Women and Youth Economic Empowerment in Fisheries

Africa’s $22 billion annual market for fish is projected to nearly double by 2030

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, TradeMark Africa (TMA), and the Mastercard Foundation are partnering on the Women and Youth Economic Empowerment in Fisheries Programme (2024–2028), which is designed to address the multifaceted barriers preventing women and youth from fully participating in, and benefiting from, the fisheries sector.

Despite its vast potential, the economic benefits of this growing market have not been evenly distributed, often bypassing women and youth, who make up 70% of employment in the sector—predominantly in downstream roles such as processing and informal cross-border trade. Young women, in particular, dominate informal cross-border trade at specific borders. Despite their significant involvement in post-harvest activities, women and youth face considerable challenges, including limited access to productive assets, financial resources, markets, market information, and weak bargaining power compared to larger, more established firms and groups. Gender-based discrimination and safeguarding concerns further exacerbate these challenges. Existing infrastructure and logistics are inadequate, leading to high post-harvest losses, while the complex regulatory environment hinders efficient trade.

However, there are substantial opportunities for growth. The demand for fish in Africa is expected to rise by 90% by 2030, with a market potential of $22 billion, providing a compelling case for expanding sustainable aquaculture. The AfCFTA presents a unique opportunity to create integrated markets, which can significantly benefit women and youth, if intentional actions are taken to include them.

The programme addresses these challenges, with targeted interventions designed to level the playing field and transform the fisheries sector into a source of inclusive growth and improved livelihoods for those who need it most. It seeks to create 242,000 jobs for women and youth in the sector by December 2028.

Programme Partners

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and TradeMark Africa (TMA), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, are partnering on this programme, which also draws on the support of other consortium partners operating at the grassroots level and with specialised capabilities in the fisheries and aquaculture value chains, financial access and inclusion, training and capacity-building, gender, and inclusive trade.