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The Second Meeting of the African Union-Small Island Developing States (AU-SIDS) Platform is undergoing in Seychelles, convened by AU-IBAR under the auspices of the FishGov2 and Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in the Africa Blue Economy Projects.
The Second Meeting of the African Union-Small Island Developing States (AU-SIDS) Platform is taking place in Seychelles, convened by AU-IBAR under the auspices of the FishGov2 and Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in the Africa Blue Economy Projects. The goal of this meeting is to provide participants with training in international negotiation. The European Union (EU) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) are both providing funding for the event. One of the objectives of this three-day workshop in Seychelles is to empower the fisheries platform that will allow small island nations from Africa to join forces for discussions at the international level.
The project aims at enhancing the contribution of the AU-IBAR’s member states towards sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in order to achieve its objectives set out in the AU Agenda 2063. In his address, Seychelles’ fisheries minister, Jean-Francois Ferrari, stated that African Union-Small Island Developing States aims to advance its causes regionally and continentally through this platform and should learn from each other’s strength to prosper and create a bond between member states. With shared objectives to reduce poverty, increase food security, and promote economic growth. He emphasised the need for African small island developing states and Madagascar to work together in international negotiations to get better results.
The participants of the Workshop include delegates from Seychelles, Mauritius, Comoros, Cape Verde, and Sao Tome & Principe, in addition to Madagascar; Southern African Development Community (SADC); Regional Projects in Fisheries, Aquaculture and Blue Economy; Regional Sea Conventions (RSAs); African Union Centres of Excellence in Fisheries and Aquaculture (AU-COEs); Experts (Trainees and Trainers); and AU-IBAR Consultants.
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https://trendsnafrica.com/sustainable-fisheries-seychelles-dff-and-fiti-sign-agreement/
Since 2014, AU-IBAR has run a fisheries governance project and this has two components. The first was strengthening institutional capacity to enhance governance of the fisheries sector in Africa, which ended in 2018. Setting up the platform needed to proceed is the second part of the project which is to enhance sustainable fisheries management and aquaculture development in Africa.
Aside from training, one of the objectives of this second meeting is to chart the way forward for strategic positions. This will help ensure increased contribution to food and nutritional security, poverty alleviation, and economic growth consistent with the Malabo Declaration calling for action on transforming African agriculture by 2025.
