FAO and agriculture ministry strengthen national capacity for cash and voucher assistance

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, has completed a five-day Core Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) Training Workshop aimed at strengthening Jamaica’s capacity to design and implement cash-based assistance programmes for vulnerable farming and fishing communities.

Held from June 8-12 in Kingston and St. Catherine, the workshop brought together senior representatives from FAO, the Ministry, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) to build practical skills in the assessment, design, implementation, monitoring and accountability of Cash and Voucher Assistance programmes. The training forms part of preparations for cash-for-work and conditional cash transfer activities under the Green Climate Fund-funded ADAPT Jamaica Project, supporting recovery and resilience-building efforts following Hurricane Melissa.

Over five days, participants explored the full project management cycle for CVA programming, including market assessments, response analysis, targeting and registration, monitoring, accountability, risk management, preparedness and protection as well as gender and inclusion considerations.

“Cash and voucher has been adjudged to be the most efficient way of providing humanitarian assistance to people in need,” said training facilitator and Cash and Voucher Assistance Advisor, Ishaku Melia. “This training is to be able to bring us all on the same page and equip people with the knowledge and the expertise that we need to be able to carry out cash and voucher assistance efficiently but also effectively so that we achieve the desired results on improving people’s outcomes,” furthered Melia.

For participants, the training underscored the importance of strengthening how agencies identify and respond to vulnerability within farming and fishing communities.

Raymond Reid, Parish Manager for RADA St. Ann, said the workshop highlighted the need to look beyond agricultural production indicators and take a more holistic approach to understanding the circumstances facing farming households.

“Sometimes I don't think we do enough monitoring of them, or I don't think sometimes we get enough information on their living conditions, because we are focusing on just production. I think we need to take a step back now to actually assess the family.” Reid said.

He noted that a deeper understanding of household circumstances can help agencies better tailor support to vulnerable farmers and strengthen collaboration with other organizations serving rural communities.

Tanesia Garvey of the Ministry’s Project Management Branch said the training was particularly relevant as Jamaica prepares for the implementation of the ADAPT Jamaica Project.

“The workshop introduced a more comprehensive approach to the application and administration of cash and voucher assistance in Jamaica. Given also that we are the project branch, we will be integral in the implementation of the project,” Garvey said.

The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts by FAO and the Ministry to strengthen institutional preparedness and improve the delivery of support to agricultural communities affected by climate-related shocks and disasters.