About NACA

NACA is an intergovernmental organisation that promotes rural development through sustainable aquaculture and aquatic resources management. NACA seeks to improve the livelihoods of rural people, reduce poverty and increase food security. The ultimate beneficiaries of NACA are farmers and rural communities.

How it works

NACA implements development assistance projects in partnership with research centres, governments, development agencies, farmer associations and other organisations. NACA supports technical exchange and capacity building, institutional strengthening and the development of policies for sustainable aquaculture and aquatic resource management.

Organisational structure

The network is coordinated and administered by a Secretariat based in Bangkok. NACA policy is determined by its Governing Council, consisting of representatives of member governments, which meets annually to articulate needs and priorities. The NACA work plan is developed by a Technical Advisory Committee, formed from technical experts nominated by member governments. The work plan is implemented by a network of participating research centres in collaboration with governments, donor agencies, farmer associations and NGOs.

Membership

Government membership of NACA is via accession to the NACA Agreement, an international treaty. The agreement also provides for associate membership by intergovernmental organisations and donor agencies.

Work programmes

The research and development mandate of NACA is addressed through six interlinked thematic work programmes that support sustainable aquaculture and aquatic resource management, policy development and inter-governmental cooperation in the region. These are:

• Aquatic Animal Health
• Coastal Aquaculture
• Emerging Global Issues
• Food Safety and Quality
• Genetics and Biodiversity
• Inland Aquaculture

Two additional cross-cutting work programmes facilitate and support implementation of the thematic work programmes:

• Education and Training
• Communications

The NACA Workplan 2009+ is available for download in PDF format, otherwise please browse the other pages from Workplan menu for details about individual work programmes.

Implementation

The programmes are implemented through the development of projects and activities by the Secretariat in collaboration with participating research centres, member governments and other partners. Individual projects draw heavily on the personnel and facilities of participating centres. Projects are essentially implemented by the centres with the Secretariat acting as a coordinating body. NACA also works in close cooperation with FAO, international donor agencies and other regional and international organisations in implementing the work plan.