Johannesburg, July 22, 2013 – The WorldFish and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen international support for Africa’s aquatic agricultural systems.  In support of NEPAD’s Rural Futures Initiative and CAADP, this partnership is designed to realize the full potential of these agricultural systems to contribute to rural transformation, economic growth, poverty reduction and food security.

Aquatic agricultural systems provide a diversity of agricultural opportunities, including fisheries and aquaculture, livestock, cereals, root crops and vegetables.  In support of Rural Futures and CAADP the CGIAR research program on aquatic agricultural systems (AAS) is working to develop innovative approaches to improving productivity in these systems and so harness this potential.  WorldFish leads this program on behalf of the CGIAR and is working with international partners to foster the innovation required.

Speaking at the signed ceremony Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer, NEPAD Agency, said “NEPAD is committed to working with the international science community to realize the untapped development potential of Africa’s aquatic systems.  We welcome this new partnership with WorldFish and the CGIAR because it is an institutional innovation, through which we will together enhance our capacities to implement the Rural Futures Initiative and CAADP”.

The research program started in 2011 with an initial focus on Zambia, and the Barotse floodplain.  Work here is designed to harness the agricultural and natural resource management potential to increase incomes and improve food and nutrition security.  It is currently focusing on developing the fish and rice value chains in the area, improving agricultural productivity through farm diversification, and developing a new approach to flood risk reduction. In pursuing this work the program places particular emphasis on multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder approach to rural development as well as special focus on gender relations and the important role played by women in agriculture and fisheries. 

In Barotse the program is working through local communities to foster local ownership and strengthen innovation. Speaking in Accra, Dr Simainga Simainga, Chief Research Scientist, Department of Livestock, Zambian Ministry of Agriculture, said “The AAS program has provided a platform that brings together a wide range of government and research stakeholders to pursue an integrated approach to agricultural research and development.  It has also worked closely with local communities to look at the full range of issues they face and build their engagement in this common research agenda.”

Over the next three years NEPAD and WorldFish aim to expand the program to help implement the Rural Futures Initiative and address priorities identified under CAADP.  This will begin with an analysis of rural poverty in aquatic systems as part of the NEPAD Rural Development Atlas, and a foresight study examining the impact of emerging development and environmental trends on Africa’s aquatic systems.  These will be used to guide the future focus of the program in Africa’s inland and coastal aquatic systems.  The NEPAD-WorldFish partnership will build upon the Dublin Process, an initiative of the African Union and the CGIAR to deepen alignment and collaboration between CAADP and the programs of the CGIAR Consortium. 

Tabeth Chiuta, WorldFish Africa Regional Director welcomed the MoU and the strengthened collaboration with NEPAD, saying “The signing of the MoU opens a new chapter for WorldFish engagement in agricultural research on the continent. We believe that our aquatic systems can play a greater role in Africa’s food and nutrition security and economic growth, and we look forward to working with NEPAD to realize this potential”.