Introduction
The Workshop to formally establish a platform of non-state actors (NSAs) in East Africa was jointly organized by the African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency (NPCA) and the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania from 18th-19th April 2017, in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.
The overall objective of this regional workshop was to create and formalize the establishment of a recognised regional platform for active non-state actors in East Africa involved in the fisheries and aquaculture sector in the region that will (i) will provide strategic leadership and coordination of all national and sub-national level NSAs in fisheries and aquaculture in the region (ii) articulate their needs and demands in regional and continental forums including fostering linkages or engagement with RECs, RFBs, AU, development partners.
The specific objectives were to:
- Enlighten participants on the AU-IBAR/NEPAD Agency programmes, relevant Malabo goals, Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) and the Guide for implementation of the PFRS.
- Enable NSAs representatives share information on the experiences, challenges and impacts of their work in the fisheries and aquaculture sector in their respective countries.
- Brief the participants on the action plan developed in August 2015 for the processes of establishing East African Fisheries NSA Platform.
- Develop Rules of procedures, establish governance structures/bureau bearers and action plans for the Eastern Africa NSA.
The workshop was attended by 32 participants emanating from representatives of Non State Actors actively involved in fisheries and aquaculture sector from the following East African Union Member States (AU MS): Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda; Regional Fisheries Bodies (RFBs) Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation; Development Partner, GIZ; as well as AU-IBAR Consultant and staff members. NSAs from Comoros, Ethiopia, Mauritius, were invited and unfortunately did not attend the meeting. IGAD was absent with apology.
The opening ceremony was marked by three statements from Representatives of AU-IBAR, Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation, and Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, United Republic of Tanzania.
The Meeting
Adoption of the Agenda
The Agenda was discussed and adopted during the plenary.
A drafting Committee composed of the following was put in place:
- Dr Paubert Mahatante- Plateforme Régionale des Organisations de la Société Civile Atsimo Andrefana (PFR OSC AA).
- Ms Margaret Gatonye- Aquaculture Association Of Kenya (AAK).
- Mr Ali Mohamed Hassan, SIFO Coordinator.
They were assisted by AU-IBAR Secretariat. The workshop was facilitated by AU-IBAR and Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation.
Setting the scene presentation by AU-IBAR
The presentations provided were:
- Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa: Background, objective and expected outcomes of the meeting.
- Preliminary results from the NSAs inventory in East Africa Region.
Technical presentations
This technical session focused on:
- The need for collaboration and harmonization amongst NSAs and the Public Sector in fisheries and aquaculture by Ms Lovin Kobusingye.
- The status update of the implementation of the Action Plan that the NSA developed during the meeting held in August 2015 in Nairobi by Mr Seremos Kamuturaki.
- Presentation on the proposed framework for regional aquaculture networks in Africa by Mr Edmund Linonge Njoh, AU-IBAR Consultant.
Presentation by national and regional Non State Actors
The NSAs made their presentation on the following: the Introduction of the Organisation, the role and involvement in fisheries and aquaculture-related activities, existing collaboration mechanisms, challenges, opportunities as well as recommendations and way-forward. The representatives of NSAs from the following countries made presentations: Burundi, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Working Group Session on the rules of procedure
A concise presentation of continental Terms of Reference (Mandates) and Rules of Procedure for a Continental Platform of Non-State Actors (NSAs) in Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector in Africa was made by Mr Okeloh W’Namadoa.
Two working groups were constituted to review and amend the rules of procedure for the Regional NSA Platform of East Africa during the plenary. Mr. Seremos Kamuturaki and Mrs Perus Logose facilitated the working group 1 and 2 respectively.
The plenary discussed and adopted the two year action plan.
Outcomes of the Meeting
- The meeting developed and adopted rules of procedure for the regional platform of NSAs active in Fisheries and Aquaculture in East Africa.
- The plenary identified and adopted priority areas as a two-year work plan.
- The meeting developed a two year priority action plan.
- The participants agreed that the Uganda, UFFCA will host the secretariat of the Platform.
Mr Godfrey Monor, Executive Secretary of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation facilitation the session on the election of the bureau members.
The Platform appointed a Bureau consisting of 11 elected persons namely below:
- Chairperson- Mr Okeloh W’Namadoa, Fishnet Africa- Kenya.
- 1st Vice Chairperson- Mr Ali Mohamed Hassan, Somali Integrated Fishing Organization (SIFO)- Somalia.
- 2nd Vice Chairperson- Mrs Editrudith Lukanga, Environmental Management and Economic Development Organisation (EMEDO)- Tanzania.
- Secretary General- Mr Seremos Kamuturaki, Uganda Fisheries and Fish Conservation Association (UFFCA)- Uganda.
- 1st Secretary- Dr Paubert Mahatante, Plateforme Régionale des Organisations de la Société Civile Atsimo Andrefana (PFR OSC AA)- Madagascar.
- 2nd Secretary- Mr Jean Pierre Nimbona, President of the Aquaculture National Association of Burundi- Burundi.
- Treasurer- Mrs Elizabeth Ssempebwa, Women Fish Network Uganda- Uganda.
- Women representative- Mrs Christine Juan Phillip, Women self Help association- South Sudan.
- Youth representatives- Ms Margaret Gatonye, Aquaculture Association of Kenya (AAK)- Kenya.
- Island states representative- Mr Albert Napier, Apostolat de la Mer-Seychelles.
- People with disabilities- Burundi.
Adoption of the Communiqué
The communique was adopted unanimously by the participants at the meeting
Closing Session
The closing ceremony was marked by five closing remarks from Dr Mohamed Seisay on behalf of the Director AU-IBAR, a goodwill massage by the Executive Secretary of Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO). Closing remarks from the newly elected Chair and Secretary General of the East Africa Platform of Non State Actors in Fisheries and Aquaculture sector, Mr Okeloh W’Namadoa and Mr Seremos Kamuturaki respectively The Meeting was officially closed by Mrs Fatma Sobo, Representative of the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, United Republic of Tanzania.
Mrs Editrudith Lukanga on behalf of the participants thanked AU-IBAR for organising this timely workshop. She expressed that the participants look forward to continued support from Africa Union during the implementation of the action plan of platform. She appreciated the People and the Government of United Republic of Tanzania for being such a warm host in their beautiful country.