Union of Independent Agricultural Producers of Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica

Organisation Structure and Participation

UPIAV is an organization composed of 9024 small producers grouped into 114 subsidiaries, or Sections, which are distributed in eleven districts that make up the county of Pérez Zeledón and one district within the county of Buenos Aires.

The democratic principle of decision-making characterizes UPIAV. It is of vital importance to the organization that all of its subsidiaries participate in each one of its decisions. Nevertheless, the participation of all afiliated persons is difficult without a reliable mechanism that insures confidentiality and orderly participation in decision making. UPIAV has been constantly working to improve the mechanisms that facilitate participation.

The different structures in UPIAV are as follows:

General Assembly of Delegates

This is the most powerful council in the organization and generally only convenes once per year. The General Assembly of Delegates is composed of delegates named by each Section in their respective assemblies who participate through vote and voice. In the yearly meeting the Management Committee is elected, and UPIAV's work plan is also approved as well as other actions and motions that are considered pertinent.

Management Committee

The direct responsibility of the Management Committee is to manage the overall direction of the organization. Seven members make up this committee which, through regular and special sessions, establish and pass policies, procedures and rules UPIAV activities. It embraces, on one hand, the Executive Council created by the Executive Management, and on the other hand, the Sections.

Sections

This is the structural core of UPIAV and is composed of the group of people organized in the community or communities who are fighting in defense of communal interests and rights, as well as for community development. The Sections maintain a constant interaction with the leaders in each community in an attempt to satisfy the communal needs of its inhabitants.
The Sections depend directly on the Management Committee. They must assume and fulfill the decrees that are dictated within the Management Committee as well as within the General Assembly of Delegates and other relevant groups.

Executive Management

From the Management Committee, an Executive Management group is formed which administrates UPIAV activities. It functions permanently in accordance with policies dictated by the Management Committee. It designs the work for the executive team and management primarily in terms of planning, organization, control and evaluation. It is in charge of the accounting and financial management of the organization, activity administration, and human resources. Currently, the Executive Management is composed of three persons: an Executive Director, an Administrative Assistant and a Secretary/Receptionist.