The Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) recognizes the imperative need for establishing broad and inclusive coalitions to strengthen policy, programming and institutional capacity for the sector’s transformation. Under this framework, state and non-state actors (NSA’s) become partners in development founded on establishing a common vision between the parties driven by collective responsibility, demonstrating synergies, complementarities, and mutual accountability. This approach is upheld in the Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) through the Africa Fisheries Reform Mechanism (AFRM). The AFRM is broad-based all-inclusive participatory process through which Africa’s fisheries and aquaculture sector develops and implements common positions. The purpose of this was to promote the establishment all-inclusive fisheries and aquaculture institutions, value chains and markets rather than extractive ones centered on benefitting a few. The latter scenario being contrary to the PFRS which advocates equitable benefit sharing, as being key for the sustainable development of Africa’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.
A key priority action of the African Union’s Aquaculture Action Plan 2016-2025 is promoting and strengthening the capacities of aquaculture associations and networks to develop all-inclusive advocacy, awareness and developmental programs in support of equitable capacity building for the sustainable growth and coherent development of the sector. By so-doing, the aquaculture action plan has created a conducive environment that provides a level playing for aquaculture policy development, technology and education on the continent. This has led to the promulgation producer and professional aquaculture networks continentally, which in turn has mobilized resources, talents and skills from the broader majority fostering people-centered development actions and technological innovations that are proving to be transformative for the sector, particularly for women, youth and disadvantaged communities’ businesses.