Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

IICA’s work will get an extra boost from revised quota contributions by Member States

Tiempo de lectura: 3 mins.

The strengthening of IICA’s finances will allow the Institute to maintain the scale and quality of its cooperation in the hemisphere, for the benefit of the agricultural sector.

According to the Director General of IICA, for every dollar that the countries in the Americas invest in IICA, IICA returns an average of USD 24 in the form of technical cooperation actions. 

San Jose. At the Eighteenth Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA), ministerial authorities made the historic decision to approve an increase in the annual budgetary contribution by the countries for IICA’s operation, with the objective of strengthening the Institute’s technical cooperation actions and improving its support for the agricultural sector of the Americas.

The Executive Committee of IICA recommended this increase in July, following an extensive analysis of the Institute’s financial structure and its future.

 “We see this increase as an acknowledgement of our work that will result in greater and improved technical cooperation for the member states, but it also entails an ethical commitment on everyone’s part. It is also a sign of trust that obliges us to deliver more high-impact results that can be evaluated by our ministers,” stated Víctor M. Villalobos, Director General of IICA.

According to Carlos O’Farrill, Secretary of Corporate Services of the Institute, the budget increase will come into effect in 2016.

 “This is an unprecedented milestone in the past 20 years. Overcoming this situation is an important achievement on the part of the current administration, since it will benefit the countries in terms of public policies, agricultural health, rural development, productivity and the management of natural resources, as well as other topics that the Member States consider to be a priority,” he stated.

Carlos O’Farrill, Secretary of Corporate Services of the Institute.

A 6.57% increase in the current quota contributions was approved and, with some exceptions, the countries have offered over-quotas in varying amounts, which will provide critical supplementary financial support for institutional management.

 “Currently, for every dollar that the countries in the Americas invest in IICA, we return an average of USD 24 in the form of technical cooperation actions. IICA has a multiplier effect that our ministers value greatly,” stated Villalobos.

IICA’s strategic partners consider the Institute to be the main ally of agriculture and rural development topics in the hemisphere. For that reason, a greater number of projects and economic resources are expected.

More information: carlos.ofarrill@iica.int

 

Share

Related news​

Brasilia, Brasil

October 17, 2025

Macarena Valdés and Marco Aceituno, small-scale Chilean producers who have thrived under challenging conditions, will take part in the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas in Brasília

Macarena Valdés and Marco Aceituno, creators of a farm where food production has flourished despite the severe drought that has afflicted Chile in recent years, will be among the speakers at the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas 2025, to be held from November 3 to 5 in Brasília.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

El Director General del IICA, Manuel Otero, destacó que la decisión del Banco Mundial de duplicar sus inversiones en el sector agropecuario refuerza la importancia de los pequeños agricultores y reconoce el papel de América Latina y el Caribe en la seguridad alimentaria global.

San Jose, Costa Rica

October 16, 2025

IICA Director General  welcomes World Bank’s decision to double its investments to strengthen the role of small-scale farmers and expresses willingness to work together in Latin America and the Caribbean

Otero stated that IICA stands ready to assist the World Bank in helping small-scale farmers to increase their productivity, scale up and connect to value chains that can increase their income. To that end, IICA will tap into its broad experience in the region, where it works together with various strategic partners from the public and private sectors.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

San José, Costa Rica

October 15, 2025

Hemispheric dialogue at IICA identifies effective governance, strategic public spending and innovative green funding as key elements to strengthen regional agrifood systems

During a hemispheric dialogue held at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), government leaders, representatives of international agencies and regional agrifood sector experts agreed on roadmaps for strengthening institutional frameworks and coordinating public policies in Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins