SMS-Based Fish Price Information System

Uganda, Ms. Ciepiela devised innovative but affordable ways to accelerate access to and utilization of technologies in the fisheries sector that would improve the competitiveness of small producers, processors, and exporters. In cooperation with MTN (Uganda’s major cellular service provider), SMS-Ads and Impact Associates (a Uganda software company and a small Ugandan consulting firm), launched a price information service delivered via cellular phone Short Messaging Service (SMS) to promote greater price transparency in the fisheries sector. Daily selling prices for fishers, collectors and processors for 10 landing sites on Lake Victoria will be available through SMS at any time of day. The pilot was successful and MTN subsequently negotiated a long term partnership with Grameen Foundation and local MFIs to extend availability of phones and service to rural women entrepreneurs. (2001-2002)

National Fisheries Strategy

In Uganda, AISD facilitated the development of a cluster working group for the fisheries sector, comprising public, private and non-governmental representatives, to conduct a competitive assessment of the fisheries sector and develop a national strategy. AISD’s efforts resulted in a national level commitment to the introduction of commercial aquaculture as the strategic cornerstone of the sector’s competitiveness and environmental sustainability strategy. AISD successfully introduced new value added products to the sector and brought in Asian buyers to test the products. As a result of this work, strong private sector interest exists in investing in community based aquaculture and the GOU and other donors are taking steps to put regulations in place and support research and development. (2000-2003)

Lake Victoria Fisheries Cross Border Trade Study

For IFCA, AISD conducted a study to quantify for the first time the extent of informal cross border fish trade between Uganda and its neighbors, South Sudan, Congo, Kenya, including data on fish species and size, sales volume, price, distribution channels and consumption. AISD also developed a set of performance indicators for management of three species of fish on Lake Victoria (Nile Perch, Tilapia and Mukene) and reviewed the performance of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Management Plan. (2013)