The Challenge

Colombia’s agricultural exporters faced costly delays in cross-border trade due to paper-based phytosanitary procedures and an outdated risk management system dependent on extensive physical inspections with low detection rates. The Colombian Institute of Agricultural and Livestock (ICA) lacked the tools and resources to target high-risk shipments or adopt digital certification.

 

What We Did

The Alliance partnered with ICA, the Ministry of Agriculture, and private sector stakeholders to modernise border processes through:

  • Risk management: Designing a national blueprint for a modern system aligned with international best practice, enabling ICA to systematically identify, assess, and prioritise phytosanitary risks.
  • Digital modernisation: Supporting ICA to adopt the IPPC ePhyto Solution and connect to the IPPC Hub for secure electronic exchange of phytosanitary certificates.
  • Capacity building: Training ICA officials in risk analysis and e-certification, complemented by knowledge-sharing with international experts.
  • Infrastructure upgrades: Equipping ICA with the necessary IT systems and connectivity to sustain digital operations.
  • Stakeholder engagement: Organising dialogues and trainings with private sector exporters, raising awareness about ePhyto and the benefits of risk-based approaches.

 

The Impacts

The project delivered concrete results:

  • Colombia now has a modern risk management methodology, enabling ICA to target inspections more effectively and align with global standards.
  • The launch of ePhyto reduced paperwork, sped up certification and improved transparency – boosting national trade competitiveness.
  • ICA staff gained practical skills in ISO-based risk management and digital certification, while exporters expressed strong satisfaction with the reforms.
  • Public-private collaboration improved trust and created a foundation for continued reform.

 

Early Closure

In January 2025, a Stop Work Order from the U.S. Department of State led to the withdrawal of USAID funding, closing the project earlier than planned. Planned work to consolidate risk management and expand training under ePhyto could not be completed. Despite this, Colombia now has the building blocks in place – a structured risk management system, an operational ePhyto platform, trained officials, and stronger institutional capacity – offering a solid foundation for future reform and trade facilitation.