Africa Blue Economy Strategy – Implementation Plan 2021-2025

The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), a specialized technical office of the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) of the African Union Commission (AUC), is mandated to support and coordinate the utilization of livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and wildlife as resources for both human wellbeing and economic development in the Member States of the African Union. The Vision of the AU-IBAR Strategic Plan 2018-2023 is an Africa in which animal resources contribute significantly to integration, prosperity and peace. AU-IBAR’s intervention in the fisheries and aquaculture sector is guided by the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for fisheries and aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) which is aimed at improving governance of the sector for increased sustainable contribution to food security, livelihoods and wealth creation. Also within the framework of the African Union Agenda 2063, the Africa Blue Economy Strategy environed an inclusive and sustainable blue economy that significantly contributes to Africa’s transformation and growth. The Global Conference on Sustainable Blue Economy was organized in Nairobi, Kenya in November 2018. African leaders at the Conference directed the African Union to work with relevant stakeholders to develop a blue print of Africa’s Blue Economy Strategy that will guide sustainable development and utilization of resources of the Oceans, Seas, Lakes and Rivers for blue economy growth and livelihoods. Accordingly, the AU-IBAR was requested by the Commissioner of Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission to lead the process of formulation of the Africa Blue Economy Strategy. The Africa Blue Economy Strategy1 was eventually developed and subsequently endorsed in October 2019 by the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (STC-ARDWE). In this regard, a consultancy contract between the blue economy team of experts and AU-IBAR signed on 14th August 2020, aims to prepare the current implementation plan for the Blue Economy Strategy as well as the tools to ensure the monitoring of progresses realised.