Thanks to these and other contributions, FONTAGRO will have USD 5.8 million at its disposal for promoting projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Washington, January 29, 2015 (IICA). The Regional Fund for Agricultural Technology (FONTAGRO) is to finance projects that promote the development and transfer of technologies designed to reduce emissions in agriculture, and facilitate the sector’s adaptation to climate change, thanks to a contribution of USD 1.8 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
FONTAGRO is sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
The contribution of 1.8 million US dollars comes from a World Bank//GEF program for the implementation of agricultural activities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) using emission reduction technologies.
Under the program, FONTAGRO will contribute USD 1,050,000, while the partners are expected to provide at least a further three million. Altogether, more than 5.8 million US dollars will be invested.
The funds will be allocated to finance projects designed to adapt family agriculture to climate change approved under FONTAGRO’s 2014 Call for Proposals, as well as successful proposals submitted to the next call and other cooperation activities.
FONTAGRO, through its Administrative Technical Secretariat, will provide technical assistance and carry out the activities related to agricultural topics. It will also promote the development of technology transfer mechanisms and networks for climate change adaptation and mitigation in LAC.
“The program will contribute directly to the design of mechanisms and technology consistent with the agreements of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The implementation of agricultural projects through FONTAGRO will enable at least 15 LAC countries to participate and undertake climate change adaptation and mitigation projects,” observed José Luis Repetto, President of FONTAGRO, and Vice President of Uruguay’s Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria.
FONTAGRO is a unique regional cooperation mechanism that promotes innovation in family agriculture, competitiveness, and food security. It was created in 1998 and is made up of 15 countries that have contributed capital of close to 100 million US dollars.
Its Administrative Technical Secretariat is based at the IDB, in Washington. It has co-financed 98 projects in its member countries at a cost of nearly 82 million US dollars, including contributions from other sources of financing and implementing institutions.
FONTAGRO’s member countries are Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
More information:
priscila.henriquez@iica.int
