Rwanda, 2025: Development of best practice guiding documents for fisheries and aquaculture sector

Using a needs-based and participative approach COFAD conducted a rapid sector analysis and qualitative capacity gap assessment to inform the development of important guiding documents to ensure use of best practices across the value chain. In close collaboration with stakeholders from private sector and relevant government departments, including the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA) among others, six documents were developed, with four translated into Kinyarwanda for ease of use. The documents spanned the production, through post-harvest handling and processing nodes: 1) Comprehensive manual for sustainable aquaculture in Rwanda; 2) Guidelines for sustainable cage aquaculture; 3) Guidelines for feeds and feeding practices; 4) Guidelines for fish health management; 5) Standard operating procedures for post-harvest management, handling and processing (safeguarding quality of fish and fishery products); and 6) Code of practice for fish and fishery products for Rwanda.