3rd Regional Workshop on Fisheries, Aquaculture, and the Blue Economy in Africa's Development
The 3rd Awareness Enhancing Workshop on the Importance of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Blue Economy in Africa's Socio-Economic Development, is being held from 07–09 April 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa, bringing together key stakeholders from AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, and civil society, and AWFISHNET South Africa Chapter to strengthen regional dialogue and action around Africa's aquatic wealth. Organized by AU-IBAR and AUDA-NEPAD, the workshop is focusing on the transformative potential of fisheries, aquaculture, and the blue economy in driving sustainable development, improving livelihoods, and contributing to food security and wealth creation on the continent.
In remarks delivered by Mrs. Hellen Guebama on behalf of Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, the urgent need for increased public investment in the sector was highlighted, noting that limited funding has continued to hinder its full potential. She emphasized the importance of leveraging continental frameworks such as the Africa Blue Economy Strategy, and aligning efforts with the Malabo Declaration and Agenda 2063. Participants were called upon to champion the value of fisheries and aquaculture in their respective countries to drive visibility, awareness, and policy support. She also acknowledged the strong partnerships with development actors, including the European Union, whose support to Fisheries Governance Projects has been instrumental in uniting stakeholders towards sustainable and inclusive management of Africa's blue resources.
The workshop will feature technical presentations, knowledge exchange sessions, and group work focused on policy, governance, partnerships, and awareness strategies. Key expected outcomes are the development of draft national blue economy strategies, action plans, and coordination mechanisms, setting a solid foundation for scaling investments and impact across the continent.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
4 days ago
- Zawya
AUS and American University, Washington, DC, launch 4+1 pathway to graduate studies in environmental science
Sharjah, UAE – American University of Sharjah's (AUS) College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) has signed a new agreement with American University (AU), Washington, DC, to offer a 4+1 academic pathway for AUS students majoring in environmental sciences and sustainability. The initiative will enable eligible students to earn a Master of Science in Environmental Science from American University in just one additional year after completing their four-year undergraduate degree at AUS. The agreement, finalized in April 2025, builds on more than two decades of ties between AUS and AU, which share a long-standing institutional relationship dating back to AUS' founding. This latest partnership was spearheaded by Dr. Fatin Samara, a professor at AUS' Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, who is also currently an adjunct faculty member at the Department of Environmental Sciences at AU. Her affiliation with both institutions helped bring the partnership to life, along with support from several members of the environmental sciences faculty. 'The launch of this new partnership, during the same week as Earth Day, symbolizes our community's commitment to creating pathways for students to progress toward environmental leadership,' said Dr. Samara. 'Those who choose this pathway will be equipped with the tools, knowledge and global perspective needed to address pressing environmental challenges and build a more sustainable future.' A highly regarded institution, AU is among the top 100 US universities in the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings and ranks second in the US in The Princeton Review's Green Colleges ranking. 'CAS' leadership is delighted to see this partnership come to life. It reflects our commitment to providing CAS' students with an enriched academic experience that extends beyond borders. We are proud to collaborate with a globally respected institution like American University in Washington, DC, on this 4+1 pathway. This partnership will help accelerate the route to graduate education for our students in the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and Sustainability program and allow them to spend a year studying in a global center for environmental policy and research,' said Dr. Hana Sulieman, Associate Dean of CAS. Under the 4+1 model, AUS students will complete their four-year bachelor's degree at AUS and transfer to American University for one additional year of study to complete their master's degree. Eligible students may transfer up to nine credits toward the master's degree, including two graduate-level courses and their senior research project, taken during their final year at AUS. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. As part of the agreement, AUS students admitted to the program will also receive a generous 50 percent tuition scholarship, significantly lowering the cost of graduate study in the US. 'We are excited to expand our partnership with the American University of Sharjah through an accelerated pathway to a master's degree in environmental science, said Dr. Vicky Wilkins, Provost of American University. 'This program equips students with the knowledge and skills to confront the complex sustainability challenges of today and tomorrow. Together, we are shaping the next generation of leaders who will drive global environmental progress.' Students applying can choose between a thesis track focused on environmental science research and a non-thesis track in environmental policy and advocacy. Both tracks emphasize interdisciplinary learning and real-world application and integrate science with policy, economics and global sustainability issues. After graduating, students will benefit from Washington, DC's position as an international hub for environmental research, advocacy and policy and its vibrant job market, where junior roles start at $60,000 and senior roles reach over $140,000 a year according to a job search and labor market data platform. Graduates of American University's Master of Science in Environmental Science have gone on to work at organizations such as the US Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the World Bank, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. AU's faculty are actively involved in cutting-edge research, from food systems and climate resilience to geospatial analysis and environmental toxicology, also making it an excellent destination for AUS graduates wishing to pursue an academic or research career. The program will be available to AUS students beginning in Fall 2025. About AUS American University of Sharjah (AUS) was founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah. Sheikh Sultan articulated his vision of a distinctive institution against the backdrop of Islamic history and in the context of the aspirations and needs of contemporary society in the UAE and the Gulf region. Firmly grounded in principles of meritocracy and with a strong reputation for academic excellence, AUS has come to represent the very best in teaching and research, accredited internationally and recognized by employers the world over for creating graduates equipped with the knowledge, skills and drive to lead in the 21st century. AUS values learners not driven only by academic success, but by those that embrace our dynamic campus life and embody our ideals of openness, tolerance and respect. This combination of academic excellence and community spirit ensures AUS is filled with world-class faculty and students, poised to become the innovators, thinkers, contributors and leaders of tomorrow.
Zawya
28-05-2025
- Zawya
2025 Annual Meetings: Africa's Vast Human and Natural Capital Key to Achieving African Union's Agenda 2063, experts affirm
Africa, the world's youngest continent with immeasurable natural resources, has all it needs to achieve the African Union's Agenda 2063, provided the right public policies are implemented, according to government officials and development experts. The experts expressed this shared conviction on Monday during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group, taking place in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, under the theme 'Making Africa's Capital Work Better for Africa's Development.' Speaking at a knowledge event titled 'Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan for Agenda 2063: An Opportunity to Develop and Finance Africa's Capital,' Koffi N'Guessan, Ivorian Minister of Vocational Training and Apprenticeships, reaffirmed that Agenda 2063 -- adopted in January 2015 by the African Union – remains the strategic framework for the continent's economic and social transformation. N'Guessan noted that, despite a challenging global environment, the last decade has seen notable progress in Africa, particularly in economic and political integration, gender equality, and access to employment opportunities. However, he acknowledged that previous efforts have often fallen short of addressing the continent's structural transformation needs, including job creation for youth and poverty reduction. 'The second Agenda 2063 implementation plan, adopted in February 2024 by the African Union, offers a crucial opportunity to tackle these challenges and accelerate development outcomes,' he said. According to the Ivorian Minister, Africa is poised to become a major global power, alongside China and India, due to its demographic potential. However, he stressed that African countries should prioritize vocational and technical training to fully harness this demographic dividend. He highlighted a worrying trend: approximately 22.5 percent of young people aged 15 to 24 are unemployed with no education or training. Additionally, 250 million children and young people in low-income countries are not in school, underlining the disconnect between education systems and labor market needs. 'Youth can become a liability if robust training policies are not implemented - from nursery school through to university,' he warned. Taking natural capital into account when calculating GDP Hervé Lohouès, Division Manager in the Country Economics Department at the African Development Bank, emphasized the importance of natural wealth in calculating the GDP of African countries. 'The GDP of a country like the Central African Republic would increase by 300 percent if its natural resources were taken into account in the calculation of its GDP,' he asserted. He added: 'It is essential to go beyond natural enhancement and ensure that all African countries adopt a compulsory development plan. We also need to ensure that governments provide incentives for transformation while considering accountability that can directly help the transition from natural to social infrastructure.' Jide Okeke, Regional Program Coordinator for Africa at the United Nations Development Programme, and Dagmawit Moges Bekele, former Eritrean Minister of Transport and Director of the Peace Fund at the African Union Commission, both stressed the need to leverage human, financial, natural and digital resources to drive inclusive and sustainable development -- key to achieving the objectives outlined in the second decade of Agenda 2063. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Zawya
19-05-2025
- Zawya
Validation of the findings on the evaluation of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) policy and legal framework and their adaptation in the livestock sector in Kenya
Kenya's livestock sector contributes 12–14% to the overall GDP, with immense untapped potential in value addition, market access, feed systems, and infrastructure. However, underinvestment in range lands, veterinary services, and aggregation centers limits optimal commercialization. The emerging role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) has become a strategic imperative for sustainability, economic transformation and food security, fueled by the rise in animal protein demand and a high-potential, yet under-performing livestock economy. Therefore, PPP offers special-purpose vehicles to bridge investment gaps, modernize infrastructure and build a commercially viable and inclusive livestock sector. It is against this backdrop, therefore, that the African Pastoral Markets Development (APMD) Platform under the auspices of the African Union-Inter Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) conducted an evaluation of the Public Private Partnership policy frameworks and their adaptation to strengthen investment in pastoral sectors in Kenya. Speaking at the AU-IBAR Validation Workshop on the Evaluation of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy and Legal Frameworks and their adaptability in the Livestock sector, Director of Policy and Research at the State Department of Livestock Development, Dr. Christopher Wanga indicated that the country seeks to modernize its livestock sector to strengthen economic resilience, notably through the development of the country's livestock marketing plan for targeted investments within the sector. Ideally, the Public Private Partnerships Act, 2021, provides a reformed legal framework that opens new avenues for collaboration between government and private actors, especially in the traditionally underfunded sectors such as the livestock development sector. The PPP Act, 2021 builds on the older 2013 framework with the aim of accelerating infrastructure and service delivery through private investments. Notable reforms include: Expanded eligibility for projects beyond infrastructure, including but not limited to agriculture, livestock and social services. Centralized governance under the PPP Directorate for better oversight and coordination. Streamlined project approval process to reduce bureaucratic delays and any other operational impediments. Clarity on risk-sharing between public and private entities. The Draft PPP Policy (2023) further provides strategic guidance on sectorial priorities, with a nod towards agri-value chains, market access and rural transformation. Despite an improving policy environment, including the Government Support Measures Policy, 2018, successful PPP adoption in livestock requires significant alignment with the sector realities and global best practices. The study therefore underpins the need for the PPP models to adapt to the seasonality, mobility and the risky nature of livestock rearing. According to the report, policies and legal frameworks should be community-centric to incorporate consultation clauses to ensure that indigenous knowledge, land-use customs and women's participation are safeguarded during the PPP implementation. The study notes the need for decentralized coordination since the county governments are the implementing arms of livestock services. Therefore, this calls for capacity strengthening of the county governments in the identification, structuring, and management of PPPs with well-articulated intergovernmental protocols defining the roles and revenue-sharing mechanisms. Further, the study reveals that the PPP must comply with the public finance regulations as stipulated in the Public Finance Management Act No. 18 of 2012 to avoid liabilities—the PPP Act mandates full lifecycle costing and stakeholder disclosures that effectively safeguards both the government and her citizens. Notably, to attract private investors into rural or ASAL areas—pastoral dominant regions, there is a need for innovative blended finance structures that would combine public grants, concessional loans and private equity as encouraged by Kenya's PPP policy. The study emphasized the adaption of the following best practices to ensure that livestock sector investments through PPP are efficient, inclusive and aligned with long-term sustainability and economic growth goals: Use feasibility studies to prioritize the bankable livestock PPPs, including the Environmental Social and Governance screening. Establishment of livestock PPP pipeline within the relevant county ministries or county economic blocs. Leverage digital tools to track and enhance the transparency of the PPP implementation. Incorporate climate resilience and disaster risk reduction KPIs into contracts to enhance PPP investment sustainability. The stakeholder feedback reiterated the essence of alternative financing within the sector, mapping of private investor needs and priorities for ease of uptake of the facilities, and an enhanced business model to clearly draw out value-for-money propositions to private investors. It is expected that the Evaluation Report will champion the development of generic livestock-specific PPP guidelines to enable investments across the value chain. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).
