The programme, which began in 2009 and is funded by the European Commission, aims to contribute to poverty alleviation efforts and to improve food security through sustainable and equitable management of fisheries resources in the beneficiary countries, reports NewVision.
Under the €30 million five year programme, the fisheries sectors in the beneficiary countries were supposed to identify, formulate, implement, monitor and evaluate projects aimed at improving the contribution of the fisheries sectors to national wealth through increased exports.
The projects were to be implemented under the following components; improved fisheries policies, legislation and management plans at regional and national level, strengthened monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) capabilities, enhanced national and regional research strategies, improved business support and private sector investment and increased knowledge sharing on management and trade.
The ACP programme regional manager from Eastern Africa, Koane Mindjimba noted that regional workshop that will be attended by the programme's focal officials from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Tanzania at Hotel Africana will provide an opportunity for them to analyse the outcomes and possible impact of the projects.
"The final assessment of the programme activities in the region will be an opportunity to identify areas for action in the future, not only the needs resulting from ACP Fish II intervention, but also new needs which is not linked to the Programme at all," he added.
