Communique - A Writers’ Workshop of the Policy Research Network for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa for the Formulation of Policy Briefs on Integrating Women and Youth in Fisheries and Aquaculture Value Chains and Business Development
© 2019 AU-IBAR. A Writers’ Workshop of the Policy Research Network for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa for the Formulation of Policy Briefs on Integrating Women and Youth in Fisheries and Aquaculture Value Chains and Business Development.13th - 16th November 2019 Libreville, Gabon.
Introduction
- The African Union- Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in collaboration with the Pan-Africa Policy Research Network for Fisheries and Aquaculture- organised a write-shop on the formulation of Policy Briefs on Integrating Women and Youth in Fisheries and Aquaculture Value Chains and Business Development. The writeshop primarily based on consolidating Lessons and best practices from 8th Session of the Aquaculture Network for Africa (ANAF) and the 3rd Bureau meeting of the African Women Fish Processors and Traders Network (AWFISHNET) held in Botswana in August 2019 and Cote D’Ivoire in September 2019 respectively.
- The present meeting was organised in collaboration with the People and Government of Gabon in the Capital City, Libreville from the 13-16 November 2019.
- The major objective of the writers-shop was aimed at reviewing the reports of the ANAF and AWFISHNET meetings; collate present information from experts’ presentations on experiences, lessons and best practices and then develop policy briefs on priority actions on enhancing the integration of women and youth in fisheries and aquaculture value chains and business development.
Participation
The meeting was attended by 26 representatives from nine African Union Member States namely: Cameroun, Gabon, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia; Regional institutions: Regional Fisheries Commission for the Gulf of Guinea/Commission Régionale des Pêches du Golfe de Guinée (COREP) and members of the Policy Research Network for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa, independent experts from private sector and Academic institutions, representatives of women groups (AWFISHNET). Also in attendance were staff members of AU-IBAR.
The selected rapporteurs for this meeting were Ms Hellen Moepi (South Africa) and Mrs. Guylene Nkoane (Gabon).
Opening Session
Mr Georges MBA ASSEKO, Technical Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food in Gabon facilitated the opening session.