Development of the Agricultural Sector in Dominica by Strengthening Migration Governance

  • Start Date
    2024
  • End Date
    2026
  • Project Status
    Active
  • Project Type
    Labour Migration
  • Budget Amount (USD)
    300000.00
  • Coverage
    National
  • Year
    2023
  • IDF Region
    Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Prima ID
    DM10P0517
  • Projects ID
    LM.0515
  • Benefiting Member States
    Dominica
Dominica is experiencing a shortage of agricultural labour due to several factors, including ageing farmers, disinterest in the sector amongst potential labourers, lack of data, ineffective information management and emigration of the labour force. The impact of these factors is accentuated by weak policy coherence and a need to strengthen migration governance. Given the interconnections between agriculture, food security and migration, measures promoting rural development in the areas of origin and destination must also ensure effective migration governance. The Government of Dominica seeks to address the adverse drivers of migration from rural areas (such as rural poverty, lack of job opportunities, food insecurity, natural resource depletion and climate change) by investing in sustainable agriculture, rural development, climate change adaptation and resilient livelihoods. The objective of this project is to contribute to increasing resilience of labour-intensive and subsistence farming by mainstreaming migration for the development of Dominica’s agricultural sector. To achieve this objective, a gender-sensitive assessment on the status of agricultural labour and labour migration trends and patterns (including recommendations) will be made available to government actors in the areas of migration, labour and agriculture (Output 1.1); government officials will improve their capacity to collect, analyse and report on agricultural labour migration data (Output 1.2); a gender-sensitive Agricultural Labour Migration Policy/Strategy and related Action Plan will be made available (Output 2.1); a labour monitoring tool/system to improve the capacity of the government to use data to address agricultural labour shortages will be made available (Output 2.2); accurate and timely information on agricultural initiatives, services and products will be made available and disseminated to migrants and local communities in Dominica (Output 3.1); and innovative or improved initiatives that target different groups—specifically men, youth and migrants—will be designed to increase participation in agricultural sector activities (Output 3.2). As a result, it is expected that the Government of Dominica will 1) effectively use data to identify opportunities and gaps related to labour supply in the agricultural sector; 2) validate the Agricultural Labour Migration Policy/Strategy and pilot the related Action Plan in line with international standards and best practices; and 3) implement innovative or improved initiatives to engage migrants and local communities in the country’s agricultural sector.