DAR ES SALAAM: THE government has intensified efforts to unlock the commercial and social potential of its blue economy, convening researchers and development partners in Dar es Salaam to design a long-term transformation roadmap for the country’s aquatic food systems.
The high-level National GEDSI Workshop on Co-designing a Theory of Change for Aquatic Food Systems Transformation in Tanzania marks a strategic shift from projectbased interventions toward a coordinated, investment-ready framework anchored in inclusion, sustainability and measurable results.
The Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute Director General, Dr Ismail Kimirei, who represented the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Ms Agnes Meena, described the blue economy as one of the country’s most strategic growth frontiers.
“Supported by vast marine, coastal and inland water resources, fisheries and aquaculture play a central role in food security, nutrition, employment and foreign exchange earnings,” Dr Kimirei said, during the workshop opening ceremony.
He said that when agriculture, livestock and forestry are considered together, the broader sector contributes about 6.4 per cent of national GDP and roughly 30 per cent of export earnings, while supporting the livelihoods of an estimated 65 per cent of the population.
However, he said, sector performance continues to be constrained by structural bottlenecks. Participants cited overfishing in some water bodies, low productivity, limited access to finance and modern technologies, weak integration into highvalue markets and governance and enforcement gaps. Climate change impacts are compounding these challenges, increasing pressure on ecosystems and fishing communities.
“Women are heavily concentrated in post-harvest processing and trading, often within informal, low-return segments of the value chain,” Dr Kimirei.
“Youth entrepreneurs face barriers to capital, skills and asset ownership. Persons with disabilities and marginalised communities in remote lake and coastal areas frequently remain excluded from formal decisionmaking and investment processes.”
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The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Principal College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Dr Mkabwa Manoko, who represented the UDSM Vice-Chancellor, Prof William Anangisye, said the resulting Theory of Change will define clear outcomes around participation, agency, access to resources, decision-making authority and equitable benefit sharing.
“The aim is to ensure that productivity gains translate into inclusive growth,” he said. Through work on digital innovation, enabling policies, inclusive business models and capacity development, the project has tested improved fisheries data systems, climate-informed decision tools and smart fishing technologies, which are now being examined for scaling within national systems.
UK International Development representative Ms Glory Mramba said the United Kingdom remains committed to supporting the country’s aquatic food systems, noting that a nationally owned Theory of Change can align policy, partnerships and capital flows beyond individual donor projects.
The three -day workshop was convened by the UDSM in collaboration with WorldFish and partners under the Asia–Africa Blue Tech Superhighway and the CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Science Programme.