The Responsible Fisheries Business Chains Project (RFBCP) by GIZ, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has been advocating for sustainable fisheries practices in Uganda and East Africa. The project’s primary goal is to ensure that the food-insecure populations in Uganda and East Africa have more fish and fish products and higher income available from a sustainable and resource-friendly Nile perch fishing.
One of many aspects to achieve this goal is by empowering micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, particularly women entrepreneurs, through business development training. Keeping long-term records and overviewing market prices and dynamics, as well as being knowledgeable in sustainable, hygienic, and cost-effective techniques of cultivation, fishing and processing are all determinants for a successful business in the fish value chain.
For their efforts, RFBCP received the prestigious Best Development Partner Award in the Fisheries Sector for East Africa. The award was handed over during the annual Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Awards (SFA) ceremony in June 2023.
Personal success story
One trainee of the Business Development Service Programme is Manda Julius, a fish vendor from the Kyotera district, working in the heart of Kyabasimba Landing Site on Lake Victoria, Uganda. Initially focusing on silver fish (Mukene), Manda soon recognized the importance of diversification. During full moon periods when Mukene are scarce and their fishery is not economical, he started selling other species such as Tilapia and Nile perch.
To fund his shop, Manda invested his savings and acquired a loan from his fisheries savings group. This strategy allowed him to buy and process fish at a higher quality and sell fish at more favorable prices. At first, however, Manda struggled to understand the market’s demands, often not considering essential costs.
His business turned when Manda participated in the 14-month Fisheries Business Development Training and Competition, implemented by RFBCP. He used the acquired skills to expand his venture, contracting three boat crews. Manda’s efforts were further amplified by the drying racks he gained from the business competition. These racks significantly reduced post-harvest losses and improved the quality, giving him a competitive advantage. He soon attracted a customer base, seeking the premium quality he now provided. Manda proactively engaged with his customers, ensuring they remained informed about his daily catch updates. This transparency fostered trust and customer loyalty, establishing him as a reliable fish supplier. Starting with mere savings and determination, Manda Julius transformed his business into a thriving fish trading enterprise. His story proves the potential unlocked by structured training and dedication, inspiring many others to follow his journey.
Learner´s Guide for entrepreneurs
As a knowledge product of this success, RFBCP published a Leaner´s Guide for entrepreneurs involved in the fish value chain at micro and small-scale levels. This guide has been designed to help the learners who are actively engaged in fishing businesses to acquire knowledge, skills, and competencies that are critical to business development and sustainability. This is a learner’s guide which compliments the content delivered by the trainers as a means of supporting and maximize the learner’s uptake of knowledge. In general, the learners’ manual covers the basics of a business, entrepreneurship, business planning, marketing, costing, and pricing, sources of business capital, business management, record keeping, soft skills, financial literacy, financial management, financial linkage to banks, fish food defense, fish spoilage, fish processing, fish safety and quality.
You can download the Learner´s Guide together with more manuals form Uganda here.
Are you interested or in need of more business development materials or guides about sustainable aquaculture and fisheries? Our project website offers a variety of training manuals and information on different fishery & aquaculture development aspects as downloads.
Author: Lukas Novaes Tump
The Global Programme “Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture” is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The aim of the programme is to increase the fish supply from sustainable and resource-friendly fisheries and aquaculture to boost healthy and diverse nutrition in Cambodia, India, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Uganda, and Zambia. Sustainable production and processing techniques are promoted along the value chain to create jobs and income, with a special focus on youths and women. Local organizations are strengthened in their capacities to carry on programme interventions on a long-term basis. Additionally, policy advice contributes to creating favourable framework conditions for the sustainable development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector in the implementing countries.
