INBO chairs the steering committee of the global initiative on IWRM and sustainable fisheries, initiated by the FAO with the aim of improving coordination between organizations in charge of basin management and those responsible for inland fisheries. Within this framework, INBO will participate in the Global Workshop on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and Inland Fisheries to be held in Entebbe, Uganda, from March 18 to 20, 2025.
Organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in collaboration with the Government of Uganda, the workshop will bring together national representatives from key sectors such as Land and Water, Inland Fisheries, and Forestry, as well as regional fishery bodies (RFBs), basin management organizations (BMOs), and international experts. Representatives from funding agencies will also participate to explore opportunities for resource mobilization. The workshop will be conducted in English
Context and Background
Inland capture fisheries play a crucial role in food security and livelihoods, particularly for vulnerable communities. However, they are increasingly impacted by external pressures such as hydropower development, land-use changes, and urbanization. These challenges are often addressed at the basin or sub-basin level, with little consideration of their effects on inland fisheries. Strengthening cooperation between RFBs and BMOs is essential to integrate fisheries into broader water governance frameworks.
To tackle this issue, FAO’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Division launched an initiative to foster collaboration between these institutions. The process began with a regional workshop in Entebbe in December 2023, which gathered representatives from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, including members of the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO). The discussions highlighted shared priorities, such as sustainable development, habitat conservation, and pollution control, and identified the need for harmonized governance approaches.
Since then, significant progress has been made:
- A steering committee, chaired by INBO and supported by FAO, has met regularly to guide ongoing efforts.
- FAO has established an interdivisional IWRM collaboration team involving Fisheries, Land and Water, Agriculture, Livestock, and Forestry experts.
- An FAO interdivisional workshop in September 2024 identified best practices in watershed management and developed methodologies for pilot projects in key regions, including Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, the Amazon Basin, and the Mekong Basin.
Building on these efforts, the 2025 Global Workshop will provide a platform to validate and refine methodologies for integrated basin management and to finalize the scope of pilot projects aimed at incorporating inland fisheries into IWRM strategies.
Workshop Objectives
The primary aim of the workshop is to integrate inland fisheries into basin management frameworks through improved governance and collaboration. The specific objectives include:
- Refining methodologies – Presenting and validating approaches for integrated basin assessment and management.
- Defining pilot projects – Finalizing objectives and implementation strategies for IWRM and inland fisheries initiatives.
- Enhancing cooperation – Strengthening collaboration between RFBs and BMOs to ensure better integration of inland fisheries into water governance.
- Securing resources – Exploring funding opportunities to support future initiatives.
This workshop will serve as a crucial step toward developing actionable solutions for the sustainable management of inland fisheries within basin ecosystems.