© 2017 AU-IBAR. Expert Consultative Workshop to Formulate Guidelines for Developing Aquaculture Business Models and Enhancing Extension Services, Mensvic Hotel, Accra, Ghana 24th to 25th July, 2017.Introduction

A consultative workshop to Formulate Guidelines for Developing Aquaculture Business Models and Enhancing Aquaculture Extension Services was jointly organized by the African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and the NEPAD Agency in collaboration with the Government of Ghana with support from the European Union from the 24^th to 25^th July, 2017 in Accra Ghana.
The objectives of the consultative meeting were to: (a) Review and identify the key constraints and factors of success for commercial aquaculture and the provision of extension services for aquaculture in Africa. (b) Deliberate on the requirements for developing aquaculture value-chains and subsequently appropriate business models with matching extension guidelines to support sustainable development of commercial aquaculture value-chain(s) in Africa.
The consultative meeting was attended by 45 participants representing 19 African Union Member States: Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Regional Economic Communities (RECs) present were ECOWAS and IGAD. The participants comprised private sector, public sector, research and academia, together with representatives of the AFRM Aquaculture Working Group and Trade Working Group. Dr. Simplice Nouala, the Head of the Animal Production Unit at AU-IBAR, on behalf of the Director AU-IBAR welcomed the participants to the workshop. In his remarks, he provided the participants with a brief overview of the purpose of the workshop emphasizing the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa policy objective to promote market-led sustainable aquaculture development on the continent. Consequently there was a need to guide the aquaculture sub-sector in this direction. Accomplishing this goal strongly hinged upon providing stakeholders with the appropriate knowledge and skills to adopt and implement business rather than subsistence approach for aquaculture.

© 2017 AU-IBAR. Think Tank Meeting on Intra-Regional Fish Trade in Africa, 2nd – 4th August 2017, Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria.Introduction

From 2^nd to 4^th August 2017, the beautiful city of Abuja in the Federal Republic of Nigeria hosted a Think Tank Meeting on Intra-regional Fish Trade in Africa in the context of the Africa's Agriculture Growth and Transformation Agenda. The meeting was organized by the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in collaboration with the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) and WorldFish with support from the European Union (EU).

The overall objective of this meeting was to present the research and development findings and outputs by studies under the Fisheries Governance and Fish Trade Projects and to identify policy entry points that will enhance intra-regional trade of fish and fish products for improved and significant contributions to the Malabo goals of tripling regional trade by 2025. The specific objectives included:

• Assess the status of the regional fish trade in Africa and its contribution to food and nutrition security.
• Assess the institutional and policy environment hindering intra-African fish trade.
• Share experiences (best practices, knowledge and lessons learnt) on regional fish trade.
• Identify priority policy entry points and develop action plans for various national and regional stakeholders to strengthen their roles in facilitating inter and intra-regional fish trade in the continent.

The workshop was attended by 57 participants. These include experts in charge of trade matters and Directors of Fisheries of AU MS; consultants and experts from the continent; Regional Economic Communities, Regional Fisheries Bodies and the private sector. The following countries were represented Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. Regional Institutions and Organizations included IGAD, EAC, and LVFO. WorldFish, NEPAD and AU-IBAR were also represented.

© 2017 AU-IBAR. Think Tank Meeting on Intra-Regional Fish Trade in Africa, 2nd – 4th August 2017, Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria.Introduction

From 2^nd to 4^th August 2017, the beautiful city of Abuja in the Federal Republic of Nigeria hosted a Think Tank Meeting on Intra-regional Fish Trade in Africa in the context of the Africa’s Agriculture Growth and Transformation Agenda. The meeting was organized by the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in collaboration with the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) and WorldFish with support from the European Union (EU).

The overall objective of this meeting was to present the research and development findings and outputs by studies under the Fisheries Governance and Fish Trade Projects and to identify policy entry points that will enhance intra-regional trade of fish and fish products for improved and significant contributions to the Malabo goals of tripling regional trade by 2025.

The specific objectives included:

• Assess the status of the regional fish trade in Africa and its contribution to food and nutrition security.
• Assess the institutional and policy environment hindering intra-African fish trade.
• Share experiences (best practices, knowledge and lessons learnt) on regional fish trade.
• Identify priority policy entry points and develop action plans for various national and regional stakeholders to strengthen their roles in facilitating inter and intra-regional fish trade in the continent.

© 2017 AU-IBAR. Communique from the Think Tank Meeting on African Ornamental Fisheries Held in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, at the Chelsea Hotel 31st July -01st August,2017.Introduction

The Think Tank Meeting on African Ornamental Fisheries was held on the 31^st July-1^st August, 2017 at the Chelsea Hotel in Abuja in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The meeting was organized by African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in collaboration with the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) and Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the support of the European Union (EU).

The overall objective of the meeting was to share experiences (success, failures and obstacles) on the past and ongoing interventions in the sector and develop strategies and action plans for improvement, governance and management of African ornamental fisheries in the context of the Malabo Declaration.

Participation

The meeting was attended by 46 participants representing the 16 African Union Member States: Republics of Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroun, Chad, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, and Zambia; Regional Economic Communities: Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Regional Fisheries Institutions: Nile Basin Initiative/Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program (NBI/NELSAP), Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA); Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC); Non State Actors; Private sector; Research institutions; Independent Experts; Development Partners Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Also in attendance were staff members from the African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR),NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA).