Africa needs solutions

Workshop underlines Africa’s needs

KENYA: Speaking at a workshop in Mombasa, Hellen Guebama of the AU-IBAR, urged participants to move away from strategies and work on practical solutions.

“Africa does not need policies and strategies alone. What Africa needs now are capable institutions that can help translate continental and regional frameworks into practical solutions for Member States,” she said as she opened the 4th Physical Meeting of the African Union Network of Centres of Excellence in Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Biodiversity on behalf of the AU-IBAR Director, Dr Huyam Salih.

The meeting was convened under the FishGov2 Project and Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in the African Blue Economy Project, implemented by AU-IBAR with support from the European Union and Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, respectively.

Guebama, noted that Africa already has strong expertise in the sector, but that this expertise needs to be better organised and applied. “The question is no longer whether the expertise exists in Africa; it clearly does. The challenge is how to better connect it, strengthen collaboration, and translate knowledge into practical impact. That is why this network matters.”

Positioning Centres of Excellence to deliver solutions

The aim of the meeting, which brought together African Union-endorsed Centres of Excellence, AU-IBAR, AUDA-NEPAD, and partners, was to take stock of progress, strengthen coordination, and agree on the next steps to make the network more operational and sustainable.

The network was established to bring together African universities, research institutions and technical centres working in fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic biodiversity. Its purpose is to ensure that Africa’s scientific and technical expertise is better connected and more directly used to support policy, capacity building and practical solutions for Member States.

The meeting builds on earlier engagements held in Cairo, Addis Ababa and Kampala. It also marks an important moment for the network, as it shifts from project-supported coordination towards stronger institutional leadership and self-governance.

AUDA-NEPAD underlined the importance of moving beyond frameworks and strategies to practical delivery. It stressed that the Centres of Excellence should become active partners in helping Member States and regional bodies implement the African Union's priorities in fisheries, aquaculture, and aquatic biodiversity.

FIVE KEY THEMES:

The need to organise for delivery through clear governance, agreed roles and a realistic work plan.
Strengthen coordination while respecting each Centre's autonomy.
Ensure that the network responds to real needs.
To move from visibility through endorsement to visibility through performance.
Explore funding beyond project support.

The Chairperson of the network of Centres of Excellence, Prof Osama Kaddour, Faculty of Fisheries Resources, Suez University, Egypt, also recognised the value of collaboration among the Centres, particularly in sharing technical knowledge, supporting applied research, strengthening technology transfer and building human capacity across Africa.

Adopting an operational framework

A key outcome of the meeting is the adoption of an operational framework to guide the network's operations. It will also see the election of a Bureau, including a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, General Secretary, Treasurer and Work Programme Vice-Secretary. This will help move the network towards stronger ownership, accountability and continuity.

The Mombasa meeting comes at a time when Africa’s aquatic resources face growing pressure from climate change, overfishing, habitat degradation, illegal fishing and increasing demand for fish and aquatic foods. Stronger institutions, better data, applied research and coordinated technical support are therefore essential.

PHOTO: Group of participants at the 4th Physical Meeting of the African Union Network of Centres of Excellence in Fisheries