AfDB-Financed ProFishBlue Programme Boosts Opportunities for Women and Youth in Fisheries
Women fishmongers in Tolaria, Madagascar, are reaping the benefits of the African Development Bank (AfDB)-financed ProFishBlue programme, a regional initiative aimed at reducing fishery post-harvest losses and promoting economic opportunities for women and youth across the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Many women in Tolaria face challenges selling fish due to a lack of ice, cold storage, and market access, which limits their earnings and ability to preserve fish during the non-fishing season. The ProFishBlue programme is addressing these obstacles by providing equipment, training, and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen the fish value chain.
At a recent handover ceremony, the National Network of Women in Fisheries in Madagascar, chaired by Virginie Gorette Ratiarainandrasana, received a three-ton refrigerated truck to transport and preserve fish for urban markets. “This support will enable women to increase their earnings and improve their living standards,” Ratiarainandrasana said.
The event was attended by Madagascar’s Minister for Fisheries and Blue Economy, Dr Paubert Tsimanaoraty Mahatante, alongside representatives from the SADC Secretariat, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and other project partners.
Launched in March 2022, ProFishBlue received $9.2 million in grant financing from the AfDB to support transboundary fisheries governance, facilitate inter-regional trade, and reduce post-harvest losses in the SADC region. The programme has also provided fish hatcheries, fisheries research equipment, and business development services to small and medium enterprises in Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Women and youth are central to Africa’s economic growth,” said Ahmed Khan, Chief Fisheries Officer and Blue Economy Coordinator at the AfDB. “ProFishBlue strengthens competitiveness in cross-border fish trade, increasing household incomes and improving quality of life for women across southern Africa.”
In addition to equipment, beneficiary enterprises received training on governance, finance, asset management, and post-harvest practices. The initiative is implemented by the SADC Secretariat in partnership with the African Organisation for Standardisation, UN agencies, WorldFish, and the Worldwide Fund for Nature, with input from the African Women Fish Processor and Traders Network to ensure women’s inclusion in the fisheries sector.
Tolaria’s women fishmongers are among seven SMEs across southern Africa to benefit from the programme, representing over 8,200 women in 118 women-led fishery associations across Madagascar’s 11 regions. SADC Secretariat Director of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Domingos Gove expressed optimism that the refrigerated truck would significantly improve livelihoods through enhanced fish processing and value addition.
