Governance - Working Group

The working group goal is as follows: ‘Reform regional and national fisheries governance systems to enable wealth generation from fisheries to provide economic, social and environmental benefits to the Africa region, its nations and the African people’.

The underpinning Project Purpose is: ‘Governance reform pathways and associated policies, institutions and processes are identified to enable the generation of sustainable wealth from the exploitation of fish resources’.

There are five inter-related Project Activities and Outputs

• First, a Governance Working Group will be established. A network and forum of African fisheries experts (drawn from key organisations – Government, Private and Tertiary sectors – in Africa) will meet and communicate regularly to guide the work of the project.
• Second, an assessment of African fisheries value and benefits will be undertaken, with reference to actual and potential values under different governance arrangements. A preliminary global value for African fisheries will be determined within the first 12 months of the project.
• Third, a practical approach to improved fisheries governance will be developed and agreed, focusing in particular on improved fisheries management systems. Options for fisheries reform will be identified and discussed at a meeting of key stakeholders.
• Fourth, the key results from the work of the project (above) will be communicated in appropriate ways (reports, key-sheets, web-pages etc) to the main stakeholders. As a result the stakeholders will have access to new knowledge on fisheries governance reform, supported by valuation information on African fisheries.
• Fifth, a detailed work-plan and budget for the follow-on, Year 2, and an indicative plan and budget for the programme into the future will be developed and agreed by the GWG. It is intended to integrate these plans into the wider PAF programme plans and to link closely with donor plans, priorities and budgets.

The Governance Working Group is implemented by IDDRA.