The effects of COVID-19 along the fish value chain: A case for Uganda and Tanzania

This project is part of the initiative of the ‘Southern Voice’ in shedding light on the responses to COVID-19.  As part of its initiative, studies have been done with Teams across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The studies have been informing on different responses, situations and giving practical recommendations towards various dimension surrounding the pandemic.

COVID-19, like many other disastrous situations has tremendously affected many sectors worldwide, fisheries sector included. The pandemic though does not affect fish directly, but it indirectly affects how the fisheries sector operates. The presence of the pandemic brings about changes in consumer behavior, disruption in trading activities and also difficulties in transportation and supply chain as a whole.

The overall objective is to understand the differences in impact between countries which opted for a lock down policy and those that did not, especially in the economies whose informal sectors contribution is huge. This will further help to learn better ways of reducing the effects of COVID-19 along the key fisheries sector value chain, sustain production, income and reduce vulnerability of fish dependent communities. Although the effects of this pandemic have affected persons, communities and countries differently, the challenges experienced and interventions that have been applied in different countries offer opportunities for learning.

Specifically, the project intends to

(1) identify the challenges that COVID-19 has posed on the key fisheries value chain nodes in both Tanzania and Uganda and understand how value chains are affected differently between a lock down situation and in the absence of a lock down.

(2) identify various government and non-governmental interventions made during the COVID-19 period, their impact on the fisheries sector and livelihoods and to document lessons to guide further interventions

And lastly,

(3) examine the role of ICT in ensuring sustainable fisheries continuity amidst the COVID pandemic

For more information, please also visit http://southernvoice.org/southern-voice-network-members-kick-start-covid-19-research-projects/