Uganda: Review and update of the draft aquaculture development strategy and plan - 2023-2028

Project background

The Department of Aquaculture Management and Development (DAMD) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) in Uganda has the mission to support sustainable, market-oriented fish production and value addition to improve food security and household incomes. Gatsby Africa is a private philanthropic foundation that aims to build stronger, more inclusive economies in East Africa by transforming key sectors. One of the key sectors supported by Gatsby Africa is aquaculture. Since 2016, Gatsby has been working closely with a number of players in the aquaculture industry. These include hatcheries, nurseries, aqua feed manufacturers, government agencies and industry associations. Gatsby Africa is now working with DAMD in Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries to support the ministry's mandate to promote the growth of the aquaculture industry in Uganda.

The National Development Plan III recognizes agriculture as a key pillar for economic growth. Fish has been selected as one of the key commodities. Considering the increase in aquaculture production in Uganda, but also due to the situation in East Africa in general during the last decade, there is a need to finalize the draft National Aquaculture Development Strategy and Plan (ADSP) to ensure sustainable development of the sector and implement the National Aquaculture Policy. The first draft of the ADSP was prepared in 2018 and needed to be updated so that a complete and comprehensive document describing the strategy for aquaculture growth in Uganda could be submitted to MAAIF/DAMD.

Objectives

The scope of this consultancy included the review and update of the existing draft Aquaculture Development Strategy and Plan for Uganda. It entailed the review of the existing document, secondary data compilation and analysis, stakeholder engagement and presentation of a final Aquaculture Development Strategy and Plan for Uganda. The work was performed in close coordination with the Gatsby team and officials at DAMD, MAAIF. 

The ADSP aims to create a friendly environment to improve strategic coordination, alleviate key constraints, stimulate investments and increase aquaculture production to develop a sustainable industry that will create jobs and supply local/regional markets with quality aquatics products. 

Results

• Desk-based review of the draft Aquaculture Development Plan and Strategy, with reference to the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy (2018), to establish the current status and baseline of major aquaculture establishments and infrastructures such as grow-out farmers, hatcheries, feed manufacturers, importers of inputs, product distributors and service providers in Uganda. This was done through consultative online meetings and known research.
• Review of the aquaculture industry value chain in Uganda, using a SWOT analysis, to identify main industry issues, as well as emerging issues, covering recent aquaculture trends, market opportunities, and identifying key opportunities and challenges.
• Established baselines and five-year production targets and proposals of key annual costed intervention areas, strategic objectives and associated action plans with activities and specific tasks, roadmaps, and timeframes, together with an M&E plan for the activities.
• Updated draft aquaculture development strategy, with reference to the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and other related MAAIF policies, focusing on the gaps where relevant and key interventions required to actualise the strategy. We also referred to Global Aquaculture Development Frameworks, SDGs, Regional Strategies and Development Policies, the Uganda Vision 2040 and Uganda’s NDPIII.
• Conducted a workshop with MAAIF/DAMD/GASTBY as well as other relevant stakeholders to present and discuss the updated draft of the ADSP (2023-2028), including the findings, recommendations and their implications. The feedback from participants was incorporated into the final draft of the ADSP.
• Prepared and submitted the final draft of the ADSP (2023-2028) for stakeholder validation and final approval.