16 May
2006 - Nairobi, Kenya – A region-wide partnership
aimed at restoring depleted fisheries and reducing
poverty was launched today by the African Union,
World Bank, United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization, and WWF.
This partnership includes a
commitment of US$60 million from the Global Environment
Facility, which is to be matched 3-1 in funds
from other donors for a total of approximately
US$240 million over the next ten years. The new
Sustainable Fishing Investment Fund is the first
of its kind, and will focus on sustainable fisheries
in the large marine ecosystems of Africa and will
work to reduce poverty in coastal communities
and curtail overfishing of marine resources.
“We commend the Global Environment
Facility for this massive support for fisheries
conservation,” said Bill Eichbaum, managing director
and vice-president of WWF-US. “We look forward
to working with our partners and governments in
Sub-Saharan Africa to build healthy marine ecosystems
that support coastal communities.”
The funding will be used to
assist countries' efforts to better manage their
marine fisheries and improve the living conditions
of fishing communities. Among the activities eligible
for support through the Fund are community-driven
management programs that monitor, control and
keep surveillance on fisheries and marine protected
areas as well as programmes that develop alternative
livelihoods to fishing.
“This strategic partnership
will support African countries to improve the
livelihoods of millions of Africans in the fisheries
sector and contribute to a vision of an integrated,
peaceful and prosperous Africa,” said Rosebud
Kurwijila, commissioner for rural economy and
agriculture of the African Union Commission.
The World Bank, FAO and WWF,
through an extensive consultative process with
stakeholders, have over the last two years designed
the Fund and promoted the partnership with the
African Union and coastal countries that support
it. The African Union will chair an advisory committee
that includes regional fisheries management organizations,
which will oversee the Fund and partnership activities.
Fish already make a vital contribution
to the food and nutritional security of 200 million
Africans and provides income for over 10 million,
mostly small-scale fishers, farmers and entrepreneurs
engaged in fish production, processing and trade.
“By helping countries build
more responsible and sustainable fisheries, this
fund will strengthen food security and improve
nutrition in the region, benefiting millions of
the world's most vulnerable people,” added Ichiro
Nomura, head of FAO's Fisheries Department.
In addition, fish have become
a leading export commodity for Africa, with an
annual export value of US$2.7 billion. To maintain
and further enhance the contribution of fisheries
to food security and poverty reduction, the new
Fund will over the next ten years seek to restore
depleted fisheries and significantly improve the
livelihoods of coastal communities in Africa.
“The World Bank and Global Environmental
Facility are committed to working with the coastal
countries in Africa to help improve the livelihoods
of rural fishing communities and the health of
the fish stocks they depend on,” said Francois
Le Gall, lead livestock specialist for the Africa
region of the World Bank. “We are looking forward
to a long partnership with the AU, FAO and WWF
in this effort.”
