Financing fish farming with the support of FISH4ACP

Lomé – “In Côte d'Ivoire, fish farmers can now obtain funding from microfinance institutions to develop their activities. Even better, these institutions have specific offers adapted to the needs of stakeholders in the aquaculture value chain," said Foungnigué Djiré, National Professional Officer of FISH4ACP in Côte d'Ivoire. 

She shared this information on the 2025 edition of BlueInvest Africa, held on October 15 and 16 in Lomé, Togo, around the theme "Responsible and sustainable investments in the African blue economy."

This event, initiated by the European Union (EU) in 2022, aims to connect innovative project leaders with public and private investors, with a view to accelerating the financing of sustainable solutions for the ocean, marine energies, fishing, aquaculture and maritime transport.

« Aquaculture is a sector with high potential, but little connected with the financial world until now. The limited capacity of financial institutions to assess the risks involved in aquaculture is one of the main constraints limiting their support to the sector," said Foungnigué Djiré during a panel discussion at BlueInvest Africa.

In 2023, fish consumption in Côte d'Ivoire exceeded 700 000 tonnes, representing a value of 533 billion FCFA (about 945 million USD). Nearly 80% of this consumption comes from imports, which explains why the Ivorian government is bent on increasing domestic production: local actors are invited to seize the opportunity of producing locally to satisfy the high demand for fish.

“FISH4ACP has been working to improve finance for this sector for some years,” Foungnigué Djiré said. “Providing technical support and training to microfinance institutions so they gain a better understanding of the aquaculture activity and offer more suitable financial products."

In September 2025, FISH4ACP in collaboration with the Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries (MIRAH) organized the first edition of the Aquaculture Finance Forum (FFA).

Aquaculture stakeholders and financial institutions gathered there around a common goal: to facilitate access to finance for fish farmers and boost the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector in Côte d'Ivoire. The forum served as a platform for financial institutions to present their newly developed or adapted products.

FISH4ACP is an initiative of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OAPCS), implemented by FAO with funding from the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). In Côte d'Ivoire, FISH4ACP supports the efforts of MIRAH and aims to multiply tilapia production, currently estimated between 7 000 and 9 000 tons by nine.