Rhodes University programme earns UN recognition for advancing sustainable aquaculture in Africa

The Rural Fisheries Programme, a developmental unit within Rhodes University’s Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science (DIFS), has received Technical Recognition from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations for its contribution to sustainable aquatic food systems.

The recognition honours the Programme’s innovative work on Buna Africa – a digital platform that connects fish farmers, governments, and technical experts to improve aquaculture production, data collection, and management across the continent. ‘Buna’ is a Sepedi word, which means “to harvest”.

The FAO recognition was formally conferred at a ceremony on 15 October 2025 at FAO headquarters in Rome, as part of the organisation’s 80th anniversary celebrations and the World Food Forum.

A digital innovation for Africa’s fastest-growing food sector

Africa’s aquaculture sector is growing faster than any other region in the world, yet many governments struggle to access reliable production data to inform policy and planning. Buna Africa was created to bridge that gap.

Developed by Rhodes University’s Rural Fisheries Programme after a three-year design and testing phase, Buna Africa enables fish farmers to submit production data in real time while simultaneously offering a suite of practical tools and services to improve their operations. These include a library of aquaculture manuals and videos, production calculators, directories of suppliers, bookkeeping and financial tracking features, and even a fish health diagnostic service developed in consultation with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

By giving farmers immediate access to information and digital services, Buna not only improves productivity but also builds trust between farmers and governments – both of whom benefit from better data and stronger communication channels.

“We designed Buna Africa with a simple philosophy: if we want reliable data, we must first create value for the people who generate it,” says Mr Qurban Rouhani, Director of the Rural Fisheries Programme. “Buna is more than a data tool; it’s a partnership platform. It supports farmers in real time while helping governments make informed decisions for the sector’s sustainable growth.”

Global recognition for local innovation

Since its launch in 2022, Buna Africa has been piloted in Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, and Zambia, with support from partners such as FAO and WorldFish.  Buna is also now being implemented in Liberia with support from the World Bank. Governments in these countries have responded positively, recognising Buna’s dual value as a technical support system for farmers and a digital reporting mechanism for policy development.

Following successful pilot phases, Buna was presented at the FAO Committee for Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture of Africa (CIFAA) in September 2024, where delegates endorsed the platform’s potential to be scaled across the continent. The system is already available in English and French, increasing its accessibility across Africa’s diverse aquaculture regions.

Aligning with FAO’s Blue Transformation

The FAO’s Blue Transformation roadmap calls for digital innovation and responsible technologies to drive sustainable growth in the aquatic food sector – a vision Buna Africa embodies.

“This recognition from the FAO affirms that innovative solutions emerging from African institutions are shaping global conversations about sustainability,” says Professor Amber Childs, Head of DIFS at Rhodes University. “The Rural Fisheries Programme’s work demonstrates how research-led technology can create real change – from local livelihoods to international policy.”

A milestone for Rhodes University and African aquaculture

Receiving Technical Recognition from the FAO places Rhodes University among a select group of global institutions acknowledged for advancing sustainable aquatic food systems. It underscores the University’s longstanding commitment to research excellence and innovation with real-world impact.

 “This recognition is not just for our team – it celebrates the many partnerships across Africa that have contributed to Buna’s success and shared vision for sustainable aquaculture,” says Mr Rouhani.

For Rhodes University and its partners, the honour reflects a growing global acknowledgement of Africa’s capacity to lead with ingenuity, collaboration, and purpose in shaping the future of aquatic food systems.