Regional Programme: Fisheries and HIV/AIDS in Africa: Investing in Sustainable Solutions

Published on 8 September 2010

Research Areas

Aquaculture, Fisheries, Policy & Institutions

Countries

Benin, Cameroon, Congo Dem. Rep., Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia

Timeline

Start Date: 1 April 2007 | End Date: 31 July 2010

Overview

This Regional Programme aims at strengthening the capacity of people and agencies in Africa to develop practical, coordinated and sustainable solutions to enhance the contributions of fish and fisheries to economic and human development. In particular, the Programme is building a strategic response to HIV/AIDS in the fisheries sector that will generate benefits for vulnerable groups in wider society. Output areas under the Programme include: 1.) Improved knowledge base on the trends and risk factors of HIV/AIDS in the fisheries sector; 2.) Viable investment options to reduce vulnerability and increase mitigation capacity in the fisheries sector and generate benefits for populations at risk in wider society; 3.) Improved policies, institutions and processes for dissemination and investment in best practice.

The Programme comprises two sub-regional projects, one in East and Southern Africa (with learning sites in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Lake Victoria and DR Congo) managed by the WorldFish Center, one In West Africa (with sites in Benin, Cameroon and Nigeria) managed by FAO. WorldFish Center Zambia is responsible for overall coordination, and research-for-development activities are grouped around three technical focus areas:

1)        Options for reducing vulnerability along the fish marketing chain.

Assessment of socio-economic and health trends among target groups and an analysis of contributing risk factors including the dynamics of mobility in different fisheries contexts. These assessments form the basis of pilot projects in selected learning sites along key ‘development corridors’ that will identify viable options for wider investments targeted at key constraints and development opportunities.

2)        Enhancing nutrition benefits from small-scale aquaculture and fisheries.

Analysis of the nutritional value, accessibility and potential health impact of common local fish products available to poor people affected by HIV/AIDS.  A range of target groups have been selected, including urban poor, small-holder aquaculture households, people living with HIV and on ART.

3)        Stimulating institutional change to increase investment in viable support options.

Analysis of institutional opportunities and constraints in the context of decentralization, national HIV/AIDS and fisheries policy formulation and food security planning in order to generate lessons for improving integration of fisheries, HIV/AIDS and wider health policy processes.

Learning and models generated under the Programme are being shared widely and used to inform policy and development efforts in the African region and beyond. A Policy Advisory Group (PAG) comprising senior representatives of national governments, Regional Economic Communities, AU/NEPAD and leading technical agencies in the region, has been established to advise the Programme on regional linkages for policy impact and direction for expansion and dissemination of Programme results.

Research Partners

• Development Organization - UN and international organization
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• Government
• Department of Fisheries Resources (DFR) - Entebbe, Uganda
• Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MoAFS), Malawi
• Ministry of Fisheries - Department of Planning and Cooperation - IDPPE - Mozambique
• Uganda AIDS Commission
• NARI - National Agricultural Research Institute
• Zambia Fisheries Department
• NGO - international or developed-country based non-governmental institution
• Kenneth Kaunda Children of Africa Foundatoin (KKCAF)
• World Vision DRC
• World Vision Malawi
• SRO - Sub-Regional Organization
• Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO)
• University
• Makerere University - Department of Food Science and Technology
• Overseas Development Group - University of East Anglia - UK
• University of Lubumbashi - Centre Interdisciplinaire pour le Developpement et Education Permanente (CIDEP)
• University of Lubumbashi - Cliniques Universitaires
• University of Malawi, Bunda College of Agriculture
• University of Malawi, Chancellor College
• University of Zambia

Tags

female fish traders, Fisheries, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and food security, vulnerabilities