The African Development Bank Group-funded PROFISHBLUE initiative has transformed fisheries governance and expanded blue economy trade corridors across Southern Africa, touching the lives of nearly three million people in 16 SADC countries. The program, which aims to boost fish production, consumption, and incomes while strengthening cross-border trade, has moved more than 500,000 tonnes of fish across borders over the past four years. This growth has supported job creation, improved food security, and built climate resilience throughout the region.
PROFISHBLUE has built capacity for over 250,000 beneficiaries across seven ADF countries—Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe—through a range of trainings, knowledge transfer programs, fish quality assurance equipment, and refrigerated transport solutions. Training covers the full fish value chain, post-harvest utilization, business development and SME incubation, genetic improvement programs for endemic tilapia species, standardization and policy harmonization with standards bureaus and customs officers, nutrition and product development, and financing mechanisms for blue economy investments.
Additional support includes stock assessments for transboundary waters, vessel monitoring to deter illegal fishing, and training in vessel inspection and catch statistics. On World Fisheries Day, November 21, stakeholders from SADC, the African Development Bank Group, and strategic partners gathered in Gaborone to highlight these achievements and demonstrate how the project has reshaped fish value chains and local markets since its 2022 inception.
Financed with a $9.2 million grant from the African Development Bank’s ADF 15, PROFISHBLUE has advanced regional integration and economic development by strengthening fisheries governance and establishing sustainable blue economy trade corridors. This year’s World Fisheries Day theme aligned with the program’s multi-level governance model and its measurable positive impact on fisheries communities across Southern Africa.
The project began with an ambitious investment in technology adoption among smallholder actors, including early pilots in seaweed farming, underscoring a broader commitment to innovative approaches across coastal and inland resources. The gathering also brought together government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, and civil society groups to plan future steps for sustainable regional fisheries development.
Impact across the region has been substantial. Department representatives and regional leaders expressed appreciation for the Bank’s financial support, noting that the initiative has strengthened aquatic food systems for a population of more than 380 million people in the region. The project demonstrates that sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient management of fishery resources is attainable and can drive significant economic benefits.
As Neeraj Vij, the African Development Bank’s Regional Sector Manager for Feed Africa Operations in Southern Africa, noted, global demand for aquatic foods underpins a multi-trillion-dollar value chain. Investments in governance and cross-border trade can create competitive value chains that generate employment and reduce poverty, particularly in rural areas. The Bank remains committed to expanding blue economy initiatives across SADC member states.
Key implementing partners for PROFISHBLUE include the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNIDO, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), WorldFish, and the African Organization for Standardization (ARSO). Local officials, such as Kagisanyo Bedi of Botswana’s Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, praised the program for fostering learning and exchange among regional stakeholders. Testimonials from women in fisheries highlighted the inclusive development impact, with participants like Hifadhi Hai of Tanzania and Tamala Mtambo of Malawi describing how the project has advanced livelihoods and processing capabilities.
This summary was distributed by APO Group on behalf of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
