Africa faces extreme poverty and food and nutrition security challenges. More than 40 percent of the population lives on less than USD 1.90 a day and 38 percent of children-under-five are malnourished. Demand for food will continue to grow as the continent’s population is set to double to 2.4 billion by 2050.

Despite fish and aquatic food products accounting for 19 percent of animal protein intake among African consumers, fish consumption is the lowest in the world at only 9.2 kg per capita. The fisheries and aquaculture sector employs over 12 million people, a quarter of whom are women engaged in postharvest fish processing and trade activities.

Wild capture fisheries supply most of the fish and aquatic foods, but they face enormous challenges of overexploitation and a lack of sustainable management. With rising sea temperatures, harsher weather conditions and the migration of fish to cooler waters, climate change further threatens aquatic food supplies locally.

In Africa, WorldFish is working to increase the productivity of fisheries and aquaculture and improve livelihoods for poor women and men. Specifically, we are conducting research focused on reducing post-harvest losses; strengthening fishery governance and co-management systems; gender equity; increasing productivity; and strengthening resources.