- WorldFish has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative with Norway which aims to refine, test and scale innovative renewable energy solutions for the aquaculture sector in Egypt.
- CeREA will be a crucial project of WorldFish’s Fish for Africa Innovation Hub (FAIH), based at its research facility in Abbassa and created to create and distribute cutting-edge ideas in the area.
WorldFish has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative with Norway which aims to refine, test and scale innovative renewable energy solutions for the aquaculture sector in Egypt. The four-year initiative, called Center for Renewable Energy in Aquaculture (CeREA), is funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Cairo. The initiative reflects Norway’s commitment to enhancing nutrition, promoting job and value creation and empowering local fish value chain actors with climate-smart technologies, particularly small- and medium-scale fish farmers in Africa.
Commenting on the programme’s impact, the ambassador of Norway to Egypt, Hilde Klemetsdal, said: “We are delighted to sign the agreement today with WorldFish. The project will enable 5,000 fish producers, processors and other fish value chain actors to increase their productivity and incomes. It will reduce food waste and loss and promote transformation to more energy-efficient and climate-smart food value chains. The project is a prime example of an initiative that aligns with Norway’s development cooperation priorities. I am very pleased to see many important and timely elements, including food security, climate adaptation and gender equality, addressed in one program.”
WorldFish has supported the Egyptian aquaculture and fisheries sector since its research and training centre launched at Abbassa in Sharkia in 1998. A key focus of the centre has been improving fish genetics and research capacity to transform Egypt into a role model for sub-Saharan African aquaculture development. In order to maximise the impact of CeREA, the new initiative, WorldFish will work closely with a diverse range of national and international partners, including research institutions, public universities and the private sector.
CeREA will be a crucial project of WorldFish’s Fish for Africa Innovation Hub (FAIH), based at its research facility in Abbassa and created to create and distribute cutting-edge ideas in the area. By 2030, WorldFish hopes to advance gender equity, food and nutrition security, and climate adaptation while creating 6 million new employment in African aquaculture through FAIH.
Dr Ahmed Nasr-Allah, WorldFish country director for Egypt, said, “CeREA is a unique collaboration expected to catalyse the emergence of a cadre of Egyptians who can effectively tackle some of the most critical and complex development challenges in Egypt and Africa using an evidence-based approach.” Arild ksnevad, counsellor and head of development and business cooperation at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Cairo; Eithar Soliman, development cooperation advisor; Sameh Ahmed, finance manager; and Menna Mosbah, gender expert and communications representative for WorldFish in Egypt, all witnessed the official signing of the agreement.