Fisheries governance must shift from policy to action

African Union and EU partners stress importance of coordination and investment to deliver sustainable blue economy outcomes

KENYA: Senior officials from the African Union, the European Union and the Government of Kenya used the 3rd Internal Coordination Meeting of African Union Commission Departments, held from at the end of last month, to call for a decisive shift toward investment-led delivery and joined-up implementation across the continent’s blue economy.

The meeting was convened by the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) under the Fisheries Governance Project Phase 2 (FishGov-2), which is funded by the European Union. It brought together key AUC departments, AUDA-NEPAD, Kenyan government representatives and development partners.

Funding the next phase

The strongest message on financing came from the European Union, which reaffirmed its partnership with the African Union while pressing for a move from policy frameworks to investment.

“We must move from policy frameworks to investment, scaling up through innovative financing and mobilising private sector engagement to build resilient and sustainable blue economies,” the EU told delegates.

The EU pointed to its Global Gateway investment approach, support to regional blue economy programmes, the importance of blended finance and private sector mobilisation, and the need for scalable, bankable interventions. These priorities, it noted, reflect a broader shift toward financing-driven transformation of the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

That message was echoed by AU-IBAR Director Dr Huyam Salih, who reminded delegates that FishGov-2 is approaching its final phase. She said institutions must move from reporting to ownership of results, ensure sustainability beyond project cycles, strengthen the documentation and dissemination of knowledge products, and identify financing pathways to sustain outcomes.

“Coordination is not a procedural formality, it is the backbone of sound programme delivery. It is what transforms individual institutional efforts into a coherent continental programme,” Salih said.

Breaking the silos

Dr Janet Edeme, representing the AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, told the meeting that working in isolation was no longer an option.

“In this era, we cannot afford to work in isolation or in silos and expect to achieve our goals. Coordination is essential to align mandates, minimise duplication, and ensure efficient use of resources,” she said.

She set out five pillars to guide future cooperation:

1. Continuous mapping of departmental mandates.
2. Identification of opportunities for synergy and joint implementation.
3. Strengthened knowledge sharing and joint dissemination.
4. Regular engagement through focal points and coordination platforms.
5. Continuous capacity building across departments.

Kenya backs the continental push

Speaking for the host government, Joseph Mahongah, Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, said the meeting was an opportunity to reflect on implementation progress, share lessons and guide the strategic mainstreaming of fisheries across AU programmes.

“This meeting provides an opportunity to reflect on implementation progress, share lessons, and guide the strategic mainstreaming of fisheries across AU programmes,” he said.

He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to advancing Africa’s blue economy agenda and recognised AU-IBAR’s leadership in strengthening governance through frameworks such as the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy (PFRS).

Outcomes and next steps

Delegates agreed a revised internal coordination framework, supported by an action plan and focal point mechanisms. Initiatives across AUC departments were mapped to identify complementarities and reduce duplication, and participants committed to moving from dialogue to joint implementation, from fragmentation to institutional alignment, and from project-based coordination to sustainable systems-level collaboration.

Across three days of discussions, several themes recurred. Fisheries and aquaculture cut across trade, climate, health and food systems. Data and evidence systems are essential for policy coherence and decision-making. Transformation of the blue economy requires integrated governance and investment, and sustainability beyond project cycles must be embedded from the outset.

PHOTO: Senior officials from the African Union, the European Union and the Government of Kenya used the 3rd Internal Coordination Meeting of African Union Commission Departments, held from at the end of last month. (SOURCE: African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources)

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