AfDB’s tweet shows fisheries project improves food security in DRC, Uganda

African Development Bank has recently taken to Twitter to show how the bank-funded fisheries project in Lakes Edward and Albert successfully created income opportunities in Uganda and Democratic Republic of the Congo.

African Development Bank or AfDB's tweet also claims that the bank-funded project has also been able to improve the food security in the DR Congo and Uganda. The Government of the Republic of Uganda received a loan of UA 5 million from the AfDB and the African Development (ADF) to finance the Multinational Lakes Edward and Albert Integrated Fisheries and Water Resources Management Project (LEAF II).

In Uganda, the project covers the Districts of Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Hoima, Bulisa, Kibale, Masindi and Nebbi Districts (in Lake Albert Basin) and Bushenyi, Rubirizi, Mitooma, Kanungu, Kasese and Rukungiri (in Lake Edward Basin).

The main objective of this AfDB-funded project is to sustainably utilize the fisheries and allied natural resources of the Lakes Edward and Albert Basin through harmonized legal framework and policies. The project aims to address major environmental threats to the transboundary Lakes Edward and Albert ecosystems, with a sector goal of poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods for men and women (in the local fishing communities) and global environmental benefits in sustainable management of the natural resources.

The small video of 1:01 second tweeted by AfDB says that both the lakes (Edward and Albert) suffer from overexploitation of fisheries resources and that created tensions between Uganda and the DR Congo. It claimed that more sustainable management of natural resources was needed and consequently the Lakes Edward and Albert pilot fisheries project (LEAF) was born for that.

As a result of the implementation of the AfDB-funded project, the creation of alternate income opportunities augmented with further enhancement of food security. AfDB claimed that it has so far contributed USD 6.9 million in the project. The bank expects at least 400,000 people in the fishing community of both Uganda and the DR Congo will benefit from the project.

The LEAF is expected to generate 5,000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs from both the countries, while 50 percent of women will get the direct opportunity of being employed through the project. Check AfDB's official tweet below:

A Bank-funded fisheries project in Lakes Edward and Albert has created alternative income opportunities and improved #foodsecurity in #Uganda and the #DRC. 🎬Watch! pic.twitter.com/2mMx0ZKYd9

— African Development Bank Group (@AfDB_Group) August 27, 2019

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