Charting Progress in Monitoring Africa’s Fisheries and Aquaculture through the PFRS Handbook

AU-IBAR is convening a four-day writeshop in Naivasha, Kenya from 10-13 December 2024, to finalize the Indicator Handbook for the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa (PFRS). This strategic initiative seeks to strengthen reporting and accountability systems for the PFRS, which is central to Africa’s vision for sustainable and profitable fisheries and aquaculture.

The PFRS, first endorsed in 2014, provides a roadmap for making Africa’s fisheries more productive, sustainable, and profitable. However, a comprehensive results measurement framework has remained a critical gap. This writeshop brings together regional experts, technical specialists, and representatives from Member States (MSs), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and African Union Centres of Excellence in Fisheries and Aquaculture to address this pressing need.

Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, emphasized the importance of this initiative:
“The indicator framework needs to be finalized, and a reporting framework rolled out as soon as possible. This handbook is a fundamental intervention that will ensure the effective implementation and monitoring of the PFRS across Africa.”

Focused  Deliverables 
Running from December 10–13, 2024, the writeshop is designed to deliver tangible outputs, including:
1.    A finalized Indicator Handbook.
2.    A comprehensive data flow and reporting system.
3.    A clear concept for a Management Information System (MIS).

Participants are focusing on aligning indicators with key continental and global frameworks, refining existing indicators, and designing an MIS to support effective monitoring and reporting on PFRS implementation.

This event builds on work initiated in 2022, when experts identified 23 priority outcomes and 45 indicators for fisheries and aquaculture. Budgetary constraints delayed progress, but this writeshop signals a renewed commitment to finalizing the framework.
Dr. Salih expressed confidence in the team’s ability to deliver high-quality results:
“We have the expertise and representation needed to ensure this handbook is of the highest quality. The outputs from this writeshop will be critical to enhancing transparency, accountability, and the overall success of the PFRS.”

Driving Africa’s Blue Economy Forward
Currently, three key projects are being implemented by AU-IBAR under the framework of the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa (PFRS): The FishGov2 Project, Conserving Aquatic Biodiversity in the Africa Blue Economy Project, and the Support from Norway in Developing National Blue Economy Strategies in specific countries.

These initiatives represent significant progress in advancing Africa's Blue Economy. Notably, the development of the Indicator Handbook marks a substantial step forward in facilitating effective monitoring and reporting across the sector. Through these efforts, AU-IBAR and its partners remain committed to fostering a more productive, sustainable, and resilient fisheries sector. This endeavour not only aims to strengthen food security and economic development but also to ensure environmental sustainability throughout the continent. Moreover, this initiative aligns closely with the Biennial Review (AUC BR) reporting system of the African Union Commission and upholds the commitments articulated in the forthcoming Kampala Declaration.

For more information on  the PFRS, visit http://repository.au-ibar.org/handle/123456789/1207