USAID Expands Program to Tackle Climate Change and Food Security in the Caribbean
Georgetown, Guyana – To address the escalating challenges of climate change, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has enhanced its flagship food security initiative, the Caribbean Agricultural Productivity improvement Activity (CAPA), managed by Improving Economies for Stronger Communities (IESC). This enhancement introduces a new focus on bolstering agricultural resilience through improved use of climate data, supported by an additional US $1 million in funding.
Designed to improve food security and promote sustainable farming practices, CAPA will also focus on improving the collection and use of data on the impact of climate change and weather patterns on agricultural production. The program’s total investment from the U.S. Government falls under its regional food security initiative, the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030.
IESC will work on this new goal for the rest of the CAPA program, which will run until 2026. The expansion will support Dominica, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname. It will also help Caribbean Community (CARICOM) institutions and Member States by providing training and resources to improve how they collect, use, and share data.
USAID/Eastern and Southern Caribbean’s Regional Representative, Mervyn Farroe noted, “The U.S. Government remains dedicated to supporting our Caribbean partners in addressing food security and enhancing their skills and resources. This new objective will include qualitative analysis of historical changes in weather patterns and will support the design of climate-smart agricultural practices, incorporating modern production technologies.”
This expansion highlights USAID’s dedication to addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and food security in the Caribbean. By working together, the program aims to foster resilience and ensure a more sustainable future for the region.
The USAID Caribbean Agricultural Productivity improvement Activity (CAPA) is a three-year program designed to improve food security and promote sustainable farming practices. CAPA is made possible by the support of the American people through the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID). IESC, a leading U.S. nonprofit organization that catalyzes private sector growth and creates economic opportunity for people and communities throughout the economically developing world, is implementing CAPA in Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
Media Contact
Sandiford Edwards, CAPA Program Director
sedwards@iesc.org
