Aninver visits Benin to support sustainable fisheries and blue economy development

As part of our ongoing commitment to support sustainable economic development through targeted consulting services, Aninver Development Partners carried out a field mission to Benin this week. The objective: to engage with national stakeholders, share insights, and co-develop strategies that advance the fisheries sector and broader blue economy in the country.

🗓️ Day 1: Groundwork and stakeholder engagement

Our mission began with a series of bilateral meetings with key institutions and partners in Cotonou. These included national authorities, donor agencies, and organizations active in fisheries, trade, and environmental management. The conversations focused on current challenges in the fisheries value chain, such as access to infrastructure, data gaps, and environmental pressures, while also exploring innovative pathways for value addition, inclusive financing, and market access. Our first day was inspiring: we met with the dedicated team at Ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Élevage et de la Pêche (MAEP) to review project objectives, align on priorities, and plan the key activities ahead. The discussions were followed by a hands-on field visit to Lake Nokoué, where we witnessed the incredible diversity of fishing practices and engaged directly with local fishing communities to understand their challenges and aspirations.

🗓️ Day 2: Sector-wide workshop and Songhaï Center visit

On the second day, Aninver hosted a multi-stakeholder workshop in Cotonou, which brought together over 40 participants from across the fisheries ecosystem. Representatives included government ministries, private sector actors, cooperatives, research institutions, and NGOs. The session enabled open dialogue and collective problem-solving around the sector’s strategic priorities—ranging from cold chain logistics and traceability to sustainable fishing practices and gender inclusion. The high level of engagement and collaboration was a strong signal of local ownership and momentum for reform.

In the afternoon, the Aninver team visited the Songhaï Center, an internationally recognized model of integrated and sustainable aquaculture and agriculture based in Porto-Novo. Founded in 1985, Songhaï is much more than a farm—it is a training, research, and production center focused on agroecology, entrepreneurship, and community development. The center applies a closed-loop model combining organic farming, aquaculture, bioenergy, and agri-processing, while equipping thousands of young people with skills in sustainable livelihoods. The Songhaï approach offers a powerful example of how circular economy principles can be applied across sectors, including fisheries, to increase resilience, productivity, and social inclusion.

This mission forms part of our broader work supporting the blue economy across West Africa, in collaboration with national stakeholders and development partners. At Aninver, we believe that unlocking the full potential of coastal and aquatic sectors requires data-driven planning, inclusive stakeholder engagement, and scalable investment models. Benin’s experience, energy, and willingness to innovate offer a promising foundation for sustainable impact.

This project is a powerful opportunity to strengthen the resilience of Benin’s fisheries sector against climate and environmental risks—while enhancing livelihoods, empowering women, and protecting ecosystems. Aninver brings deep expertise in the Blue Economy and local insight in Benin—where we’ve worked in a number of assignments in the past (see https://lnkd.in/dT37e23K) and are involved now on value chain development in fisheries and aquaculture. Learn more about this project: https://lnkd.in/dEzZgvWH

🌊 Want to collaborate or learn more about our work in the Blue Economy? Visit our Blue Economy page: https://lnkd.in/dnYAdSJU

📩 To learn more about our work, contact us at aninver@aninver.com