AABS project overview
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The Asia-Africa Bluetech Superhighway (AABS) project aims to enhance aquatic food systems across Africa and Asia, addressing the challenges of climate change while improving food and nutritional security for over 300,000 primary beneficiaries. The seven-year initiative will focus on sustainable practices in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, emphasizing gender equality and community involvement, with a projected increase in aquatic food production and restoration of coastal ecosystems. Funded by the UK government's Blue Planet Fund, the project also aligns with global development goals related to poverty alleviation, gender empowerment, and climate adaptation.
AABS project overview
- 1. Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway Boosting climate-resilient, nature-positive aquatic food production October 9, 2023
- 2. Outline • Introduction to the Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway Project • Project structure and governance • Independent Advisory Committee • Expected outcomes and projected benefits • Cross-cutting and gender approach • Q&A Session
- 3. Why aquatic foods? Provide micronutrient- rich foods for 3.3 billion people. Aquatic foods can supply essential micronutrients with lower carbon footprint and far fewer biodiversity impacts than many land-based crops and livestock. Aquaculture is the fastest- growing food production sector in the world. Its production is set to increase by 32% to 109 million tons AqFS identifying as one of seven priority investments in agricultural research by Experts and Scientific Group of the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit. 1 in every 2 workers in the primary and secondary sector of fisheries and aquaculture are women. They are crucial to aquatic food systems, providing labour, innovative ideas and entrepreneurship. Aquatic foods are deeply interconnected with the rest of the food system – in human and livestock diets, supply chains, and water systems. 800 million people depend on small scale fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods Global demand for aquatic foods has doubled since 2000.
- 4. • The world faces an enormous challenge of feeding 9.8 billion people by 2050. • While aquatic foods offer viable and sustainable nutrition solutions, coastal communities and habitats that provide such foods are particularly vulnerable to climate change. • Coastal ecosystems are being lost or damaged which both negatively impacts communities’ food security and income, and sometimes leads to increased GHG emissions, thereby compromising the ability of various stakeholders to meet climate adaptation and mitigation goals. • Small-scale fisheries, which provide the majority of fish for human consumption in developing countries, have limited to no access to land tenure rights and are often poorly managed at the national level, impacting their productivity and sustainability. Key Challenges
- 5. • The Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS), a 7-year project, aims to transform aquatic food systems in Africa and Asia leveraging South-South cooperation. • The project will be delivered in two phases, targeting over 300,000 primary beneficiaries. • The BlueTech Superhighway aims to improve food and nutritional security, create increased employment and income opportunities using nature-based solutions and sustainably manage marine and coastal resources. • The Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway aligns with the May 2022 UK Government’s Strategy for International Development, contributing to SDGs such as ending poverty and hunger, promoting gender equality, and tackling climate change. Delivering a triple win for nature, people, and climate
- 6. AWARD AMOUNT Phase 2 (Year 5 - 7) WP 1, 3, 4: Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines WP 2: Ghana, Solomon Islands, Tanzania TARGET COUNTRIES PHASE 2 £44.5 million under the Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transition Programme (COAST) PROJECT TITLE Asia –Africa BlueTech Superhighway Project (AABS) PROJECT DURATION 14 July 2023 – 31 March 2030 TARGET COUNTRIES PHASE 1 Phase 1 (Year 1 – 4) WP 1: Kenya, Mozambique, and Tanzania WP 2: Bangladesh, Kenya, and Nigeria WP 3: Bangladesh, Kenya, and Mozambique WP 4: Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Tanzania PROJECT SUMMARY
- 7. Why a two- continent project? Establishment of south-south cooperation between countries in Asia and Africa to adapt and scale promising technologies piloted on one continent and implemented in another, thereby creating a feedback loop that enables the continents to learn from each other and leverage their lessons.
- 8. Through support from the UK government’s Blue Planet Fund, we will accelerate food and nutrition security and livelihood opportunities under changing climate through the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal ecosystems. We will do this through: Our Goal and Approach Space for dialogue Deploy innovations Generate evidence Knowledge sharing
- 9. The BlueTech Superhighway will deploy four synergistic work packages that assess, adapt, and scale evidence- based methods across different contexts in Africa and Asia. Project Structure - 4 pillars Incentive- based marine and coastal ecosystem protection and management Digital information systems for effective management of small-scale fisheries Climate smart food processing and storage technologies to reduce food loss and waste Integrated mariculture/i ntegrated multitrophic aquaculture WP1 WP2 WP3 WP4
- 10. Nigeria Kenya Bangladesh Mozambique Tanzania WP1 WP2 WP3 WP4 knowledge-partner countries Countries of implementation per work package (WP)
- 11. Governance In-Country Structure and Governance: WF Staff and Partners in consultation with UK Posts Independent Advisory Committee
- 12. The Independent Advisory Committee Name Gender Country Organisation WP Field of Expertise Prof. Ian Bryceson M Tanzania WIOMSA 1 Fisheries, conservation, community development Stuart Fulton M Mexico COBI 1 Digital development in fisheries, cooperatives Dr Sloans Chimatiro M Malawi Consulting 1,2,3 Fisheries and aquaculture policy Dr Ifesinachi Okafor- Yarwood F Nigeria/UK University of St Andrews 1/xcutting Fisheries governance; maritime security Prof. Maricela de la Torre Castro F Sweden Stockholm University 2,3,4 Mariculture and livelihoods in coastal east africa Prof. Dato’ Dr. Aileen Tan F Malaysia CMACS, USM 2,3 Marine sciences, specialising in mariculture and conservation of molluscs. Research Assistant Professor Pallab Sarker M Bangladesh/USA UC Santa Cruz 2,3 LCA of aquacutlure; feed technology; sustainability transitions in aquatic foods Professor Nitya Rao M UK/India UEA/NISD xcutting Gender; agrarian change; climate change; coastal livelihoods Professor Rashid Sumaila M Canada/Nigeria/Ghana UBC Ocean Center xcutting Environmental economics; blue economy; african fisheries policy Dr Ingrid Van Puten F Australia CSIRO xcutting Economics and environmental science - behavioral economics to help address fisheries and natural resource management problems The IAC has an advisory role and provides strategic guidance for the project. Its advice will support the project to be implemented efficiently, effectively, and in line with the project objectives, strategies, and principles. The IAC reports directly to the Project Leader and convenes periodically to discuss
- 13. • Cost-effective and integrated seawater farming techniques are widely adopted and sustainable aquaculture production in coastal Africa is doubled. • Innovative digital tools are scaled to bridge data gaps in small-scale fisheries and inform the design of policy and investment interventions that lead to equitable outcomes. • Incentive-based management of marine and coastal areas of social, economic, and ecological significance is accelerated to support livelihoods and restore habitats and fish stocks. • Data gaps in food loss and waste are filled, and suitable technologies are deployed to minimize wastage – thereby enhancing the availability of nutritious food and creating economic opportunities for those who need it most. Outcomes we want
- 14. • An increase in aquatic food production of 500,000 MT in target countries, sustainably increasing incomes of ~300,000 by 2030 • 2 million hectares brought under sustainable management • ~1 million MT of farmed fish produced with a 20% reduction in CO2 emission => this will save 1.1 MT CO2-eq/year • 20% increase of fish stock (~1.4 million MT of fish) in target countries. This will save 0.1652 MT CO2-eq/year (carbon sequestration) Expected Benefits by 2030
- 15. Environmental health & biodiversity target: 1.4 million hectares brought under sustainable management Climate adaptation & mitigation: ~1 million MT of farmed fish will be produced with a 20% reduction in CO2 - emission => this will save 1.1 MT CO2- eq/year 20% increase of fish stock (~1.4 million MT of fish) in target countries. This will save 0.1652 MT CO2-eq/year (carbon sequestration) Gender equality, youth & social inclusion target: 150,000 women benefiting from WorldFish innovations and improve their income permanently.. Poverty reduction, livelihoods & jobs target: 300,000 people benefiting from WorldFish innovations and improve their income permanently. Global and Local Challenges Work Packages Intermediate Outcomes by 2027 Outcomes by 2028 2030 Projected benefits Insufficient data to guide proper decision- making on how to track and manage critical coastal and fisheries resources Low use of innovations for producing more food with less environmental impacts and more nature-positive benefits High rates of fish waste and loss, especially affecting women, leading to adverse socio-economic and climate impacts Poor management of critical natural resources within marine and coastal ecosystems Range of innovations successfully used to make aquatic food systems more climate resilient in Asia, with applications to Africa GENDER INCLUSION: Reach, Benefits, Empowerment, Transform WP1: Scaling PeskAAS # Diagnostic analysis # Stakeholder engagement # Tool adaptation # Testing and user-cases # Deployment and ownership # Sustainable plan definition and monitoring WP2: Scaling finfish- seaweed-bivalve production # Comprehensive environmental assessments in 4 countries # Farmer and Market assessments # Testing and pilot technical solutions in different geographies # Scaling strategy WP3:Scaling climate smart technologies for reducing food waste and loss # Understanding scale and drivers of fish loss and waste in 5 countries # Identify technologies and adapt to contexts # Identify and test new technologies # Scaling strategy and deployment WP4: Scaling incentive- based conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems # Assess, identify and pilot incentive-based conservation landscape methods in at least 4 countries # Scaling strategy and deployment • PeskAAS is integrated into 4 country data systems • 4 country governments take ownership of management of PeskAAS • In each country, at least one policy or investment decision on sustainable management of fisheries is improved based on evidence provided by PeskAAS • 2,000 fishers (direct beneficiaries) use PeskAAS vessel trackers • At least one combination of finfish- seaweed-bivalve production is scaled in each country • 50,000 people (at least 50% of whom are women) utilize and benefit from finfish-seaweed-bivalve production • At least 10 coastal communities per country are informed about the methods and benefits of finfish- seaweed-bivalve production • At least one sustainable technology is developed and piloted to minimize fish loss and waste per country • Adoption of new technologies in target countries guide to reduce pre- and post-harvest losses by at least 30% • At least 40,000 people, mostly women, obtain increased incomes by using these technologies to improve fish processing • At least one incentive-based conservation method is scaled per country • At least one marine or coastal areas is partially restored as a result of the application of the incentive-based management • At least two coastal communities per country implement incentive-based management, reaching 8,000 beneficiaries PARTNERS Projectionof benefits, ex- ante evaluation, foresight analysis and modeling help to address global,regional policyand economic drivers; climate change; priorities and opportunitiesfor technologyand institutional innovations Outcomeevaluation to consolidateProject- level learning on impact pathways and refine theories of change Scaling partners and stakeholders in target countries use improved knowledge systems and data to inform their investments within the aquatic food system. A B C D E F G H Improved management and co-development of new sustainable development plans secure rights and livelihood for over 100,000 small- scale actors in aquatic food systems in target countries. 2022 2027 2030 100,000 smallholder farmers and fishers have their livelihoods sustained, and their incomes increased through increased, more efficient and sustainable production of aquatic foods 200,000 people in aquatic food systems in target countries, including poor men, women and youth, have new jobs and livelihood opportunities from growing aquaculture sector and more sustainable fishery production Improved and sustainable farming systems delivers fish, seaweed and other aquatic foods with reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved water- and nutrient-use efficiency per unit of production in target countries Fisher community and farming households have access to management and farming technologies and systems that enable adaptation to climate change risks and extremes Over 2,500 hectares of restored ecosystems have increased through wider adoption of more productive and equitable management of natural resources at community and/or government level in target countries 200,000 people, including poor men, women and youth, in target countries have access to new jobs and livelihood opportunities associated to value chain and enterprise development (same group as D) Learning process throughevaluation and impact assessment
- 16. Q&A
- 17. THANK YOU
Editor's Notes
- #4: At WorldFish we believe that sustainable aquatic food systems are the key to creating a better society and better way of living, a better way of using the resources of our planet. Sustainable production of aquatics foods has a lot of potential to help people around the world, not just as food but also in that they support people’s livelihoods, that they can be leveraged to empower women in value chains, that they can help to reduce environmental impacts. There’s also more and more evidence about the importance of aquatic foods in nutrition. The problem is that there are a lot of blockages that prevent aquatic foods from achieving their full potential to support people and livelihoods and transform our food system towards better, more equitable society.
- #5: Providing affordable, safe, nutritious food for all is an increasing challenge due to the scale of demand and the increasing threat of climate change Coastal communities in the global South particularly experience precarious livelihoods and low capacity to adapt to climate change. In response to these challenges within global aquatic food systems, WorldFish proposes a two-continent project to transform the lives of thousands of stakeholders working across aquatic food systems in Africa and Asia, using South-South cooperation to adapt and scale evidence-based models for delivering impact
- #7: PRO –Program Responsible Owner SRO – Senior Responsible Owner
- #8: The project will accelerate technology transfer and implementation of tested technologies and approaches to boost the development of sustainable, inclusive, and climate resilient aquatic food systems. The project will do this by deploying best-fit, context-appropriate, scalable, and innovative tools and technologies in the identified Asian and African countries. WorldFish and the Timor-Leste Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) developed and tested PeskAAS, a sophisticated data collection system for small-scale fisheries The co-design and implementation of solar powered freezers in the Solomon Islands is another prime example of innovations that could be scaled in Asia and adapted, piloted, and scaled in Africa. WorldFish, supported by SwedBio, led a gender transformative innovative approach in the Solomon Islands where rural fisherwomen have little access to markets. WorldFish and partners are supporting women and youths involved in seaweed farming in coastal regions of Bangladesh. Coastal seaweed farming using nets or longlines is often labor intensive but requires low capital investments and uses simple farming technology, allowing for the participation of people living in poverty. Local seaweed production has also proven to help diversify diets, provide food and shelter for juvenile marine aquatic species, sequester carbon, and reduce eutrophication. Type of nature-based approaches provides new opportunities to equitably address the triple challenges of poverty, biodiversity loss and climate change.
- #9: The BlueTech Superhighway aims to deliver multiple solutions, including technologies that involve innovations with nature, that enable communities to adapt to and mitigate against climate change, improve food and nutritional security, create increased employment and income opportunities using nature-based enterprises, and responsibly and sustainably manage marine and coastal resources.
- #10: WP3: pro-poor, simple, cost effective climate smart food processing and storage technologies to reduce food loss and waste
- #12: To ensure effective governance of the project, a "Learn and Adapt" component will be established. Project Leader: The Project Leader holds overall responsibility for the successful execution of the Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway project. Project Coordinator: The Project Coordinator supports the Project Leader in the day-to-day management and coordination of the Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway project. Quarterly reviews will be structured around formal meetings where the progress of each WPs will be presented. There will also be internal team to discuss progress, risks, improvements, and other relevant topics. The annual report will be delivered in the last week of April of each year.
- #13: Note: The names were shortlisted based on geography, field of expertise, industry, and gender diversity (shortlist 6 males and 6 females ) The Independent Advisory Committee reports directly to the Project Leader and convenes periodically to discuss project developments and provide recommendations for improvement of performance.
- #16: Highlight the specific challenges Our theory of change is that IF the Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway project scales PeskAAS, Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA), climate smart technologies, and incentive-based conservation methods in Asia and Africa, this scaling will result in broader and improved use and management of these key aquatic food systems and solutions, thereby enabling people across 5 countries to benefit from poverty reduction, gender equality and social inclusion, improved and more stable livelihoods, while the 5 countries will benefit from improved environmental health, climate adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable and equitable management of ecosystems. The BlueTech Superhighway aligns with the May 2022 UK Government’s Strategy for International Development, especially the goals of “providing women and girls with the resources and freedom they need to succeed” and “taking forward work on climate change, nature, and global health”. This project will improve economic security for women by targeting the longstanding gender inequalities in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, such as access to and control over land, resources, and technology. The project will harness transformative technologies and innovative approaches that tackle climate change while protecting nature. The BlueTech Superhighway responds to multiple SDGs, including #1 End Poverty, #2 End Hunger, #5 Gender Equality, #8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, #13 Climate Action, and #14 Life Below Water—as well as contributing to the targets set within the Paris Agreement and African Union’s priorities on food systems transformation.