture institution in the Americas and the Partner of Choice by virtue of the quality of the technical cooperation it provides in response to the needs of its Member States, and its contributions to sustainable agricultural development, food security and rural prosperity.
More about the Institute http://www.iica.int/Eng/infoinstitucional/Pages/default.aspx
IICA Jamaica Office
IICA JAMAICA MISSION
IICA Jamaica “cooperates with the Government of Jamaica, the private sector, national, regional and international institutions in order to improve competitiveness and promote the sustainable development of agriculture in Jamaica.”
HOW WE OPERATE
IICA Jamaica contributes technical assistance in the form of training, capacity building, networking (with local, regional and international experts and organizations), knowledge transfer, research, project development and project management to aid the sustainable development of the agriculture sector and rural communities.
Over the years, the Institute has harnessed resources and skills from within its hemispheric network as well as from among its collaborating partners in Jamaica, to deliver quality technical cooperation that is attuned to the needs and priorities of Jamaica’s agricultural and rural development sector. In recent years, IICA has demonstrated expertise in guiding and providing technical assistance to, government agencies, producer organizations, rural community groups, educational institutions, youth and women. As IICA looks toward the future we will utilise these core competencies to enhance our activities.
Maintaining Relevance & Transparency
To ensure that the expertise and services IICA provides are in tandem with the needs of the sector, every four years the Institute hosts a consultative process with the members of the agriculture and related communities to identify Jamaica’s unique priority needs and gaps for urgent attention. This critical information informs the development of a four year National Cooperation Agenda, and creates a platform for the activities and projects the Institute pursues to enhance the sustainable development of the island’s agriculture and rural life. Annual reporting to the agriculture and related communities at the IICA National Accountability Seminar facilitates continuous dialogue with key stakeholders and also allows for regular assessment of the Institute’s performance by the local community and provides opportunity for recommendations to be made for future direction.
National Technical Cooperation Agenda 2006-2010
For the current medium term period (2006-2010) the Institute’s technical cooperation agenda in Jamaica includes four priority strategic areas:
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· Repositioning of Agriculture & Rural Life
· Promoting Trade and Competitiveness of Agribusiness
· Promoting Agricultural Health & Food Safety
· Promoting the Development of Rural Communities based on the Territorial Approach
Activities and projects are coordinated under these five priority areas, which sometimes overlap. We are now (2009) focusing our efforts on promoting competitive agri-businesses, developing closer links between the agriculture and tourism sectors, and executing agricultural projects on behalf of donor agencies. Also of key importance is our continued support for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in its drive to develop the sector. Already, we are contributing to the Ministry’s efforts in the areas of greenhouse technology, modernization of marine fisheries, agricultural health and food safety and studying the true contribution of the agricultural sector to the economy.
MANAGEMENT OF IICA JAMAICA
The IICA Jamaica team is led by Representative Mr. Trevor Murray who provides guidance for the operation and oversight of the activities coordinated by the Office. The Representative is supported by a hardworking team of technical specialists, administrative and ancillary personnel and a contingent of temporary project staff.
IICA REPRESENTATIVES IN JAMAICA
2010 — Present Trevor Murray (Trinidad & Tobago)
2007 — 2010 Cynthia Currie (Canada)
2005 — 2007 Trevor Murray (Trinidad & Tobago)
2002 — 2005 Héctor R. Barreyro (Argentina)
1998 — 2001 Chelston W.D. Brathwaite (Barbados)
1997 — 1998 Enrique Reiger (Costa Rica)
1996 — 1997 Tomás Mulleady (Argentina)
1989 — 1996 Armando Reyes-Pacheco (Honduras)
1986 — 1989 Jan Hurwitch McDonald (USA)
1984 — 1985 Claude Brouillard (Canada)
1978 — 1983 Percy Aitken-Soux (Bolivia)
1975 — 1977 Raul Soikes (Peru)