Abuja, 5th September 2022

Department of Economic Affairs & Agriculture

Directorate of Agriculture & Rural Development (DARD)
FIRST PROGRAM

PROGRAMME- GCP/INT/244/EC Food and Nutrition Security Impact,

Resilience, Sustainability and transformation (FIRST)

Dr. Papa Gora Ndiaye

Ibrahima Salif SYLLA

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FIRST Program Presentation
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Context

•Importance of sector in the region

 Annual fish production (capture & aquaculture) The 15
more than 3,2 million tones Member
 Between 70-80% of the total production States of
(capture) from Small Scale Fisheries ECOWAS
 About 9 millions direct & indirect jobs creation.
 Main source of animal protein available and
accessible for the majority of 355 million people
in West Africa
 Over 60% of households rely on fish for their
animal protein and micronutrient needs
 Consumption per capita is 14 kg/year/person
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FIRST Program Presentation
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Context: Key challenges/bottlenecks in the fisheries sector affecting

fish contribution for Food Security and Nutrition (FSN).
for Food Security and Nutrition (FSN).
Improve coordination and effective collaboration in the
programs and projects actions for FSN and Fisheries & Aquaculture
Human and institutional capacities at national
and regional level.
Effective implementation/monitoring/evaluation of
Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy at regional and and
national level
Poor investments in fisheries and aquaculture sector.

The objective of FIRST Programme is to create an enabling environment

for the development and implementation of ECOWAS Integrated and
Coordinated Regional Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy to enhance the
contribution of the sector for food security and nutrition and poverty
reduction in West Africa
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FIRST Program Presentation
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What is the FIRST Programme : Food and Nutrition Security Impact, Resilience, Sustainability and Transformation

).

  FIRST at ECOWAS is a support to policy implementation

which is a critical aspect of the approach a distinctive
feature compared to traditional policy support facilities
 FIRST is a Political Assistance Mechanism at the ECOWAS
Commission based on:

• Common understanding of problems and solutions

among decision-makers, producers and
users/consumers in the fisheries and aquaculture
sector
• Accountability based on evidence produced by
systematic monitoring of progress and impact
assessment in the sector
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FIRST Program Presentation
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Some achievements and ongoing actions in 2022 at Regional level

).

 Elaboration of a methodology for evaluating and

monitoring performance and consistency of fisheries
and aquaculture policies in the context of FSN and
blue economy strategies
 Revise and adapt the mechanism of consultation
between stakeholders to integrate follow-up of
policies and indicators and review of progress
 Finalization of regional modernization plan in
artisanal fisheries and guidelines for PPP and
investment in Artisanal fisheries and aquaculture
 Finalization of the database of stakeholders involved
in fisheries and aquaculture in ECOWAS area
 Finalization and validation of the ECOWAS gender
and youth strategy in artisanal fisheries
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FIRST Program Presentation
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Some achievements and ongoing actions in 2022 at Regional level

).
 Analysis of the contribution of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policies-
Strategies to FSN for 15 countries West Africa.

 Identification for priority actions in the implementation of existing national policies

and strategies to improve the availability, accessibility, use and sustainability of fish
and fishery products for the population.
 Assessment of needs to enhance national capacities for monitoring data and
information in fisheries and aquaculture sector, from production to consumption
aiming to have a common regional information system fisheries and aquaculture
 Validation of the regional mechanism for evaluation and monitoring performance
and consistency of policies including the framework of consultation and the
baselines
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FIRST Program Presentation
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Lessons learned and Perspectives

 Consensus in the necessary strategical axes to
achieve the FNS goal in the ECOWAS Regional
Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy:
▪ Strengthening the fish production of small-
scale fisheries and aquaculture mainly oriented
for feeding local population in West Africa
▪ Development of the value chain activities and
intra-regional trade of fish and fishes products

 Selected international instruments are guiding the regional and national work:
 ECOWAP and the Strategic Framework
 Code Of Conduct For Responsible Fisheries (CCRF),
 Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty
Eradication (VGSSF),
 Policy Framework & Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa (PFRS-AU),
 Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
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FIRST Program Presentation
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Conclusion: What else should be done to ensure greater effectiveness of investment in Fisheries &
Aquaculture in ECOWAS region to accelerate progress on ending hunger and malnutrition?

 Strengthening human capacity at regional and national level,

integrating FNS concerns into the sustainable development of
fisheries and aquaculture, and vice versa.

 Mobilizing and strengthening Public and Private investments in

fisheries and aquaculture for FNS.

 Make information and knowledge available on political

economy issues that may hinder the implementation of regional
fisheries and aquaculture policy in West Africa.

 Prevent of and combat IUU fishing through improved and

strengthened Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS)
system at national and regional levels.
ECOWAS IS ENGAGED TO ACHIEVE FOOD SECURITY IN THE REGION

ECOWAP Web Based Monitoring and

Evaluation System
https://ecowap.ecowas.int/

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https://twitter.com/ecowas_agric https://facebook.com/ecowas.agriculture agric_ruraldev@ecowas.int
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THANK YOU
MERCI
OBRIGADO