Closing Date : 16 Jan 2025
Context and Background
African Union intervention in the fisheries and aquaculture sector is guided by the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) which is aimed at improving governance of the sector for increased sustainable contribution to food security, livelihoods and wealth creation. Also within the framework of the African Union Agenda 2063, the Africa Blue Economy Strategy environed an inclusive and sustainable blue economy with fisheries and aquaculture being one of the significant contributors to Africa’s transformation and growth.
The Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa is a multilateral document formulated with an aim of facilitating coherent policy development for the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture resources in the member states of the African Union to optimize benefits from their natural resources. Furthermore, it guides on good governance principles considered as best practices in fisheries management and aquaculture development. Strategically the objectives of the PFRS include; (i) elaborating essential guiding principles for the good governance of Africa’s fisheries and aquaculture for increased coherence and coordination of the sector; (ii) assisting the AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Fisheries Organizations (RFBs) to develop realistic fisheries and aquaculture policies by suggesting standards and best practices for the sector’s benefits, in terms of food security, employment, and income; (iii) helping facilitate regional collaboration and integration in shared fisheries and aquaculture resources management; (iv) providing appropriate guidance on how to implement reforms for fisheries and aquaculture development; (v) facilitating the adoption of relevant provisions in international fisheries management instruments; (vi) facilitating advocacy for increased investment in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
Several high-level initiatives on the continent articulated the challenges and opportunities in the sector. Prominent among these initiatives are the 2004 Sirte Summit Declaration, the Abuja NEPAD Fish-for-All Summit declaration of 2005, the 2010 Banjul Conference of African Ministers for Fisheries and Aquaculture (CAMFA I) and the 2014 Addis Ababa CAMFA II. These initiatives underscored the need for sectoral policy and institutional governance reforms that can catalyze increased sustainable contribution to the socio-economic development of the continent. The CAMFA I recommended that the African Union (AU) put in place a mechanism for broad-based participatory policy dialogue and fisheries management to ensure coherence of fisheries policies and initiatives. This recommendation was later adopted through an Executive Decision by the African Heads of State and Government (Doc. EX. CL/627(XVIII). Thus, the process of formulation of the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) started in earnest in 2012. The PFRS was subsequently endorsed as a blueprint for the sustainable positive reform of Africa’s Fisheries and Aquaculture sector for increased benefits to Member States.
This was followed by development of the guiding principles for the implementation of the PFRS which recommended alignment of regional and national policies and strategies to the PFRS and specifically assist AU member states, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs) to develop realistic fisheries and aquaculture policies by suggesting standards and best practices that will realize benefits such as food security, employment and income.
Moreover, much work was to be done to continue to encourage and support AU Member States to ratify and/or implement relevant instruments. Such support and encouragement would be more effective in (i) developing capacities of AU Member States; (ii) establishing a monitoring mechanism to follow the progress of strategy implementation; (iii) facilitating studies to collate opportunities and identify changes with respect to global instruments in order to deepen the awareness created under FishGov1; and (iv) supporting actions to develop and strengthen mechanisms for compliance by AU member states.
The sustainability of Africa’s fisheries and aquaculture sector, unfortunately remains challenged by poor governance, low levels of investment, environmental degradation and climate-change. Environmental degradation and climate-change have been cited as causes for loss of breeding and fishing grounds, reduction of fish landing sites and decreased fish production in the small-scale fisheries and aquaculture sub-sectors. Livelihoods and thus, the socio-economic status of rural fishing communities has progressively become at stake. The contribution of the sector towards African Union Member State’s (AU-MS) national GDP’s, food and nutrition security and rural development is consequently below the anticipated most AU-MS national goals for the sector.
Consistency with the foregoing the Fisheries Governance Project Phase 2 (FishGov2) provided for the exercise to develop comprehensive training materials and conduct a training workshop that focuses on effectively designing and implementing fisheries and aquaculture strategies at both national and regional levels throughout Africa. In this regard AU-IBAR intends to engage a consulting firm with relevant qualifications, expertise and experience in Fisheries and Aquaculture policy, regulation, strategies, implementation plans and guidelines to undertake this technical assistance.
Objectives of the Assignment
The objective of this consultancy assignment is to develop comprehensive training materials and facilitate an interactive training workshop focused on the design and implementation of fisheries and aquaculture strategies at national and regional levels in Africa. This assignment aims to strengthen the capacities of participants by equipping them with practical knowledge and tools to create effective, data-driven strategies that address key challenges in fisheries and aquaculture. The training will enable stakeholders to better manage resources, address challenges and ensure sustainable practices, and promote regional collaboration to enhance food security and economic growth across Africa’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
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