FISH4ACP’s event at the UN’s Ocean Conference will examine real-world solutions to empower aquatic food systems and support fishing communities through sustainable investment.
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FAO-coordinated fisheries and aquaculture development project FISH4ACP is to host a high-level event at this week's UN Ocean Conference focused on unlocking sustainable investment to empower aquatic food systems and fishing communities.
The event, which can be attended both online and in-person, will showcase practical strategies to improve access to finance in fisheries and aquaculture across developing regions. This will include real-world examples, ranging from expanding formal finance in São Tomé and Príncipe, to promoting sustainability in the Marshall Islands' tuna industry, and driving innovation in Nigeria’s fast-growing catfish aquaculture sector.
Co-organized with the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe, and supported by FISH4ACP’s partners, the European Union and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the event aims to tackle common financing barriers such as limited collateral, high risk perception, and low financial literacy, the organizers announced.
The programme includes expert presentations, videos, and panel discussions featuring key voices from global finance institutions, technical agencies, and community organizations.
Confirmed speakers include Nilda Borges da Mata, Minister of Environment of São Tomé and Príncipe, Manuel Barange, Assistant Director-General of the FAO, Pierre Guillibert of GiZ, EU Mission expert Matthew Walsh, Suchitra Upare from CAFI-SSF, Marina Lipari of the European Commission, and Gilles van de Walle, FISH4ACP’s Chief Technical Advisor.
The event will take place 10:30–12:00 CEST on 12 June. In addition to in-person attendance at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, participants can also join the session online by registering on the FAO website.
About FISH4ACP
FISH4ACP is a five-year, €40 million programme launched in 2019 by the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), coordinated by the FAO and funded by the EU and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Its mission is to enhance the productivity, competitiveness, environmental sustainability, and inclusivity of fisheries and aquaculture value chains across 12 ACP countries, spanning Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.