- 30/01/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
The Sanidad e Innovación Agropecuaria (SIA) project, implemented by COLEAD for the Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic, is making steady progress. Structured around four strategic ‘blocks’, the project aims to mobilise institutional infrastructures and strengthen the country’s capacity in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary safety. A team of 12 international and local experts mobilised by COLEAD is working closely with local stakeholders to deliver the 46 products expected by August 2026.
Key achievements in the four components of the project
Block 1: Institutional strengthening and integration of One Health principles
- Result 1: The reorganisation of the processes of the sanitary and phytosanitary services was completed during the summer of 2024. Complementary outputs, such as the financial sustainability mechanism for the Agriculture and Food Safety Agency and the contractual arrangements for certain services, are in the process of being approved.
- Result 2: The draft regulatory framework and updated health procedures are being developed through collaborative workshops held in n November 2024. This work should lead to the drafting of new laws and regulations by spring 2025.
- Result 3: A national policy on sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) will be developed once the institutional foundations are in place.
Block 2: Development of integrated health information systems
The integrated health intelligence system, based on a risk-based methodology, is in the implementation phase. The COLEAD team will finalise the first tools of this system by the summer of 2025, while the other outputs will follow as planned.
Block 3: Improving health surveillance programmes
Originally scheduled for May 2025, work on this component has been brought forward to January 2025 to avoid any delays and ensure that the objectives are met on time.
Block 4: Development of good practice manuals
This block is well underway, with more than half of the 26 good practice manuals already drafted. These essential tools will benefit the various health services and the private sector, consolidating health practices on all fronts.
A mobilised team for concrete results
COLEAD’s blended approach, combining a presence on the ground with regular visits by international experts, ensures rigorous monitoring and timely implementation of actions. This exemplary collaboration between local and international teams reflects COLEAD’s commitment to delivering a quality project that meets the needs of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Dominican agricultural sector.
First Steering Committee meeting
The first Steering Committee meeting was held on 20 January. It was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and COLEAD. It was an opportunity to review the progress of the project as outlined above and to highlight the positive points such as: the excellent collaboration with the Project Implementation Unit (UEP) of the Dominican Ministry of Agriculture, whose competent staff facilitates the work; the Ministry’s constant commitment to the project’s objectives; the support of international organisations and partner agencies in the Dominican Republic (FAO, USAID, APHIS, etc.); and the expertise of the COLEAD team, which contributes effectively to the implementation of the project.
Overall, the IADB welcomed the progress made by the project, and expressed its commitment to support it.
This activity is supported by the SIA project (Sanidad e Innovación Agropecuaria), implemented by COLEAD on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic and financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) under loan no. BID-4909/OC-DR. This publication has been produced with the financial support of the IDB. The contents are the sole responsibility of COLEAD and in no way reflect the views of the Dominican Ministry of Agriculture or the IDB.
