Enhancing Institutional Capacities in Statistical Data Collection and Analysis in the Agricultural Sector

In an effort to support the transformation and modernization of the agriculture sector The FAO and the OECS commission are working with Member Countries to improve evidence-based information for making informed decisions. 

The project “Enhancing Institutional Capacities in Statistical Data Collection and Analysis in the Agricultural Sector in OECS Member States” focuses on the pitfalls occasioned by the globalization of markets, technological change and challenges of the institutional environment and the strengthening of planning and statistical units in the OECS to improve the formulation and implementation of agricultural policies and programmes. 

The project recognises the urgent need for a new institutionalization of the mechanisms that facilitate increased agricultural productivity and income.

Accordingly the project will strengthen the policy formulation and planning function in the respective Ministries of Agriculture through the re-engineering of the agricultural statistical system along with the mechanisms for the generation of performance information to guide the process of decision-making.

Agricultural Planning Units, within the Ministries responsible for Agriculture in the respective member states, will serve as the drivers of this long-term vision of a multi-functional role of the agricultural sector.

The project kicked off with an inception workshop/meeting with the focal points nominated by the respective OECS countries at the OECS Commission in St. Lucia. The inception workshop ensured a common understanding of the project and its activities among the stakeholders.

It also served not only to articulate the project’s goals and expected outcome but also to gather input from the stakeholders on a work plan detailing activities and progress indicators that will guide implementation.

Subsequent to the inception workshop consultants will conduct analyses and evaluations of the situations and needs in all Countries that must be fulfilled in pursuit of the planning and implementation of evidence based policy related to agriculture and food and nutrition security in the Member States.

This will be followed by regional and national workshops with the relevant institutions to identify the requisite actions to improve and/or implement planning units in the areas of agriculture and food and nutrition security in OECS countries.

Based on the findings of the needs assessment and guided by the work plan; country-specific plans of action detailing the human, infrastructural and financial requirements for the establishment of functional Agricultural Planning Units will be formulated for each country together with a strategy for resource mobilization. 

This story aligns with OECS Strategic Objective No.5: Align and strengthen the institutional systems of the Commission to effectively deliver its mandate.