From Raw to Regenerative: Financing Africa’s Blue Bioeconomy

Africa’s aquatic ecosystems underpin an estimated 49 million jobs, yet the continent captures less than 10% of the value of its aquatic biomass, with products such as seaweed, fish and aquaculture often exported with limited processing. As biodiversity loss, climate pressures and resource constraints intensify, Africa urgently needs to capture more value locally. This session showcases the African Bioeconomy Finance Hub’s practical approach to strengthening blue bioeconomy value chains—from aquaculture and seaweed to fisheries by-products and marine protected areas—by developing investable pipelines, mobilising finance, strengthening enabling policies and building capacity. It will explore how greater African value capture can drive jobs, resilient industries and biodiversity outcomes.