AfDB’s ProFishBlue Boosts Madagascar’s Women Fishmongers with Cold Chain Support

Minister Mahatante emphasized that the initiative aligns with Madagascar’s national strategy for sustainable fisheries, which seeks to strengthen women’s participation in the blue economy.

In Toliara, a coastal city nearly 1,000 kilometers southwest of Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo, women have long been at the heart of the fishing economy. From cleaning and processing to selling and transporting fish, their work sustains local markets and families alike. Yet, for years, women fishmongers have struggled to make a fair living due to one persistent challenge — the lack of ice, cold storage, and transport facilities to preserve their products and reduce spoilage.

Today, that challenge is beginning to ease, thanks to support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) through its ProFishBlue initiative — officially known as the Multinational Program for Improving Fisheries Governance and Blue Economy Trade Corridors in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

“We have struggled to access viable markets, which has limited our ability to sell fish at fair prices,” said Virginie Gorette Ratiarainandrasana, Chairperson of the National Network of Women in Fisheries in Madagascar (RNFEM). “Now, with this support, we can finally reach more customers with fresher products and better prices.”

---

A Refrigerated Truck to Empower Women

Under the AfDB-financed ProFishBlue program, the National Network of Women in Fisheries in Madagascar recently received a three-ton refrigerated truck to help preserve and distribute fish more effectively across markets in Toliara and beyond. The truck, handed over during an official ceremony attended by Madagascar’s Minister for Fisheries and Blue Economy, Dr. Paubert Tsimanaoraty Mahatante, marks a new phase in empowering women fishmongers.

The handover ceremony brought together representatives from the SADC Secretariat, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), women’s fisheries associations, and several international partners.

“This support will enable women to increase their earnings and improve their living standards,” said Ratiarainandrasana.

Minister Mahatante emphasized that the initiative aligns with Madagascar’s national strategy for sustainable fisheries, which seeks to strengthen women’s participation in the blue economy.

“By empowering women and youth, we are investing in inclusive development and sustainable management of our marine resources,” he said.

---

Tackling Post-Harvest Loss and Boosting Livelihoods

Fishing is one of Madagascar’s most important economic sectors, employing more than 500,000 people, most of them in small-scale coastal operations. However, post-harvest losses — often due to lack of refrigeration — can reach up to 40% of total catch in some regions. For women, who dominate fish retail and processing, this translates into lower income, wasted effort, and food insecurity.

The ProFishBlue program, launched in March 2022 with $9.2 million in AfDB grant financing, aims to change that. It supports transboundary fisheries governance, promotes sustainable blue economy trade, and reduces post-harvest losses across the SADC region.

According to Ahmed Khan, AfDB’s Chief Fisheries Officer and Blue Economy Coordinator:

“African Development Bank support for ProFishBlue demonstrates our belief that women and youth are engines of the continent’s economic growth. Women are central to the fish value chain, from the fishing net to the dinner plate. ProFishBlue promotes competitiveness in retail and cross-border fish trade — increasing value, household income, and quality of life for women in the sector.”

---

Regional Impact Across Southern Africa

ProFishBlue is being implemented across multiple SADC member countries, combining infrastructure investments, capacity building, and regulatory reforms to create more resilient and competitive fisheries sectors.

In Madagascar, the refrigerated truck is part of a regional effort that has distributed similar cold-chain vehicles to seven women-led fisheries enterprises in seven southern African countries. Each recipient was selected based on its outreach, sustainability, and inclusion of marginalized women in fish processing and trade.

The project has also:

• Delivered fish hatcheries and research equipment to Malawi and Zambia.

• Provided business development services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Tanzania.

• Supplied laboratory equipment to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to improve testing of fish and fishery products.

“We expect this initiative to significantly enhance the livelihoods of women involved in fish processing and value addition,” said Domingos Gove, Director of Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources at the SADC Secretariat.

---

Training, Governance, and Capacity Building

Beyond providing physical infrastructure, ProFishBlue includes a strong focus on training and institutional development. The beneficiary enterprises, including Madagascar’s RNFEM, have received training in business governance, finance, asset management, and post-harvest handling.

These skills will help women fish traders manage their operations more efficiently and reduce losses that have long cut into their profits. The program also promotes financial inclusion, supporting women entrepreneurs to access microcredit and savings products tailored to the fisheries value chain.

The project’s integrated approach is expected to yield long-term social and economic dividends by enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of fisheries in the SADC region.

---

Inclusion and Collaboration for a Sustainable Blue Economy

ProFishBlue is jointly implemented by the SADC Secretariat in partnership with the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), FAO, UNIDO, WorldFish, and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The African Women Fish Processors and Traders Network (AWFishNet), facilitated by the African Union, played a key role in shaping the project to ensure women’s inclusion and leadership in the blue economy.

“The inclusion of women in fisheries is essential for ensuring equitable growth,” said Khan. “Projects like ProFishBlue ensure that women are not just participants but key decision-makers in shaping the future of Africa’s fisheries sector.”

---

Transforming Madagascar’s Fisheries Sector

The National Network of Women in Fisheries in Madagascar represents more than 8,200 women across 118 associations in 11 of Madagascar’s 23 regions. With the addition of the refrigerated truck and improved access to training and finance, the Network expects to see a marked increase in earnings and reduced post-harvest loss.

The new truck will enable women fishmongers to transport and sell fish in distant markets such as Antananarivo, where demand for fresh seafood is high but supply chains are weak. By ensuring that fish remains fresh longer, women can negotiate better prices, reach new customers, and contribute to national food security.

“This is more than a truck,” said Ratiarainandrasana. “It is a tool of empowerment. It means less waste, more income, and a brighter future for women in fisheries.”

---

Towards a Sustainable Future

Through initiatives like ProFishBlue, the African Development Bank continues to advance its vision for inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient economic growth across Africa. By prioritizing women and youth, the Bank is not only addressing gender inequality but also strengthening the social and economic fabric of local communities that depend on the ocean for survival.

For Madagascar and its women fishmongers, the arrival of the refrigerated truck represents more than just cold storage — it symbolizes hope, opportunity, and transformation for generations to come.