Public-Private Partnership (PPP) has been identified as one of the effective strategies with potential for the development of fisheries and aquaculture in Africa (AUC and NPCA,2014).The case for PPP is based on the premise that it is the private sector that creates the jobs, goods and services that the world’s poorest people so desperately need to lift themselves out of poverty – but this can only be possible where the public sector provides the enabling environment to help achieve this goal. Although this is a fairly generally accepted position, there are no clear roadmaps to guide AU MS on PPP in the sector. It is therefore essential to assist AU MS articulate possible approaches and models for PPP interventions, hence the need to develop appropriate guidelines on this subject matter as articulated in this document.

The document is complementary to the parent Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) and an expansion of the emphasis it places on enhancing private sector investment and financing mechanism as part of the cross-cutting issues under policy area on enhancing private sector investment and financing. The Guide gives an abridged overview of generic PPP principle and practices, practical steps and templates, suggested policy intervention areas and roles of various relevant stakeholders in PPP project development and implementation. To produce this document, an expert consultative meeting was held in Yaoundé, Cameroun in December 2015. This meeting had series of plenary and syndicate sessions that jointly produced the first outline and key contents of the guide.