WorldFish targets 25,000 women, youth with fishery jobs project. 1 hour ago September 15, 2026 WorldFish, in partnership with Trademark Africa and Mastercard Foundation, has launched a project targeting 25,000 women and youth in Nigeria and Tanzania to create jobs and strengthen the competitiveness of the fishery and aquaculture sector. African Tech Startups The initiative focuses on job creation, climate-smart aquaculture, digitalisation, access to finance and reducing post-harvest losses across the aquatic food value chain. Dr Charles Iyangbe, WorldFish's Country Representative in Nigeria, said this at a stakeholder workshop in Ibadan to gather input for the programme's design. He said the project would address key barriers limiting growth in the fishery and aquaculture sector while supporting women and young people to access and diversify employment opportunities. Discover more EBRD ventures Business & Industrial Business Operations According to Iyangbe, four thematic areas will drive the project's job-creation strategy: innovation in the feed sector, climate-smart aquaculture, digitalisation and access to finance, and reducing post-harvest losses while strengthening the value chain. Geographic Reference "The idea, basically, overall is to create jobs. We have a target of reaching about 25,000 women and youth in Nigeria and Tanzania," he said. The intervention will cover six Nigerian states - Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Delta - with farmers' organisations in coastal areas expected to work alongside government and research institutions. Iyangbe said reducing production and operational costs, as well as addressing socio-economic barriers, would be critical to improving the sector's performance and making aquatic foods more accessible and affordable. Speaking at the workshop, Wellington Omoragbon, Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, identified the high cost and limited availability of quality fish feed as a major challenge facing fish farmers. Discover more Youth Organizations & Resources Nigeria economic news He said feed accounts for more than 75 per cent of fish farmers' operational costs, making investment in modern production methods and feed innovation necessary to reduce production expenses. Omoragbon assured the project partners of government's commitment to providing policy and institutional support and working with stakeholders to promote sustainable fishery and aquaculture production. Ms Hadhami Hammi, Senior Expert, Monitoring and Evaluation at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), also expressed readiness to collaborate on strategies to strengthen fisheries programmes and improve women and youth access to jobs and finance. Dr Foluke Areola, Global President of the World Aquaculture Society, described the initiative as timely, citing the rising cost of fish feed and the importance of fisheries and aquaculture to food security, livelihoods and economic development. The stakeholder workshop brought together representatives from government agencies, private-sector organisations, financial institutions, research bodies and farmers' groups. Discover more Technology News Digital operations handbook

WorldFish and ACIAR launch new Partnership for Climate-Smart Aquaculture in Egypt and Nigeria. WorldFish. 04 Sep 2026 3 minutes read WorldFish, together with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and national partners in Egypt and Nigeria, has launched the Promoting Climate-Smart Aquaculture in Egypt and Nigeria project. Led by WorldFish and supported by the Australian Government through ACIAR, under the Africa-Australia Partnership for Climate Responsive Agriculture (AAPCRA), the project will work with Egypt's Agricultural Research Center (ARC), the Central Laboratory for Aquaculture Research (CLAR), and private-sector partners in both countries. Running from July 2026 to June 2028, the project aims to strengthen the capacity of small-scale fish producers, hatcheries, aquatic food value chain actors and national institutions in Egypt and Nigeria to adopt climate-smart aquaculture solutions. It will support improved productivity and profitability, more efficient resource use, greater resilience to climate change, and stronger environmental and social sustainability. Inception workshop brings partners together. The project was launched at an inception workshop in Cairo, bringing together representatives of the Australian Embassy in Egypt, ACIAR, WorldFish, ARC, CLAR, Nigerian partners, private-sector representatives, fish producers, researchers and other stakeholders involved in advancing aquaculture development. The workshop introduced the project's objectives and core components, discussed implementation and coordination arrangements, and identified priorities for the next phase of work to help maximize impact in both countries. Investing in innovation for sustainable aquatic food systems. Dr Ahmed Nasr-Allah, WorldFish Country Representative in Egypt, said: "This project represents an important step forward in developing and expanding climate-smart aquaculture systems in Egypt and Nigeria. By combining research, innovation, capacity strengthening and development partnerships, we aim to deliver practical technology packages that producers can adopt to improve productivity and profitability, use water and energy more efficiently, and better adapt to climate change." "We are proud to partner with ACIAR, ARC, CLAR and our Nigerian partners, and we greatly value the Australian Government's support for this initiative. Together, we will contribute to more sustainable, inclusive and resilient aquatic food systems." Strengthening partnerships and innovation for Climate adaptation. Zita Ritchie, Research Program Manager at ACIAR, said: "This project is an important milestone under the Africa-Australia Partnership for Climate Responsive Agriculture. It brings research, innovation and international collaboration together to support the adoption of climate-responsive practices, strengthen livelihoods and contribute to food security." She added that the initiative reflects Australia's commitment to scientific partnerships, capacity strengthening, and greater participation and leadership of women across agriculture and aquatic food value chains. Complementary expertise for sustainable aquaculture. Tanika Sibal, Second Secretary at the Australian Embassy in Cairo, said: "This partnership brings together Egypt's leading aquaculture expertise and Australia's research and innovation capabilities in sustainable production, water management and climate adaptation. With Nigeria's participation, it creates wider opportunities to exchange knowledge and develop solutions that can be adapted and scaled across diverse aquaculture contexts in Africa." Strengthening South-South collaboration. The project will build on Egypt's advanced aquaculture experience while adapting successful technologies and models to Nigeria's different production conditions. This South-South collaboration will promote knowledge exchange, shared learning and the wider uptake of practical innovations across Africa. Innovative technologies to improve productivity and resource efficiency. The project will test and evaluate a portfolio of climate-smart technologies and approaches, including: * Integrated aquaculture-agriculture (IAA) systems and in-pond raceway systems (IPRS); * Improved Nile tilapia strains and production technologies; * Solar-powered water pumping and aeration; * Post-harvest innovations to reduce losses and improve fish quality; and * Inclusive business models and support packages for women working across aquatic food value chains. The initiative will also establish demonstration and learning sites, deliver training and exchange activities between Egypt and Nigeria, and develop practical guidance materials, training resources, policy briefs and open-access evidence to support decision-makers, investors, private-sector actors and development partners. Expected Impact Beyond the Project By 2028, the project is expected to contribute to improved productivity and profitability in aquaculture systems, greater water and energy efficiency, reduced post-harvest losses, and stronger economic participation and leadership of women in aquatic food-related enterprises. Through collaboration between Egypt, Nigeria and Australia, the project aims to help build more sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient aquatic food systems, while generating practical lessons to support the wider transformation of aquaculture across Africa. Cover photo: Representatives from WorldFish, ACIAR and national partners in Egypt and Nigeria gathered in Cairo to launch the Promoting Climate-Smart Aquaculture in Egypt and Nigeria project.

More than a Fish Farmer: what recognition means for women in Bihar's aquaculture sector. Esther mweru. 07 Aug 2026 4 minutes read In many communities in Bihar, eastern India, social norms have traditionally associated fish farming, pond management and fish marketing with men, creating barriers to women's participation in the sector. That reality is beginning to shift. Between 2023 and 2024, WorldFish partnered with JEEViKA, the Government of Bihar's rural livelihoods program, to implement the Aquaculture Women's Empowerment Project. Working with 112 women's groups, each comprising around 10 members and collectively managing 118 community fishponds, the pilot expanded women's opportunities to engage in aquaculture through access to community ponds, technical training and Fish Farmer Producer Groups. It also supported pond rehabilitation, strengthened market linkages and promoted nutrition-sensitive fish production. Alongside these activities, the project used gender-transformative approaches such as Gender Action Learning Systems (GALS), Forum Theatre and community engagement to strengthen women's leadership, decision-making and control over productive resources. As women navigated these new opportunities, an important lesson emerged: empowerment is about much more than learning how to farm fish. For many women, participation in aquaculture became closely linked to something they valued deeply: the opportunity to contribute to decisions that affected their lives, to have their voices heard, and to build an identity in a sector where women have historically had limited visibility. Speaking during discussions with women participating in the project, one participant reflected on the confidence that had emerged through the experience: "Earlier we were fearful, but now that we are empowered we feel we can fight." Finding a voice. The project combined technical aquaculture training with activities designed to encourage reflection on gender roles, decision-making and shared responsibilities within households and communities. Women and their families explored questions about who makes decisions, who controls resources and who is expected to take on different types of work. These conversations created space for women to discuss their aspirations, responsibilities and experiences. They also encouraged greater reflection on how decisions are made within households. For some women, the experience contributed to a growing sense of confidence and agency. Others spoke about the importance of being able to express their views, contribute ideas and participate more actively in discussions affecting their households and livelihoods. While new opportunities emerged, many of these barriers women faced remained. Women continued to navigate social norms that shape expectations around their roles and responsibilities. Participation in aquaculture did not automatically remove these barriers, and many continued to balance household responsibilities alongside their new roles in fish farming. Despite these challenges, many women remained committed to aquaculture and continued supporting one another through their self-help groups. The importance of solidarity emerged strongly during discussions with participants. As one woman explained: "I feel I am not alone. I know these women are with me to support me." More than access. While access to fishponds and technical training opened new possibilities, the project showed that recognition as aquaculture farmers was also central to women's empowerment. Recognition for their contributions. Recognition as fish farmers in their own right. Recognition that women can participate in and contribute to a sector long associated with men. Their experiences offer an important reminder that empowerment is not only about access to resources or economic opportunities. It is also about changing the social norms that determine who is recognized, who participates and who has a voice in decision-making. Reflecting on the project's broader lessons, Rahma Adam, Social & Economic Inclusion Impact Lead and Interim Kenya Country Representative at WorldFish, said: "Recognition is fundamental because women cannot fully benefit from new opportunities if their knowledge, contributions and leadership remain invisible. Access to ponds, training and markets creates opportunities, but lasting empowerment happens when women are recognized as legitimate aquaculture farmers, respected decision-makers and valued contributors within their households, communities and the sector. It also helps strengthen women's confidence and influence how others perceive their contributions, creating the enabling environment needed for meaningful and sustained participation." As women continue to contribute to aquaculture, the project highlights the importance of creating opportunities that expand not only women's access to livelihoods but also their recognition and decision-making power. This blog draws on insights from a forthcoming WorldFish case study examining women's experiences of empowerment through the project's gender interventions. The study uses a social justice analytic framework to explore these experiences through the dimensions of access, recognition and decision-making. Cover photo: Bihar, India. Photo: WorldFish.