WHO ARE WE?
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is the specialized agency for agriculture of the Inter-American System that supports the efforts of Member States to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being.
The Institute provides cooperation services through close and permanent work with its 34 Member States, addressing their needs in a timely manner. Without a doubt, IICA’s most valuable asset is the close relationship it maintains with the beneficiaries of its work. We have broad experience in areas such as technology and innovation for agriculture, agricultural health, food safety and quality, international agricultural trade, family farming, rural development, natural resource management and the bioeconomy.
MISSION
Our mission is to encourage, promote and support Member States in their efforts to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being through international technical cooperation of excellence.
VISION
Our vision is to be a modern and efficient institution supported by a platform of human resources and processes that are capable of mobilizing the knowledge available in the region and around the world, with the aim of achieving a competitive, inclusive and sustainable agriculture sector that takes advantage of opportunities to contribute to economic growth and development as well as to foster greater rural well-being and sustainable management of its natural capital.
IICA PRIORITIES FOR STATEGIC ACTION
In pursuit of its vision and mission, IICA focuses its actions in six strategic areas:
- Contributing to the Repositioning of Agriculture and Rural life and a new institution
Framework
- Promoting trade and Competitiveness of Agribusiness
- Promoting the Development of Rural Communities based on a Territorial Approach
- Promoting the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and the
Environment
- Promoting Agricultural Health and Food Safety
- Promoting the Introduction of Technology and Innovation for the Modernization of
Agriculture and Rural Development
…………………………………………….end……………………………………..
|
Commonwealth Secretariat and IICA strengthen efforts to boost food security in the Caribbean
|
|
| The objective is to strengthen cooperation on key agricultural and fisheries challenges confronting the Commonwealth Caribbean and deepen ongoing cooperation on digitalisation in agriculture. |
|
San José, 5 July, 2022 (IICA) – One of the greatest challenges facing many Commonwealth countries is the global food crisis and soaring prices. Today, the Commonwealth Secretariat and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation on key agricultural and fisheries challenges confronting the Commonwealth Caribbean and deepen ongoing cooperation on digitalisation in agriculture.
The memorandum was signed by Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, QC and IICA Director General, Manuel Otero.
Through this collaboration, both organisations aim to support Commonwealth Caribbean countries to better leverage digitalisation for increased food production, to achieve agricultural and fisheries development, including trade and investment, and rural well-being across the region.
At the virtual signing ceremony, Secretary-General Scotland said: “In uncertain times, strengthening regional and global cooperation is key. If we are to build the resilience of the most vulnerable members in our Commonwealth family, then we must work together to fight what can seem to be the overwhelming challenges of climate change and threats to food security. I am delighted that IICA and the Commonwealth Secretariat are joining forces to tackle these challenges.”.
“Caribbean countries are key to ensuring food security at the global level. At IICA we are committed to supporting the development of resilient, innovative, inclusive and profitable agriculture where new generations have opportunities to feed their families with dignity and generate well-being in their communities” expressed Manuel Otero, Director General of the IICA.
Specific areas of cooperation include:
- Climate-Resilient Agriculture & Fisheries
- Increasing Productivity and Competitiveness
- Trade and Investment Opportunities
- Access to Climate Finance
- User Empowerment and experience sharing for farmers and fisherfolk
- Capacity Building for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
- Digital Agriculture and Digital Fisheries (Enabling the transformation of smallholder agriculture and artisanal fisheries)
At present, there are 13 IICA members among the 56 members of the Commonwealth and all Commonwealth countries in the Americas belong to IICA. Facilitated by the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Connectivity Agenda (CCA) and IICA, this partnership will help build upon the work of both organisations’ ambitions of a more inclusive and sustainable future.
|
|
About IICA
IICA is the specialized agency for agriculture in the Inter-American system, with a mission to encourage, promote and support its 34 Member States in their efforts to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being through international technical cooperation of excellence.
|
|
 |
| Print information only if necessary. At IICA, we are committed to using the least amount of paper possible, sorting our waste, rationalizing our use of water and reducing the use of fossil fuels. |
|
 |
| IICA works for the fulfillment and promotion of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. |
|
|
|
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and UNWOMEN recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the following event will serve as a forum to highlight the partnership between IICA and UNWOMEN and also provide a platform to initiate the joint planning for collaboration between the two (2) institutions moving forward. This event aims to strengthen gender-responsive services to women and youth in farming and agri-business in the Caribbean.
Rural Tourism Online Course flyer
