SPS Leadership Course – August 26-30, 2019 in San Jose, Costa Rica
Participant: Tandeka Barton – Principal Analytical Scientific Officer (GA-FDD)
The SPS Leadership Course organized by the Inter-American Institute of Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA) invited professionals in plant health, animal health and food safety with direct responsibility for implementing sanitary and phytosanitarystandards to learn and practice proven techniques in leadership development, social innovation, goal setting, monitoring progress, overcoming difficulties and measuring results.
The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provided funds to support the program, which is a collaboration between IICA and the Centre for Executive Education of the UN-mandated University of Peace.
The objective of the course is twofold: First, to develop a cadre of leaders in Latin America with skills to implement significant changes in the field of SPS. Second, promote intersectoraldiscussion and collaboration to strengthen the effective implementation of standards at the national, regional and global levels.
The course is so structured to accommodate feedback through self-assessments about strengths and reflect on how one can further leverage those strengths. Knowledge was imparted on how to improve personal “conflict-style” and develop strategies to transform conflicts into positive results. At the first technical session international experts discussed the scientific, technical and political aspects of international standards and current trends related to SPS measures. Participants are being equipped with the knowledge to develop and execute an Individual Leadership Action Plan to address the challenges of implementing a specific standard faced in their home country.
The program consists of two face-to-face meetings, the first executed August 26-30, 2019 and the second to be held in April 2020 in San Jose Costa Rica. The course also entailed online sessions through the Centre for Executive Education of the UN-mandated University of Peace. These online sessions were conducted in October and November, 2019. The online sessions were conducted in three modules: Measuring Outcome and Impact; Program Management: Creating a Project Based Budget; and Communicating with Stakeholders.
The SPS Leadership course is expected to culminate in April 2020 at the second and final face- to-face meeting in San Jose Costa Rica.
My project for this programme, based on the proposal submitted, centres on the translation of Codex Standards into national legislation.