SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (CMC) – The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) says it is working with two other international organisations on a project that will allow Caribbean countries to acquire new expertise and improve the design of policies related to food and nutritional security.

IICA said that European Union-funded project, is being undertaken in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Association of Universities of Latin America and the Caribbean (UDUAL), and should begin on January 2015.

It said the FAO and UDUAL signed a memorandum of understanding in Rome late last month, under which they will work with IICA and European universities, in developing the suite of e-learning courses as part of the online master’s programme in food security.

“The aim is to offer degrees that will further develop the capacities of food security professionals who work in government ministries and institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), such as nutritionists, statisticians, market analysts, and others.

“Furthermore, the initiative will draw on a large number of specialised courses, which have already been designed, on agricultural and rural development,” IICA said, adding that the e-learning tools will also be available to farmers, traders and agricultural workers interested in the subjects covered.

IICA Deputy Director General, Lloyd Day, said that “the development of innovative education mechanisms by IICA, FAO and the universities will make it possible to respond more efficiently to the needs of rural development and food security in the region.”

He added that IICA and FAO have had a long history of partnering on food security in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the development of the online master’s degree course would build on their joint work.

“This is a very cost effective and meaningful way to contribute to the fight against hunger in the region,” said Marcela Villarreal, Director of FAO’s Office for Partnerships, Advocacy and Capacity Development.

FAO Assistant Director-General Maria Helena Semedo said “this new partnership will allow us to reach more people, helping them to design effective nutrition and food security policies and programmes, and ultimately, helping them to improve quality of life.

“Scaling up food and nutrition policies is crucial to eradicate hunger by 2025,” she added, while Roberto Escalante, Secretary-General of UDUAL, which represents a network of 220 universities in LAC, said the agreement was about how knowledge and policy can join together to provide solutions to food insecurity.

“Universities joining forces with organizations like FAO and IICA to build knowledge on food security is a great way to address hunger,” he added.