This document provides a narrative for a new CGIAR research program (CRP) on fish agri-food systems (FISH) that will focus on the interlinked challenges of sustainable aquaculture, small-scale fisheries (SSF), and enhancing the contribution of fish to nutrition and health in priority geographies of Africa and Asia-Pacific. It outlines the rationale and scope of the program, its goals and objectives, impact pathways, flagship projects, partnerships, capacity development activities, program management structure, and risk management approach. The CRP will develop integrated, multidisciplinary research innovations to optimize the individual and joint contributions of aquaculture and SSF to reducing poverty, improving food and nutrition security, and sustaining

1. 1

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Contents
1. CRP narrative ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.0.1 Rationale and scope ............................................................................................................................................ 3
1.0.2 Goals, objectives, targets .................................................................................................................................... 7
1.0.3 Impact pathway and theory of change ............................................................................................................. 11
1.0.4 Gender ............................................................................................................................................................... 15
1.0.5 Youth ................................................................................................................................................................. 19
1.0.6 Program structure and flagship projects ........................................................................................................... 19
1.0.7 Cross CRP collaboration and site integration .................................................................................................... 22
1.0.8 Partnerships and comparative advantage ......................................................................................................... 22
1.0.9 Evidence of demand and stakeholder commitment ......................................................................................... 23
1.0.10 Capacity development ..................................................................................................................................... 24
1.0.11 Program management and governance .......................................................................................................... 26
1.0.12 Intellectual asset management ......................................................................................................................... 27
1.0.13 Open access management ................................................................................................................................ 27
1.0.14 Communication strategy ................................................................................................................................... 27
1.0.15 Risk management ............................................................................................................................................. 28
1.1 CRP Budget Narrative .............................................................................................................................................. 30
2. Flagship projects ............................................................................................................................................... 39
2.1 Flagship 1: Sustainable aquaculture ....................................................................................................................... 39
2.1.1 Flagship project narrative .................................................................................................................................. 39
2.1.2 Flagship budget narrative .................................................................................................................................. 58
2.1.3 Flagship Uplift Budget ....................................................................................................................................... 63
2.2 Flagship 2: Sustaining small-scale fisheries ..................................................................................................... 65
2.2.1 Flagship project narrative .................................................................................................................................. 65
2.2.2 Flagship budget narrative .................................................................................................................................. 84
2.2.3 Flagship Uplift Budget ....................................................................................................................................... 89
2.3 Flagship 3: Enhancing the contribution of fish for the nutrition and health of the poor ..................................... 90
2.3.1 Flagship project narrative .................................................................................................................................. 90
2.3.2 Flagship budget narrative ................................................................................................................................ 105
2.3.3 Flagship uplift budget ...................................................................................................................................... 110

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1. CRP narrative
1.0.1 Rationale and scope
Fisheries and aquaculture contribute to livelihoods for 800 million people and provide 3.1 billion people with 20% of
their animal protein (FAO 2015), as well as micronutrients and essential fatty acids critical to cognitive and physical
development (HLPE 2014). Three-quarters of the countries where fish contributes more than one-third of animal
protein in the diet are low-income food-deficit countries (Kawarazuka and Béné 2011), where fish is often the cheapest
and most accessible animal-source food (Belton and Thilsted 2014). To meet future demand for fish, particularly in
developing countries, production will need to double by 2030 (FAO 2014). The scale of this challenge requires research
innovations across the whole spectrum of aquaculture and fisheries production systems and associated value chains.
Citing the crucial role of fisheries and aquaculture in global strategies to reduce poverty and improve food security and
nutrition, and noting the underinvestment in research and development (R&D), the United Nations (UN) Committee on
World Food Security's expert panel specifically calls on CGIAR to lead research that will enhance sustainability,
productivity and access to fish by those most in need (HLPE 2014). Responding to this need, the new CGIAR research
program (CRP) on fish agri-food systems (FISH) will focus on the three interlinked challenges of sustainable aquaculture,
small-scale fisheries (SSF), and enhancing the contribution of fish to nutrition and health of the poor in priority
geographies of Africa and Asia-Pacific.
Challenges
Aquaculture. The rapid growth of aquaculture has highlighted many challenges to sustainable development.
Aquaculture enterprises, particularly in developing countries, often have low production efficiency, experience episodic
production crashes due to fish diseases (Walker and Winton 2010), and contribute to pollution and the loss of
mangroves (Phillips et al. 1993; Naylor et al. 1998). Much aquaculture depends on wild stocks, precluding production
gains by selective breeding and increasing disease risk. Every year, 20–30 million metric tons of fish, one-third of the
global catch, are used to produce feeds for aquaculture. Moreover, gender inequities limit income generation and
asset-building for women—in particular poor women—who face multiple barriers, including limited access to
technology, infrastructure and credit. Efforts to sustain or accelerate aquaculture growth in developing countries must
address breed improvements, fish health, sustainable feeds and environmental management, together with the need
for gender- and socially equitable distribution of economic and nutritional benefits.
Small-scale fisheries. Capture fisheries are projected to be the dominant supply of fish for many least developed
countries for decades (World Bank 2013). However, most face severe pressure from overfishing, particularly SSF in
resource-poor regions where fish is an important source of food and income (FAO 2014). The most recent analysis of
global marine fisheries catches clearly demonstrates that the importance of small-scale fishing for the food security of
developing countries, particularly in the tropical Indo-Pacific, cannot be overemphasized (Pauly and Zellar 2016). SSF
operate in highly complex ecological, social and institutional environments (Jentoft and Chuenpagdee 2009).
Productivity and sustainability are often undermined by underperforming governance, which also reinforces gender
and social inequities. Thus the central challenge is to improve SSF governance in ways that ensure ecological
sustainability, build the resilience of fishery-dependent communities, and improve equity in access rights and the flow
of benefits in ways that increase livelihood opportunities for poverty reduction and food security.
Nutrition. The lack of diversity in the cereal-based diets of the poor, particularly of women and children, has important
consequences for health and development. Despite being a major source of key nutrients, fish consumption has not
been fully integrated into strategies to combat undernutrition, nor are nutritional considerations well integrated into
aquaculture and fisheries strategies (Thilsted et al. 2016). Fish is also subject to considerable postharvest losses, with
27%–39% of all caught fish going to waste (FAO 2011). These losses disproportionately impact women because of
women’s concentration in postharvest parts of fish value chains. Poor storage, handling and processing also contribute
to lost value and pose a risk of foodborne infections and mycotoxins (Gram and Huss 1996). Key challenges are to (1)
enable fish production systems to reach their full potential to deliver nutrients and healthy foods; (2) reduce
inefficiencies in value chains, including waste, nutrient losses and restricted access of poor consumers, while protecting
or enhancing gender-equitable returns for poor women and men value chain actors; and (3) address barriers that divert
fish from the diets of mothers, infants and young children, where it can have the greatest impact.

4. 4
Strategic and scientific rationale
FISH is a new, integrated, multidisciplinary research program addressing these challenges. Designed in collaboration
with beneficiaries, research partners and multiple stakeholders within and beyond CGIAR, the program will develop
and implement research innovations that optimize the individual and joint contributions of aquaculture and SSF to
reducing poverty, improving food and nutrition security for health, and sustaining the underlying natural resources
systems and ecosystems services on which both depend. In so doing, it will address critical gaps in research that need
to be addressed to build evidence on the most promising pathways to impact (Béné et al. 2016). The program design
benefits from constructive inputs from external reviewers and, as a component of the broader CGIAR portfolio,
responds explicitly to feedback of the Independent Science and Partnerships Council (ISPC, see Addenda 1 and 2).
For aquaculture, our focus is on enabling enterprises to progressively enhance production efficiency and sustainability
through the use of domesticated, selectively bred, high-health fish reared on sustainable feeds in gender-inclusive
production systems that have low carbon footprints with no adverse environmental impacts. Focus on these areas will
have the highest probability of achieving productivity gains while avoiding adverse economic, social or environmental
impacts (Hall et al. 2011).
For SSF, evidence shows that sustaining production through policy research and stakeholder engagement to enhance
governance arrangements can deliver greater, more inclusive economic benefits and improved safety nets for
marginalized groups and build resilience to external shocks (Gutiérrez et al. 2011; Allison et al. 2012; Ratner et al.
2014). Thus, our focus is on resilience-based analyses and multi-stakeholder interventions to support improved and
more inclusive governance and natural resource management. This focus will be augmented by analysis and synthesis
of national and regional SSF trends in the context of global food systems and work to give stakeholders a stronger voice
in contested landscapes where alternative uses of water, land and aquatic resources threaten production.
To address nutrition outcomes, we will analyze value chains, with a focus on market channels supplying poor
consumers to understand barriers that constrain access or lead to high prices. We will determine the extent of and
factors shaping postharvest losses, nutritional degradation, food safety hazards and risks, and gendered barriers and
opportunities in fish value chains. We will also explore the potential to sustainably and inclusively increase the
production of small indigenous fish to grow this source of nutrition for poor consumers. These analyses will inform
aquaculture and SSF strategies with better-integrated nutritional considerations and the development of scalable,
gender-responsive actions to address value chain bottlenecks, postharvest losses and food safety hazards, leading to an
increase in the supply of safe fish for consumers.
A core concept for FISH is that strengthening the integration between R&D activities in aquaculture, SSF, nutrition and
value chains will have multiple, synergistic impacts. For example, we will examine the co-existence of wild, highly
nutritious indigenous fish species with improved tilapia and carp strains in rice-fish ponds. We will build on work to
enhance the performance of these strains via selective breeding, disease control, improved aquafeeds, and
environmental management of the ponds and adjacent ecosystems, with priorities for technology development
designed to address the distinct needs of men and women producers where relevant. Research on value chain
innovations will then seek to translate the combined increases in productivity into gender-equitable livelihood and
nutritional gains.
The program also aims to capitalize on priority synergies across the broader CGIAR portfolio. In addition to
incorporating genetics and feeds research from the previous Livestock and Fish (L&F) CRP and market analyses from
the Aquatic Agricultural Systems (AAS) CRP, the FISH CRP establishes new collaborations with other agri-food system
CRPs and the four global integrating programs. As one example, in collaboration with the RICE CRP, we will introduce
new technology to enable the bioconversion of rice waste into bioactive fish feed ingredients and investigate the
potential of producing this feed as an area of women-led, green enterprise. Our work in rice-fish systems will be further
strengthened via efforts to improve the productivity of two of the most important food sources in the developing
world. (Cross-CRP linkages are detailed in Annex 3.7).
Geographic scope
Fish production and consumption are characterized by very significant regional disparities (Figure 1). In Southeast Asia,
while many countries have significant SSF, aquaculture is becoming increasingly important (Figure 1a). By contrast,
production in Africa from both SSF and aquaculture is relatively low, with the notable exceptions of Egypt and, to a

5. 5
lesser degree, Nigeria. Over the past decade, per capita fish consumption has increased in most developing countries in
East and Southeast Asia, whereas in India and in most of Africa it has remained low (Figure 1b).
The program will pursue an integrated body of research in six focal countries. Three are in Asia (Bangladesh, Cambodia
and Myanmar) and three in Africa (Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia). In these countries, we can most coherently integrate
our multidisciplinary strengths in sustainable aquaculture, SSF and enhancing the contribution of fish to the nutrition
and health of the poor. Two additional countries will constitute a focus for particular areas of research: Egypt as a
research hub and training center for our aquaculture capacity development in Africa, and Solomon Islands as a hub for
our learning networks on SSF governance in the Pacific.
Rationale for country selection. To select program focus and scaling countries, we applied a series of metrics tailored
to each of the three overarching challenges. In the aquaculture sector, we applied FAO projections to identify countries
with the largest shortfalls in fish supply (>100,000 metric tons) and where aquaculture is projected to grow at >5% per
annum. From these we selected countries with established partnerships and the ability to co-develop and deliver
research outputs and impacts that contribute to reducing the supply gap. We also identified countries where growth in
aquaculture production is projected to exceed 1 million metric tons per annum by 2030 and generate a significant
surplus of supply over domestic demand. In addition to the six focal countries, these criteria point to the inclusion of
Ghana, India, Indonesia and Vietnam as scaling countries. A final key factor in our selection was the strength of
research infrastructure in countries that have historically supported the development of genetically improved varieties
of the two highest-priority species, tilapia and carp.
In the SSF sector, we selected a small number of countries where the largest number of poor people depends on fish
sourced from SSF for food and nutrition security, which exemplify the range of key challenges facing the sector, and
where the enabling environment is strong enough for FISH to have impacts of national significance. For inland systems
in Asia, the focus is therefore on the mega-deltas of the Ganges/Brahmaputra (Bangladesh), Irrawaddy (Myanmar) and
Mekong (Cambodia). For coastal systems in Asia-Pacific, Solomon Islands was selected for its potential to yield lessons
of regional significance on resilience in the face of multiple drivers of change, including climate change. In Africa, we
will focus initially on inland fisheries, with Zambia as a case study of land-use and governance in inland fisheries, and at
the regional level on the small fish value chain in East Africa’s Great Lakes.
Country selection for research on enhancing fish value chains to improve nutrition and health was prioritized to realize
synergies with our aquaculture and SSF research, and to capitalize on particular opportunities to elucidate and address
nutrition-focused innovations. This underpins a focus on two value chains in Bangladesh, one from aquaculture and
one from fisheries, plus a dried fish value chain with high waste originating in Tanzania. Research to boost indigenous
fish production will complement research in the same locations on enhancing the production of tilapia and carp, and
will build on private sector and nongovernmental organization (NGO) partnerships to develop and disseminate locally
produced fish-based products to improve childhood nutrition in the first 1000 days of life.
Staging and scaling. With fish production and associated value chain development in sub-Saharan Africa markedly
lower than in Asia, we will progressively build multidisciplinary research activities, leveraging lessons from our focal
countries and taking into account the successes and challenges confronted during the much longer history of R&D
investment in Asia-Pacific. In Nigeria our initial focus will be on aquaculture, progressively expanding to include
freshwater SSF and enhancing the impact of fish for nutrition and health. In Zambia we will build on current activities
across all three research domains. In Tanzania our initial focus will be on the small fish value chain from Lake Victoria,
progressively expanding to include aquaculture and coastal SSF.
FISH breeding programs and improved strains of tilapia and carp complement the CGIAR-supported seedbanks in the
plant agri-business sector, in the sense that they both have important, ongoing roles for providing improved
germplasm to the developing world to enhance the livelihoods of poor women and men fish farmers (ADB 2005). Thus
a key scaling activity will be to continue engaging with countries where prior collaborations have established national
fish genetic improvement programs that disseminate improved strains and assess the genetic performance of stocks.
These are in India, Philippines, Vietnam, Ghana, Kenya and Malawi.
The geographic focus of FISH is based on several factors, notably (1) the current status and projected future potential
for aquaculture and SSF in developing countries, (2) the probability that the program and its partners can effectively
respond to demands for research and deliver impacts at scale, and (3) the need to strike a balance between the needs
of producers and consumers in regions where the poor already have good access to fish and regions where the
potential to increase supplies of fish and improve livelihoods has yet to be realized.

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Figure 1. (a) Total fish production in selected developing countries from SSF and aquaculture in 2013 and (b)
estimated fish consumption per capita by region in 2010 (kg/year). North and South America not shown. Sources: (a)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Fisheries Global Information System. Only selected
developing countries shown for comparison. Data for small-scale marine capture fisheries estimated at 50% of total
reported catch; for inland capture fisheries, 100%. Data for aquaculture production excludes aquatic plants. (b) World
Bank (2014).

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1.0.2 Goals, objectives, targets
The goal of FISH is to achieve sustainable increases in the gender- and socially inclusive production and equitable
distribution of nutritious fish to improve the livelihoods and nutrition of poor households in priority geographies. The
objectives of FISH are the following:
1. Enable sustainable increases in, and gender- and socially equitable livelihood returns from, aquaculture production
without creating adverse socio-economic or environmental impacts.
2. Secure and enhance the contribution of SSF to gender-equitable poverty reduction and food security in priority
geographies.
3. Increase the availability and consumption of safe and nutrient-dense fish, primarily for women of reproductive
age, infants and young children.
By 2022, FISH and its partners aim to contribute to seven system-level outcome (SLO) targets outlined in the CGIAR
Strategy and Results Framework (SRF), as summarized in Table 1. Contributions to these targets were calculated using
multiple inputs, including data from outcomes of prior aquaculture and SSF research in focal geographies, recent
WorldFish analyses of future aquaculture and SSF growth, other published studies, and the domain knowledge of FISH
researchers and partners in aquaculture, SSF and fish value chains.
SLO 1: Reduced poverty
Sustainable increases in fish production directly increase the income of small-scale producers, provide opportunities for
value chain innovations and reduce the cost of fish to consumers (Toufique et al. 2014). In the aquaculture sector, our
focus is on enabling farmers to improve their livelihoods via transformational gains in productivity and profitability in
farmed fish.
We will develop and implement new gender-responsive knowledge and technology in improved breeds, fish health,
aquafeeds and management practices, enabling both women and men farmers to boost the productivity of farmed fish,
with benefits to 3.9 million producer households by 2022 (SLO target 1.1). In combination with gender-inclusive and
women-targeted value chain innovations, this has significant potential to directly benefit livelihoods from the
consumption, processing and sale of farmed fish, assisting 2.3 million people, at least 50% of them women, to exit
poverty by 2022 (SLO target 1.2).
Genetic gains of 7%–10% growth per generation have been maintained for over two decades in WorldFish tilapia
programs (Gjedrem et al. 2012; Khaw 2015), with high adoption rates in several poor countries (ADB 2005). We anticipate
further genetic gains in growth rates of 5%–10% per generation over the next decade. By 2022, we aim to sustainably
double the production of safe, nutritious farmed fish in climate-resilient production systems in our selected countries. We
are confident the level of contributions the program will make to yield increases in these countries and the return on
investment in aquaculture enterprises will be as high as, or higher than, any other food sector.
In the SSF sector, FISH and partners’ innovations for more effective and inclusive governance and management will
catalyze improved fisheries and enhance equity and diversity of livelihood opportunities for fisheries-dependent
women, men and youth, with benefits to an additional 1 million producer households (SLO target 1.1) and assisting a
further 1.2 million people, at least 50% of them women, to exit poverty by 2022 (SLO target 1.2).
SLO 2: Improved food and nutrition security for health
The value of fish consumption for nutrition and health goes beyond basic dietary diversity. Fish is a vital, nutrient-dense
animal-source food for many nutritionally vulnerable people, including children and pregnant and lactating women.
Fish is one of the few animal-source foods with robust evidence of positive health benefits (Ezzati and Ribboli 2013;
Zhao et al. 2015). Fish-based diets reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases more than conventional diets (Tilman
and Clark 2014). Aquaculture has great potential to supply more fish to enhance nutrition and food security in
developing countries (World Bank 2013). Predicted growth rates for aquaculture are greater than for any land-based
animal food (FAOSTAT 2014).
We will specifically address the reduced micronutrient deficiency target (SLO 2.3) by increasing polyculture of
micronutrient-rich small indigenous fish species, using improved feeds to enhance the nutritional value of fish, and
increasing productivity and reducing waste and loss in fish value chains important to poor consumers. We aim to

8. 8
reduce micronutrient deficiency in 2.4 million people, of which 50% women, by 2022 (SLO target 2.3). We will focus on
geographical areas in which fish is an important animal-source food and where opportunities exist to influence dietary
diversity through greater availability, lower prices and shifts in the distribution of fish consumption. The program target
is 4.7 million more women of reproductive age consuming an adequate number of food groups (SLO target 2.4).
Table 1 The contribution of FISH to SLO targets by country. Six countries are a focus for FISH R&D, linking the three
research domains. Two countries (Egypt and Solomon Islands) are a focus for a particular flagship project (FP). CGIAR
priority countries for site integration are indicated as high (+) and highest (++) priority.
SLO 3: Improved natural resource systems and ecosystem services
There are dramatic national and regional differences in environmental footprints of aquaculture for the same species
and production methods (Hall et al. 2011). Lifecycle assessment (LCA) to quantify the carbon footprint and other
environmental impacts of aquaculture production will be used to identify and promote the development of gender-
responsive aquaculture systems with low environmental impact. Contributing to climate resilience, we target a 20%
decrease in greenhouse gas emissions (SLO target 3.1) and 10% increase in water- and nutrient-use efficiency (SLO
target 3.2) compared to 2012 levels, for 4.8 million metric tons of farmed fish (10% of projected global aquaculture
production in 2022). Improved practices will also enable the restoration of 1.2 million hectares of degraded
aquaculture ponds and the landscapes in which they are embedded (SLO target 3.3).
The majority of SSF are collectively owned and operate within landscapes and coastal zones with complex layers of
tenure and jurisdiction, characterized by social inequities and unsustainable use. The millions of marginalized people
dependent on fish for income and food security (notably poor women and young adults) are often unable to fully
participate in the governance of their resources. FISH is uniquely placed to integrate local-scale action research on
tenure systems for SSF with analysis of broader institutions and policies for governance, contributing to equitable
resource use and restoration of 2.1 million ha of agro-ecosystems in both inland and coastal environments (SLO target
3.3).
SLO
target
Contribution to SLO target by country
(in millions)
FISH CRP R&D focus
FP1
R&D
FP2
R&D
Scaling
Bangladesh++
Myanmar
Cambodia
Nigeria++
Tanzania++
Zambia+
Egypt
Solomon Is.
Asia
Africa
Totals
Units
1.1
4.9 million producer households adopted improved breeds, aquafeeds, fish health, and
aquaculture and fisheries management practices
House-
holds
1.80 0.45 0.19 0.35 0.11 0.12 0.10 0.02 1.27 0.45 4.9
1.2 3.5 million people, of which at least 50% are women, assisted to exit poverty through
livelihood improvements related to fisheries and aquaculture value chains
People
1.17 0.40 0.18 0.19 0.10 0.09 0.26 0.05 0.94 0.18 3.5
2.3
2.4 million people, of which 50% are women, without deficiencies of one or more of the
following essential micronutrients: iron, zinc, iodine, vitamin A, folate and B12
People
0.90 0.12 0.08 0.12 0.13 0.04 0.10 0.08 0.73 0.13 2.4
2.4 4.7 million more women of reproductive age consuming adequate number of food groups People
1.96 0.35 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.07 0.34 0.02 1.07 0.53 4.7
3.1 &
3.2
20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, 10% increase in water- and nutrient-use
efficiency in 4.8 million metric tons of annual farmed fish production
Metric tons of
fish per
annum
1.65 0.34 0.15 0.20 0.04 0.05 0.30 0.00 1.56 0.47 4.8
3.3 3.3 million ha of ecosystems restored through more productive and equitable
management of SSF resources and restoration of degraded aquaculture ponds
Ha. of restored
ecosystems
1.07 0.47 0.37 0.11 0.01 0.26 0.11 0.25 0.55 0.13 3.3

9. 9
A summary of FISH contributions to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and CGIAR sub-Intermediate
Development Outcomes (IDOs) that support these goals is provided in Table 2. The program contributes directly to
SDGs 1 (no poverty) and 2 (zero hunger) by increasing productivity of fisheries and aquaculture to provide poor and
marginalized women, men and youth with more food, nutrition and income. The program also addresses a range of
related goals targeting improved human health, gender equality, sustainable ecosystems, reduced disease, reduced
food waste, climate adaptation, and effective institutions and development policies. Within the CGIAR portfolio, the
FISH CRP makes unique contributions to address SDGs on protecting and restoring water-related, marine and coastal
ecosystems (6.6, 14.2, 14.5) and encouraging economic growth of Small Island Developing States (8.1, 14.7). Flagship-
specific outcomes, including contributions to each of the SLO targets, are detailed for each flagship project in Section 2.
In Annex 3.6, outcome indicators and means of measurement are detailed as part of the program’s commitment to
results-based management.

10. 10
SDGs SLO IDO Sub-IDOs FP1 FP2 FP3
1. Reduced
poverty
1.3 Increased
incomes and
employment
1.3.1 Diversified enterprise opportunities √
1.3.2 Increased livelihood opportunities √ √
1.3.4 More efficient use of inputs √
1.4/2.1 Increased
productivity
1.4.1/2.1.1 Reduced pre- and postharvest losses,
including those caused by climate change
√
1.4.2/2.1.2 Closed yield gaps through improved
agronomic and animal husbandry practices
√
1.4.3/2.1.3 Enhanced genetic gain √
1.4.5/2.1.5 Increased access to productive assets,
including natural resources
√
2.
Improved
food and
nutrition
security for
health
2.2 Improved diets
for poor and
vulnerable people
2.2.1 Increased availability of diverse nutrient-rich
foods
√
2.2.2 Increased access to diversified
nutrient-rich foods
√
2.2.3 Optimized consumption of diverse nutrient-
rich food
√
2.3 Improved food
safety
2.3.1 Reduced biological and chemical hazards in the
food system
√
2.4 Improved human
and animal health
through better
agricultural practices
2.4.2 Reduced livestock and fish disease risks
associated with intensification and climate change
√
3.
Improved
natural
resource
systems
and
ecosystem
services
3.2 Enhanced
benefits from
ecosystem goods
and services
3.2.1 More productive and equitable management
of natural resources
√
3.3 More sustainably
managed agro-
ecosystems
3.3.1 Increased resilience of agro-ecosystems and
communities, especially those including
smallholders
√
3.3.3 Reduced net greenhouse gas emissions from
agriculture, forests and other forms of land use
√
Cross
cutting
Climate change XC 1.1.4 Enhanced capacity to deal with climatic
risks and extremes
√
Gender and youth XC 2.1.1 Gender-equitable control of productive
assets and resources
√ √
XC 2.1.3 Improved capacity of women and young
people to participate in decision-making
√ √
Policies and
institutions
XC 3.1.1 Increased capacity of beneficiaries to adopt
research outputs
√
XC 3.1.3 Conducive agricultural policy environment √
XC 4.1.2 Enhanced capacity in partner research
organizations through training and exchange
√
Table 2. Contributions of FISH flagships to SDGs and sub-IDOs. Note only primary sub-IDO contributions are shown.
Numbering follows the order presented in the CGIAR Strategy and Results Framework. XC is used to designate cross-
cutting sub-IDOs.

11. 11
1.0.3 Impact pathway and theory of change
The FISH theory of change (ToC) centers on the role of multidisciplinary research addressing the challenges outlined for
the priority geographies. It is in response to clearly identified needs of poor producers and consumers of fish along with
those women and men whose livelihoods depend upon aquaculture and SSF value chains. Impact pathways for the
delivery of outcomes stem from research in three closely integrated flagships: (1) sustainable aquaculture, (2)
sustainable small-scale fisheries and (3) enhancing the contribution of fish to the nutrition and health of the poor.
Targeted, gender-responsive research in each of these domains aims to influence change through four mechanisms,
combining (a) the innovation and spread of technologies and management practices with supportive actions by the (b)
private sector, (c) public sector and (d) civil society and development agencies. The outcomes address gender and social
equity, climate resilience and institutional capacity, as well as policies and investment patterns. The outcomes target all
three of the SRF SLOs, with a focus on increased productivity, incomes and employment, improved diets for poor and
vulnerable people, and enhanced benefits from ecosystem goods and services. Figure 2 provides a summary view of the
CRP-level impact pathways and ToC.
The program research structure reflects the interlinked subsectors of fish production and the associated value chains,
which together impact food security and nutrition. Flagship 1 on sustainable aquaculture (FP1) develops and delivers
gender-responsive and inclusive innovations in aquaculture breeding and genetics, fish health and nutrition, aquafeeds,
and aquaculture systems. Whole-system analysis of aquaculture enterprises has shown that these areas will have the
highest probability of achieving productivity gains while avoiding adverse economic, social or environmental impacts
(Hall et al. 2011). We will ensure that breeding takes into account the nutritional needs of both fishers and consumers,
changes in aquafeeds, production environments and management practices, as well as options to maximize
contributions to livelihoods, including the capacities required. FP1 interacts with activities in the other two flagships via
the ecosystem interactions of aquaculture and fisheries in landscapes, technologies and management practices that
integrate aquaculture and wild capture systems, with joint attention on income and employment opportunities for
women and youth, and the contribution of aquaculture towards nutrition strategies.
For SSF, there is ample evidence that sustaining fisheries production through socially and gender-responsive and
inclusive policy research, stakeholder engagement, and capacity development to enhance governance arrangements
can deliver more equitable and increased economic benefits, improved safety nets for marginalized groups and
increased resilience to external shocks (Gutiérrez et al. 2011; Allison et al. 2012; Ratner et al. 2014). Flagship 2 on
sustaining SSF (FP2) pursues these innovations in inland fisheries, multifunctional landscapes (lake, river and mega-delta
systems) and coastal marine systems. Cross-flagship interactions include gender-integrated analysis and scenario
development of regional fish food systems that consider the role of trade and ecosystem change as drivers of change
affecting food security and nutrition goals, as well as the contribution of aquaculture to alternative livelihoods among
coastal fishing communities.
The program’s contributions to food security and nutrition rely on improving the productivity and sustainability of both
farmed and capture fish production. Thus, flagship 3 (FP3) helps improve nutrition by building on the outcomes of FP1
and FP2 through improving innovations in fish value chains, including gender-equitable and inclusive income generation,
employment and entrepreneurship, and reducing postharvest losses to improve access to affordable fish. FP3 research
also feeds back into priority-setting for FP1 and FP2, for example by studying nutritional outcomes to identify
opportunities to improve the nutritional value of farmed fish through changes in feed composition or species selection
in polyculture systems. Cross-cutting development outcomes identified in Figure 2 represent a summary of
development outcomes detailed in the ToC for each FP.
The ToC incorporates four change mechanisms, through which the program aims to realize progress from research
outputs to research outcomes, and ultimately to development impacts:
(a) Local adoption and dissemination of technologies and management practices comprises the initial application of
gender-responsive innovations and technologies, such as improved breeds, feeds and disease management practices in
aquaculture; equity- and effectiveness-enhancing governance innovations in fisheries management; and new processing
technologies to reduce postharvest waste and loss and produce fish-based products for women and children. These are
achieved through implementation partnerships and capacity development in selected sites within our focal geographies,
including government and NGO partnerships. The mechanism also includes the spread of these technologies and

12. 12
practices through research innovation platforms at subnational or national levels, and their exchange through regional
networks.
(b) Private sector investment and replication of innovative and gender-inclusive business models include actions by
small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs, reached directly through our capacity development partnerships, as well as
large-scale aquaculture enterprises that we partner with to demonstrate the feasibility of a package of investments at
scale. It also includes subsequent scaling aided by robust evaluation of the financial returns and broader social,
economic and ecological sustainability of new business models, and communication of these through industry
associations and regional networks.
(c) Public sector policy improvement and institutional strengthening comprises improvements in the policy and
regulatory measures that affect the viability, scalability and equity implications of technologies, management practices
and organizational innovations. These include, for example, regulations addressing land use and agricultural
intensification, allocation of fishing rights and approval of new fish-based products by food and health regulatory
bodies. Recognizing that the design of appropriate policies does not in itself ensure effective implementation, this
mechanism takes into account the institutional capacity development that is often required for public sector agencies to
fulfill their roles in these technical domains.
(d) Influence on policies and priorities of civil society and development agencies includes actions such as NGO partners
incorporating gender-responsive and inclusive aquaculture technology packages, fisheries management and livelihood
development strategies, or behavioral change communication tools for early childhood nutrition as part of their broader
programming in our focal countries and beyond. It also includes influence on the priority-setting of bilateral and
multilateral development agencies operating in the fields of agricultural innovation, rural livelihoods and food security
in coastal and aquatic landscapes, reflected in higher levels of investment in the solutions validated by program
research.
These four overarching change mechanisms are interdependent, and a premise of the CRP-level ToC is that the
interaction of these mechanisms can contribute to the high-level outcomes in Figure 2. Achieving these outcomes will
require considerable sensitivity and adaptation during program implementation to enable these change mechanisms
and to navigate the associated risks and potential unintended consequences. These include risks such as the potential
for productivity-improving aquaculture technologies to be captured as increased profits for larger producers, rather
than increased production with intended benefits for fish affordability and consumption (FP1), the potential for
governance reforms to reinforce trends of elite capture rather than increase equity and resource sustainability (FP2),
and the potential for labor demands in homestead polyculture systems to exacerbate gender inequities (FP3). At the
CRP level, key risks and assumptions, as well as corresponding strategies and risk management actions, have been
incorporated into the program design (see Table 3).

13. 13
Figure 2. CRP-level impact pathways and theory of change overview.
IMPROVED
FOOD AND
NUTRITION
SECURITY
FOR HEALTH
• Improved
diets for
poor and
vulnerable
people
Research flagships and outputs
Target SLOs
and IDOs
Gender-equitable
resource access,
control of assets,
and participation in
decision-making
Cross-cutting
development
outcomes
Change
mechanisms
IMPROVED
NATURAL
RESOURCE
SYSTEMS
AND
ECOSYSTEM
SERVICES
• Enhanced
benefits from
ecosystem
goods and
services
REDUCED
POVERTY
• Increased
productivity
• Increased
incomes and
employment
FP1. SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE
• Improved and more resilient elite
breeds of fish (tilapia and carp)
• Improved feeds, disease screening
and management practices for fish
health
• Improved fish farming practices and
farming systems; business and
enterprise models for smallholders
and value chain actors
FP2. SUSTAINABLE SMALL-SCALE
FISHERIES
• Localized coastal fisheries
management and broader-scale
governance improvements
• Adaptation and mitigation actions to
minimize and reverse ecological
impacts and negotiate tradeoffs
between fish production and
alternative landscape uses
• Analysis and scenario development
at regional scales to accelerate
adoption of appropriate policy and
institutional innovations
FP3. ENHANCING CONTRIBUTION OF
FISH TO NUTRITION AND HEALTH OF
THE POOR
• Nutrition-sensitive aquaculture
production innovations
• Interventions to reduce postharvest
waste and loss in fish value chains
• Improvements in nutrition education
and behavioral change
communication to increase fish
consumption by infants, young
children and reproductive-age
women
CRP-level learning processes
Impact assessment
addressing progress in
program-level contributions to
SLOs and IDOs at scale
Outcome evaluation to
consolidate program-level
learning on impact pathways
and refine theories of change
(b) Private sector
investment and
replication of
innovative business
models in fish
production,
processing and
trade
(d) Influence on
policies and
priorities of civil
society and
development
agencies
Improved climate
resilience in
aquaculture
production systems
and fisheries
livelihoods
Enhanced
institutional capacity
in public sector and
partner research
organizations
Shifts in investment
patterns to enable
fish-based
development
solutions
Improved enabling
environment for
efficient value chains
and equitable
livelihoods
(a) Local adoption
and dissemination
of technologies and
management
practices
(c) Public sector
policy improvement
and institutional
strengthening
Foresight analysis addressing global,
regional and national policy and
economic drivers; climate
change; priorities and opportunities for
technology and institutional innovations

14. 14
Change mechanism Key assumptions and risks associated with change
mechanisms:
Corresponding strategies and risk management
actions:
Local adoption and
dissemination of
technologies and
management
practices
National extension agencies, private sector, and
NGO partners ready and able to incorporate
improved technologies and management practices
into their programs. (Risk: poor rates of adoption.)
Adoption of improved technologies and practices
alleviates rather than reinforces gender and social
inequities. (Risk: increased inequities.)
Apply foresight analysis and ex ante
participatory assessment to aid identification of
best-bet technologies and practices appropriate
for scaling in different environments.
Undertake regular assessments of capacity
development needs and adapt program
implementation to support these.
Integrate gender and social equity
considerations thoroughly in the design and
development of technology and institutional
research.
Private sector
investment and
replication of
innovative business
models in fish
production,
processing, and
trade
Private enterprises and industry associations engage
actively at multiple scales. (Risk: inadequate
investment to support scaling.)
Private sector partnerships support goals of
expanding youth employment, strengthening local
livelihoods, and improving environmental
performance. (Risk: industry growth undermines
program goals.)
Partner with national and regional bodies to
create effective convening platforms for public-
private partnerships.
Use communication and dialogue activities to
raise awareness of private sector operators on
investment opportunities.
Screen private sector partnerships considering
social, economic, environmental criteria and
scaling potential.
Public sector policy
improvement and
institutional
strengthening
Public sector partnerships help to catalyze changes
at national and regional scales. (Risk: policy and
regulatory obstacles that hinder scaling.)
Public agencies acknowledge and prepare to invest
in addressing capacity gaps. (Risk: ineffective or
inefficient support to scale innovations.)
Prioritize focal countries and subnational
geographies considering policy environment,
government commitment, and scaling potential.
Co-develop research agenda and adapt research
priorities in dialogue with national partners in
focal countries.
Align program M&E activities to contribute to
and draw upon national monitoring of SDG and
other targets.
Undertake regular assessments of capacity
development needs and adapt program
implementation to support these.
Influence on policies
and priorities of civil
society and
development
agencies
Civil society and development partners sustain and
increase commitment to addressing development
goals through fisheries and aquaculture. (Risk:
inadequate integration of fisheries and aquaculture
solutions within broader civil society change
agendas and development programming.)
Effective advocacy of social equity, nutrition, and
environmental sustainability dimensions of fisheries
and aquaculture development. (Risk: unbalanced
focus on risks detracts from development
investment in the sector.)
Implement quality multi-stakeholder dialogue
processes to assess development options and
target research interventions.
Implement rigorous impact assessment to
document successes and failures, and to
identify the underlying factors.
Assess and communicate the contributions of
fisheries and aquaculture transformations to
social equity, environmental sustainability, and
nutrition goals, within the context of broader
national and regional development agendas.
Table 3. CRP-level change mechanisms.
a
b
c
d

15. 15
Combinations of these mechanisms are also required to realize program objectives within individual clusters of activity.
In section 2, these mechanisms and their interactions are detailed for each flagship, including risks and assumptions for
each change mechanism and corresponding strategies and risk management actions. In some cases, these actions
require monitoring and addressing potential trade-offs and unanticipated consequences.
Foresight analysis is embedded across the whole program, testing assumptions and providing guidance about the future
risks and opportunities within and across the key impact pathways. This includes mapping fish production and consumption
patterns under future climatic conditions, specifying efficiency gaps and production limitations, and the potential impacts of
targeted aquaculture, fisheries and value chains, as well as nutrition innovations. Combined with multi-stakeholder
dialogue, this analysis is used to evaluate the feasibility, costs, benefits and risks associated with different innovations. For
each flagship, we have identified potential barriers and hypotheses concerning impact pathways through consultation with
multiple stakeholders, combined with analysis of previous research and the probability of success for specific research
innovations. On this basis, we have chosen to pursue research under each flagship in locations where the need is high,
where the barriers are amenable to applied research solutions, where the enabling policy environment is judged to be
favorable, and where there is potential to generate international public goods (IPGs) that can achieve outcomes at
significant scale.
Outcome evaluation and impact assessment will be pursued in an integrated fashion to test and improve our ability to
achieve results at both the CRP and flagship levels. Outcome evaluation will track our assumptions and risks regarding
mechanisms of change and our effectiveness in addressing them. We will use this learning to continuously refine the
targeting and design of research interventions, capacity development, partnerships and communication activities. Impact
assessment will measure quantitative progress towards achievement of our SLO and flagship outcome targets,
disaggregated to track benefits for men, women and youth. Outcome evaluation and impact assessment will drive program-
level learning and adaptation, and we will periodically adjust investment in our research areas and geographies as we
gather evidence on results.
We test the assumption that careful selection of partners in target countries and collaboration with policy stakeholders and
regional institutions will influence favorable policy and institutional changes to promote adoption of innovations at scale.
The ToC also assumes synergies realized with other elements of the overall CGIAR portfolio through site integration and
joint research on cross-cutting challenges, such as natural resource governance (PIM), climate change impacts (CCAFS), food
and nutrition strategies (A4NH) and landscape-level resource competition (WLE).
Just as at the CRP level, flagship-level theories of change are used to define the priority research areas by geography and
domain, key risks and measures to address these, and flagship-level monitoring and evaluation (M&E) strategies. This
includes quantitative analyses of the probability of success in achieving the impact targets and consideration of the
counterfactuals. Program- and flagship-level impact pathways and theories of change will be regularly assessed in program
performance management and learning activities and commissioned external reviews.
1.0.4 Gender
FISH is committed to effective, outcome-oriented gender mainstreaming throughout the CRP. Gender research—applied
from design through implementation and evaluation—will be central to enabling the FISH CRP to reach its aims and targets.
It will leverage these outcomes by effectively identifying and addressing the gender dimensions of barriers, opportunities
and mechanisms of change identified in the program’s ToC. In this way, the program will both redress identified gender
inequalities in fisheries and aquaculture systems and associated value chains and increase development impacts of its
research. Specifically, combining research with capacity development and scaling through targeted partnerships, the FISH
gender strategy will contribute to gender inclusion, equity and equality in critical innovation and development processes.
This will enable lasting shifts towards reducing poverty, increasing food and nutritional security, and safeguarding fish
resources with and for women, men, girls and boys in target countries.
The gender strategy builds on learning from the L&F and AAS gender strategies and analysis of findings from gender
research in those programs, and integrates lessons from other CRPs and beyond (See Annex 3.4). This gender analysis has
informed the CRP-level outcome targets and ToC, and the associated flagship objectives, theories of change, and derived
research questions and activities. The subsection below identifies the priority gender outcomes, key issues and barriers, and
strategic research questions. It highlights the gender research focus of each flagship and the cross-cutting flagship issues,
elaborates the pathways to achieving gender outcomes within the ToC and specifies how gender will be monitored in FISH.

16. 16
Annex 3.4 presents a synthesis of the analysis that helped identify the program’s gender priorities and the
operationalization of gender research in the program.
Key outcomes, issues and research questions
FISH has targeted contributions to two gender-related sub-IDOs under the inclusion and equity achieved IDO: gender-
equitable control of productive assets and resources (XC 2.1.1) and improved capacity of women and young people to
participate in decision-making (XC 2.1.3). Additionally, through its research on aquaculture technologies and fish processing,
the program will contribute to the sub-IDO technologies that reduce women’s labor and energy expenditure. Gender equity
and equality in these areas are central to achieving other key program outcomes, in particular increased productivity,
incomes and employment, improved diets for poor and vulnerable people, more sustainably managed agro-ecosystems, and
enhanced benefits from ecosystem goods and services. As noted by the CGIAR Gender Network (2016), closing the gender
gap is good for women and for agriculture. Our gender strategy aims to realize these dual gains in fish agri-food systems.
The key outcomes of the program’s gender research will be the following:
• Fish breeding and feed development programs and enterprises more effectively address and respond to women’s
needs in their technology development processes.
• Aquaculture extension applies innovations and capacity development that address barriers preventing women’s
equitable engagement.
• SSF management and governance policies, processes and capacities better address barriers to and enable women’s
effective participation and equitable benefits.
• Investment in and extension of nutrition-sensitive aquaculture and integrated fish-agriculture systems reflect and
respond to women’s needs in terms of technologies and practices, including innovations that can reduce their
workloads.
• Government, private sector and development organizations’ engagement in fish value chains is informed by gendered
insights and prioritizes strategies that protect and expand women’s safe and just engagement, enabling them to build
assets and generate more substantial returns.
• Nutrition programming increases equity in intra-household food sharing and expands women’s empowerment through
integrated strategies.
• Researchers and government, civil and private partners have strengthened commitment and enhanced capacity to
address gender inequities in these domains.
To achieve these outcomes, the program must address key gendered barriers and opportunities in aquaculture and fisheries
(identified through analysis presented in Annex 3.4). These include the following:
• constraining and enabling factors to enhance women’s access to and control over productive assets and natural
resources;
• barriers to and opportunities for women’s successful wealth generation through entrepreneurship and employment in
fish value chains;
• factors in, and strategies to enhance, women’s equitable participation in household and community decisions about
SSF and food distribution;
• fit of aquaculture technologies with women’s needs and preferences;
• strategies to influence the formal and informal gender rules, norms and behaviors that shape all the above towards
gender equality, including the effective engagement of men and boys together with women and girls in gender-
transformative strategies.
Gender research in FISH addresses these priorities through strategic research questions that are integrated within flagship
research and also enable cross-flagship synthesis of lessons (see Annex 3.4).
Gender research in the FISH ToC
Gender research in FISH seeks to overcome identified gendered barriers limiting women’s access to and control over key
assets and resources, effective participation in decisions, and equitable and substantive wealth generation and livelihood
benefits from fish value chains. The program addresses gender and these barriers and associated opportunities as
intersectional—i.e. they interact with cross-cutting factors such as age, wealth, ethnicity and caste.

17. 17
Priority areas Research questions
Cross-cutting
How and for whom do formal and informal gender rules, norms and practices shape development
processes and outcomes in aquaculture and fisheries? What factors, strategies and tools can enable
constructive shifts in these so that they catalyze greater gender equality and equity?
What are the implications for how R&D interventions can most effectively engage women, men, girls
and boys?
Access to and control
over productive
assets and resources
Aquaculture
1. What factors underlie gender imbalances in control of key assets (land, ponds, credit, inputs,
technologies and income)? What strategies enable the equitable engagement of poor women in
small-scale aquaculture production? With what effects on income, food security and women’s
empowerment?
Small-scale fisheries
2. Which assets and resources most benefit fisheries-dependent women? What factors underlie their
gender-imbalanced access and control, and what strategies protect or enable greater gender equality
in assets? With what effects on income, food security and women’s empowerment?
Opportunities for
enhancing women’s
wealth generation
through income,
employment and
entrepreneurship
Aquaculture
3. What are the most significant differences between women’s and men’s aspirations in aquaculture
value chains? What are the enabling and constraining factors and most significant strategies to
enhance women’s wealth generation through fish-based entrepreneurial or employment
opportunities? With what effects on income, food security and women’s empowerment?
Small-scale fisheries
4. What are the enabling factors and strategies for women to enhance their livelihoods in fisheries-
dependent communities, and can any of these be win-win in terms of returns for women and
sustaining ecological integrity in coastal and inland fisheries? With what effects on income, food
security and women’s empowerment?
Participation in
household and
community decisions
Community scale
5. Which scalable gender-transformative governance strategies enhance effective participation of
women in natural resource and fisheries management and governance? To what extent for different
women and how? What are the effects of gender equality in SSF decisions on environmental and
social priorities, and on income, food security and women’s empowerment?
Household scale
6. What scalable strategies constructively shift both gender norms and intra-household food
distribution towards gender equity? How and with what effects on women’s empowerment and
household nutrition?
Fit of innovations
with women’s needs
and preferences;
women’s labor and
time burdens
Fish breeds, feeds and health innovations
7. How do women’s and men’s preferences, needs and experiences with improved carp and tilapia
strains differ? How do their needs and capacities in relation to fish nutrition and disease prevention
differ? What are the implications for effective priority setting in breeding programs and fish feed and
disease and innovation development?
Nutrition-sensitive innovations and fish in multifunctional landscapes
8. How do women’s and men’s needs, preferences, capacities and experiences differ in terms of
technological and practical innovations in nutrient-rich, polyculture fish production systems, and
what are the implications for research and extension? How can these innovations positively influence
women’s nutrition and time and labor expenditure?
Table 4. Strategic gender research questions.

18. 18
Embedded within the FISH ToC, our overarching theory of how gender-related change will occur recognizes that to
successfully address these barriers and leverage these opportunities, there is a need for evidence-based, gender-focused
innovations and interventions. To be effectively focused and to have impact at scale, these must be undertaken through
strategic collaborations among research, government, civil society and development agencies, and other actors—and most
importantly, with women, men, girls and boys themselves (see Achieving gender impact at scale, below). Within these
multidisciplinary innovations and interventions, both formal and informal barriers need to be addressed to effect lasting
change. Such interventions range from gender-responsive aquaculture technologies and innovation processes to women-
targeted opportunities and gender-transformative strategies embedded in aquaculture extension, fisheries governance,
nutrition programming and research and partner capacity development programming. We hypothesize that together this
will lead to increases in women’s empowerment, as well as a more level “playing field” in aquaculture and fisheries systems.
This will contribute to greater gender equality in access to, control over and benefit from aquaculture and fisheries assets
and resources; effective participation of women in fisheries resource management and governance; and more successful
and lucrative engagement in fish value chains, including in arenas from which they were previously marginalized. As well as
improving women’s income and livelihood opportunities, these outcomes will enhance benefits from ecosystems and
positively influence fish production and equitable distribution, leading to reduced poverty and enhanced food and nutrition
security for women, men and children.
Programmatic integration of gender in FISH
Gender will be mainstreamed in FISH from design through to research implementation and analysis, as well as to M&E.
Based on learning from L&F and AAS, this will be through a combination and integration of gender-integrated research,
strategic gender research and gender-transformative research. The first involves effective consideration of gender in
technical research (such as incorporating understanding of gendered preferences of small farmers into tilapia breeding
research design), while gender strategic research has gender as the subject (such as research into gendered control over
assets in aquaculture production systems and value chains). Gender-transformative research involves the development and
integration into research of strategies to not only understand, but effect locally appropriate shifts in gender norms,
attitudes and behaviors towards gender equality. All three FISH flagships will aspire to be effectively and appropriately
gender-integrated in their research, as well as undertake key gender strategic and transformative research, as identified
through the gender analysis leading up to FISH. The flagships will do so through empirical quantitative and qualitative
studies, including systematic pre- and post-assessments and action research. (See Table 4 for strategic research questions,
and Annex 3.4 for details of specific research focus, hypotheses to be tested, and background analysis.) The findings from all
forms of gender research will be synthesized into technical, organizational and policy recommendations, and will be scaled
through proactive partnerships and capacity development activities, as outlined in the section below. M&E for and of
gender research is highlighted in Annex 3.6.
Achieving gender impact at scale
While effective and gender-inclusive local engagement and collaborations will set the course for context-specific responses,
gender research in FISH will be translated into impact at scale through three main interconnected avenues. Crosscutting and
feeding into each of these will be the production not only of context-specific insights, high quality journal articles and
audience-tailored products, but also of scalable (transferable) methods, strategies, models, guidelines and
recommendations.
First, FISH pursues gender impact at scale through its contributions to closing global gender data gaps. This involves two
integrated facets: each flagship building rigorous gender-integrated and sex-disaggregated evidence in aquaculture and
fisheries to address the identified significant gaps in data and knowledge (see Annex 3.4); and, in association with this, the
use of, and contributions to, shared gender methods and frameworks. Specifically, in terms of the latter, FISH envisions that
gender research that applies shared methods and frameworks across flagships and CRPs, and between CRPs and other
actors, can effectively contribute to impact at scale by closing global gender data gaps in a systematic way. FISH will
contribute to this systematic addressing of gaps through the following mechanisms: the use of a priority set of shared
methods across flagships and sites, including those to assess gender norms and measure women’s empowerment; its
contributions to, and use of shared methods from, the cross-CRP global comparative research initiative GENNOVATE
initiative and the adaptation and application of the globally recognized and applied quantitative WEAI methodology1
as a
means of closing gender data gaps in fisheries and aquaculture contexts.
1
The Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI) was developed by IFPRI, the Oxford Poverty and Human Development
Initiative, and USAID’s Feed the Future in 2012. It continues to evolve and be increasingly widely applied by CRPs and a range of
development actors as a comprehensive and standardized measure to assess women’s empowerment and inclusion in agriculture.

19. 19
Second, FISH will achieve gender impact at scale through capacity development around gender for researchers and
partners. It focuses on building researchers’ and research and development partners’ individual and collective
awareness and understanding of the effects of gender equality—and inequalities—on fisheries, aquaculture, and
development; and building capacities to effectively undertake gender research and to integrate its findings into policy
and development interventions at a range of scales. This capacity-development will draw on both in-house expertise
and strategic partnerships. The latter are being developed based on their proven track record. Promundo, for example,
is a world leader in engaging men and boys—along with women and girls—in gender awareness and gender-
transformative capacity development, including engaging men and boys for sustainable outcomes. Johns Hopkins
University (CPP) and KIT will bring gender research expertise in their respective fields. In combination with partnerships,
as noted in Annex 3.4, gender capacity development will combine ongoing mentoring, and organizing and participating
in capacity development workshops and trainings.
The final avenue—and the foundation for impact—comprises strategic partnerships and collaboration. These
connections form the foundation for impact at scale through their central contributions to gender research relevance,
quality, and wider use and application of the scalable findings and outputs, such as for gender-inclusive SSF governance
approaches or women-targeted financing and enterprise models for fish value chains. These will build on a strong track
record of gender partnerships in AAS and L&F. Potential contributors to and users of the research—ranging from global
leaders in gender, to international funding organizations, to national NGOs and gender coalitions, along with
implementing partners such as national departments of fisheries and departments of gender—will be engaged in
collaborative planning for research and scaling, in critical dialogues and in ongoing sharing of learning at the district,
national, regional and international scales. While doing so, FISH will also proactively respond to emerging partner needs
for specific policy and program inputs around gender throughout the CRP phases. Additionally, FISH will contribute to
gender impacts through bringing together national and international gender partners to form new alliances, such as the
highly effective team-up of the University of Dhaka Center for Gender Studies with Promundo in Bangladesh during AAS.
1.0.5 Youth
The FISH CRP adopts a youth-responsive research agenda that targets young men and women, focused on two key
aspects. First, we seek to promote and increase opportunities for socially just, safe and rewarding youth employment
and entrepreneurship in aquaculture and SSF value chains, particularly through FP1 and FP2 in the FISH focal countries.
This includes proof of concept for approaches that enable youth to develop technical and organizational capacities in
aquaculture production and input supply, as well as processing and trade within various elements of the aquaculture
and capture fisheries value chains.
Second, research on governance, management and technological innovations will purposefully engage young people
and determine the factors and processes that enable or hinder youth participation and representation in decision-
making, as well as access to training, credit and other enablers of employment and entrepreneurship. This will enable us
to better determine the most appropriate entry points and opportunities to pursue with regard to youth in aquaculture
and SSF under FP1 and FP2. In FP3, adolescents will be key in influencing behavioral change through school curricula and
other channels to raise awareness on the importance of fish to improve nutrition for pregnant and lactating women and
for infants and young children.
Through earlier experiences, we have found that where youth have been involved in research and management of
research initiatives, there has been greater success; for example, through higher quality and sustainability of resource
monitoring. We will engage more fully in understanding youth aspirations and support them to have a voice in program-
related decisions, particularly in on-site research interventions.
The program strategy for delivering benefits to youth is detailed in Annex 3.5.
1.0.6 Program structure and flagship projects
The overarching research question for the program is: How can we optimize the joint contributions of aquaculture,
small-scale fisheries and fish value chains in select geographies to reduce poverty and improve food and nutrition
security, while enhancing environmental sustainability? A simplified illustration of some of the main linkages among
flagships and clusters is provided in Figure 3.

20. 20
Figure 3. FISH program internal linkages: Integrated research on fish agri-food systems. Selected linkages shown for
illustrative purposes only. Linkages among flagships and clusters are detailed in section 2.
Flagship 1: Sustainable aquaculture
FP1 focuses on the key research question: How can productivity-improving technologies and management practices
enable aquaculture to achieve its fullest contribution to equitable livelihoods and food and nutrition security while
delivering environmental benefits?
Cluster 1: Fish breeds and genetics. Building on prior selective breeding of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT),
cluster 1 will develop and apply advanced molecular genetics and genetic tools in collaboration with the CGIAR
Excellence in Breeding Platform and others. The outputs will be delivered through existing and new breeding programs
in South Asia and Africa. It will provide a baseline for assessing new traits, including increased resilience to pathogens
and production environments, immune competence, reproduction, metabolic efficiency and nutrient composition.
Cluster 2: Feeds, fish nutrition and health. This cluster will initiate new fish health research and partnerships with
government agencies and companies specializing in disease diagnosis and prevention. We will build capacity to detect
disease at breeding nuclei, multiplication centers, hatcheries and farms, and then develop disease prevention and
control strategies, including breeding for disease resistance (with cluster 1). A key research focus is improving our
understanding of fish nutritional requirements and developing sustainable aquafeeds with ingredients that provide cost-
effective and socially acceptable alternatives to wild-harvest fishmeal, while also increasing nutritional benefits to
consumers (with FP3). Partners will provide access to novel technology, including the use of microbial processes to
bioconvert plant discards such as rice and cassava waste into bioactive aquafeed ingredients.
Cluster 3: Aquaculture systems. Fish farmers’ ability to benefit from improved seedstock (cluster 1) and enhanced fish
health and sustainable feeds (cluster 2) is influenced by gendered barriers and variations in farm management practices.
Cluster 3 will assess different models for integrating improved breeds, health and feeds for gender-responsive

21. 21
sustainable intensification. Lifecycle analysis and foresight modeling will provide insights into the social and
environmental implications of aquaculture growth. For farm-scale enterprises we will prioritize innovations that create
new engagement, employment and enterprise opportunities for youth and women. These include novel aquafeed
production systems next to production ponds and new ways to recapture otherwise wasted fish pond nutrients.
Flagship 2: Sustaining small-scale fisheries. FP2 focuses on the key research question: What are the most effective
routes to improve governance of SSF amid social, economic and ecological change, in ways that sustain and increase
contributions to food and nutrition security and livelihoods of the poor?
Cluster 1: Resilient coastal fisheries. This cluster focuses on sustaining production from small-scale coastal fisheries,
along with gender- and socially equitable access to resources and benefit streams. Research will be conducted in
partnership with fishing communities, NGOs, and provincial, national and regional agencies addressing fisheries and
food security. This research will link localized fisheries management innovations to broader-scale governance
improvements through policy analysis and institutional strengthening.
Cluster 2: Fish in multifunctional landscapes. This cluster addresses how inland fisheries production can be sustained in
multifunctional landscapes, where major threats include land-use changes, hydropower development and climate
change. Many SSF in the focal geographies are closely interlinked with aquaculture and crops, as in the case of rice field
fisheries. Rice-fish systems are often based on recruitment of wild seedstock supplemented with hatchery-reared
seedstock. In close alignment with FP1, research innovations aim to improve overall productivity, along with adaptation
and mitigation to minimize and reverse ecological impacts through improved water management, based on an
understanding of rural livelihoods and coping strategies.
Cluster 3: Fish in regional food systems. This cluster integrates place-based research on SSF and their drivers of change
with the evolving role of fish in regional food security. Analyses and scenario development will focus on the East Africa
and Pacific coastal systems, African Great Lakes, and Asian mega-deltas, with particular focus on the dynamics of
intraregional fish trade. These analyses will underpin multi-stakeholder dialogue to identify and implement
improvements in policies and institutions that incentivize sustainable management while delivering food security and
wealth generation benefits for the poor.
Flagship 3: Enhancing the contribution of fish to nutrition and health of the poor
FP3 addresses the key research question: How can we best leverage innovations in fish production and value chains to
increase the consumption of safe, nutritious fish by poor consumers, especially women and young children?
Cluster 1: Nutrition-sensitive fish production. This cluster seeks to overcome technological barriers to maximizing the
production of fish in pond polyculture systems and rice field fisheries that are widespread throughout South and
Southeast Asia. For example, in Bangladesh, research will focus on testing approaches to increasing productivity of
mola, a nutritious small indigenous fish species, through breeding, increasing stocking density, pond management and
harvesting frequency, linking to parallel research on tilapia and carp in FP1. To address the low participation of women
in small-fish harvesting, we will assess women’s specific needs regarding harvesting technologies and develop and test
women-targeted technologies, alongside strategies for enabling youth employment.
Cluster 2: Reducing waste and loss in fish value chains. This cluster seeks to overcome processing and marketing
obstacles that reduce the availability and affordability of fish to poor consumers. We will test gender-inclusive
technological, market and institutional approaches to reducing waste in the small fish value chain from the Great Lakes
to much of eastern and southern Africa. In South Asia, we will focus on the dried fish value chain in northeastern
Bangladesh and the aquaculture value chain from southwest Bangladesh. This research links to the outputs of FP1 and
FP2, aiming to identify inefficiencies and hotspots of losses, including gender barriers, and then design and test gender-
inclusive solutions, such as improved processing, handling and storage technologies, as well as institutional innovations
that reduce barriers to trade.
Cluster 3: Fish for nutrition and health of women and children. This cluster focuses on research to increase
consumption of fish in the first 1000 days of life. Despite its rich nutritional value, fish is seldom fed to infants aged 6–12
months in low-income countries. This nutritional loss is compounded by gendered intra-household norms leading to low
levels of fish consumption by women, even when pregnant and lactating. We will conduct research to understand,
develop and test approaches to overcome these barriers, including gender-transformative behavior change
communication. Based on promising early innovations, we hypothesize that these tools can lead to both significant

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increases in the fish consumption of these nutritionally vulnerable groups and increased gender equality in household
decision-making.
1.0.7 Cross CRP collaboration and site integration
As part of an integrated portfolio of CGIAR research programs, FISH has been designed to leverage high-priority
synergies that contribute directly to delivering research outputs and realizing development outcomes in line with the
program TOC.
The program will collaborate with four global integrative CRPs:
• Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM). Making smart choices among various agricultural technologies and
investment options requires a comparative perspective across food production sectors; therefore, we will continue
analysis of aquaculture technology options as part of global foresight modeling led by PIM. Additional linkages with
PIM focus on opportunities to jointly develop and leverage comparative lessons and tools—notably for value chain
assessment, gender-equitable livelihoods development, and policies to improve natural resource governance.
• Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). To identify adaptation options most appropriate to
expected future climate regimes, we will partner with CCAFS to analyze the impacts of climate change on fish
production and associated livelihoods in our target geographies. As part of our scaling strategy to aid in influencing
policies and investments targeting future climate-smart agriculture, we will work with CCAFS to communicate
evidence on climate-smart aquaculture options (such as water-use efficiency, disease management and responses
to salinization in coastal deltas), as well as adaptation responses in floodplain and reef fisheries.
• Agriculture for Nutrition and Health (A4NH). Fish provide exceptional nutritional benefits but remain poorly
represented in nutrition strategies of national governments and development agencies. Our partnership with A4NH
will address this gap by strengthening the evidence on nutritional outcomes and disseminating cost-effective
solutions for nutrition-sensitive fish production, processing and behavioral change benefiting women and children.
We will also partner on risk assessment and mitigation for fish food safety.
• Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). The productivity and sustainability of inland fisheries depend critically on
changes in the broader landscape, notably water resource infrastructure and land-use change. Our partnership
with WLE seeks to ensure that deliberations over basin and watershed-scale resource competition and
development scenarios address fisheries outcomes. At more local landscape scales, we will partner to optimize
water management in crop and fish production, and to manage water quality and pollution risks associated with
aquaculture intensification.
Additional, targeted linkages include those between the aquaculture breeds research and CGIAR platforms on
Excellence in Breeding, and Big Data. Particular site integration activities also include links with RICE on integrated rice-
fish systems; Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) on cassava waste inputs to novel aquafeeds; and Livestock on animal
health and feeds. An overview of cross-CRP integration is provided in Annex 3.7.
Primary countries for site integration are Bangladesh, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia, where we will seek to partner with
PIM, A4NH and CCAFS on analyses of opportunities to integrate fish-based solutions in support of national policies on food
security, nutrition and climate change adaptation. Site-specific integration will also be pursued in these countries, as well
as in Cambodia and Myanmar. Details of cross-CRP research as part of site integration plans are provided in Annex 3.7,
Table 2a, along with the status of country and partner engagements to advance this site integration in Table 2b.
1.0.8 Partnerships and comparative advantage
The FISH CRP brings together a unique set of multi-stakeholder partnerships to harness emerging science in aquaculture
and fisheries to deliver improved development outcomes at scale. We will exploit three elements of comparative
advantage: (1) a globally unique research capability from within CGIAR and our research partners targeted at the
specific objectives of each flagship; (2) unique resources maintained by FISH partners that cannot be readily replicated
by other research providers, including (in aquaculture) GIFT and other farmed fish stocks developed by WorldFish, and
(in fisheries) the ReefBase and Coral Triangle Atlas databases; and (3) a unique track record in convening dialogue and
mutually beneficial collaborations in countries where we work. The partnership brought together through FISH is further
distinguished by our emphasis on generating IPGs that would not be delivered by national research partners, NGOs and
other development actors or the private sector.

23. 23
FISH will be led by WorldFish, together with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and three advanced
research institutes: the Aquaculture and Fisheries Group at Wageningen University (WUR), the Australian Research
Council Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University (JCU), and the Natural Resources Institute at
University of Greenwich (NRI). This partnership leverages the close alignment between the program’s strategic goals
and the mandate of WorldFish; the expertise and networks of IWMI in water management, governance and resilience;
and science capacity from beyond CGIAR essential to address the specific hurdles identified in the program’s theories of
change. WUR will bring leading-edge science capacity in fish nutrition, health and aquaculture feeds development in
FP1; JCU will bring a network of leading research institutions focusing on coral reef ecosystem goods and services in FP2;
and NRI brings expertise in fisheries postharvest technology and food safety. Each managing partner will lead a cluster
of activity in its respective flagship.
The program will complement the research capability of WorldFish and the managing partners through partnerships
with a range of advanced research institutes, and at national level through the National Agricultural Research and
Extension Systems (NARES) in the countries where we will work. For example, in FP1, the University of Stirling (UoS) and
the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) will provide expertise in aquafeeds and fish
health, and the Bangladesh Agricultural University and Khulna University will lead specific areas of research on fish
nutrition. Similarly, in FP3, the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health will bring expertise to the design of
randomized control trials testing the impact of consumption of fish and fish-based products on health, pregnancy and
child development.
The program builds on strong development partnerships established through earlier research of program partners,
including AAS and L&F. These include close collaboration with national government agencies, NGOs and the private
sector in the prioritization and design of research and scaling activities. For example, in Bangladesh, FISH flagships
address priorities of the Country Investment Plan and, through FP1, the National Aquaculture Development Strategy
and Action Plan (2013–2020). At the regional level, we draw on strong partnerships to identify and scale research
priorities. For example, in Africa, the program reflects the regional priorities of the African Union (AU)’s newly
developed Africa Aquaculture Action Plan. We will pursue national priorities under this framework and strengthen our
existing partnership with the Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and New Partnership for Africa's
Development (AU-NEPAD) to achieve scale.
Details of the program partnership strategy are provided in Annex 3.2.
1.0.9 Evidence of demand and stakeholder commitment
The FISH CRP responds to the priority given to fisheries and aquaculture by national governments in Africa, Asia and the
Pacific. In 2014, the Joint Conference of African Ministers of Agriculture, Rural Development, Fisheries and Aquaculture
highlighted the role of fisheries in achieving the 6% annual agricultural growth envisaged by the Comprehensive African
Agriculture Development Program (CAADP), and called for development of “fisheries and aquaculture as an integral
component of sustaining the CAADP results framework” (AU 2014). In support of this policy focus, the AU-NEPAD and
AU-IBAR have identified intra-African fisheries trade and aquaculture development as key priorities for investment. At
the national level, 30 of the 40 countries that have signed CAADP compacts have identified fisheries and aquaculture as
one of the key drivers of agriculture sector growth. Similarly, while fisheries and aquaculture have long been policy
priorities in Asia, recent analyses have shown the need to double regional fish supply from aquaculture by 2030 (World
Bank 2013). In response, improving the sustainability of capture fisheries and the sustainable development of
aquaculture are receiving renewed priority within national and regional policies and plans, including those of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). In
the Pacific, fish is the most important natural resource for the majority of countries and plays a central role in regional
development, as recognized in regional policies such as the Vava’u Declaration (Vava’u 2007), the Apia Policy (Apia
2008) and the regional policy, The Future of Fisheries (Gillett and Cartwright 2010).
In response to this strategic demand, we are targeting critical barriers that prevent aquaculture and fisheries from realizing
their full potential to help meet the SDGs. To do so, our specific research priorities have been identified in close
collaboration with regional, national and local partners. For example, in Africa, we address priorities identified within the
AU’s Pan-African Plan of Action for sustainable aquaculture development, developed by AU-IBAR with the assistance of
WorldFish. Similarly, in the Pacific, WorldFish has worked closely with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) to

24. 24
convene a series of policy dialogues to establish a research and policy agenda that integrates fisheries and aquaculture
considerations into policies to combat climate change and improve diets; we will help address these priorities.
At the national level, FISH has been designed in partnership with national and local stakeholders to reflect their priorities.
For example, in Bangladesh, the program responds to the fisheries and aquaculture priorities of the Country Investment
Plan. The specific barriers to aquaculture development on which we focus have been identified through extensive
consultation with women and men farmers, national research institutions, and development partners. Similarly, in the
Pacific, we build on the policy partnership with SPC to pursue priorities agreed upon with national governments, including
in Solomon Islands, for example, where the national fisheries strategy emphasizes the importance of resilient inshore
fisheries for national food security and wellbeing, and looks to CGIAR as an important international partner providing
science in support of this priority. In Africa, the specific aquaculture research priorities for FISH have been informed by the
longstanding partnerships with key stakeholders in the aquaculture sector. For example, we focus on improved feeds and
fish health to overcome the specific challenges being encountered by farmers as aquaculture has grown in importance,
and recognition of barriers to sustainability has risen.
1.0.10 Capacity development
Capacity development role in impact pathway
As a strategic enabler of impact, capacity development is important in all four change mechanisms of the FISH ToC and
is required to support movement from research outputs of the three flagships to research outcomes and ultimately to
development outcomes. For each change mechanism of the ToC, capacities of key stakeholders along the pathway are
identified. These include the capacity of aquaculture farmers to assess technology needs and apply improved practices,
and of fishing communities to implement co-management (change mechanism a); capacity of private investors to
identify appropriate opportunities and enterprises to adopt innovative business models (change mechanism b); public
sector capacity to design and implement policy and regulatory measures that affect the viability of scalable
technologies, management practices and organizational innovations (change mechanism c); and civil society capacity
to promote solutions drawing on research evidence, as well as the capacity of development agencies to integrate these
into their programming and investment priorities (change mechanism d). In sum, capacity development implemented
along FISH impact pathways will contribute to the following cross-cutting sub-IDOs at the CRP level: enhanced
institutional capacity in public sector and private research organizations and improved capacity of women and youth to
participate in decision-making. Further, each flagship has identified cross-cutting capacity sub-IDOs within its theories
of change guiding strategic capacity development actions.
Strategic capacity development actions (see CapDev Framework) Indicators—from the CapDev Indicators
document or other—that could be used to
track progress and contribution to CapDev sub-
IDOs
Intensity of implementation of
chosen elements
How chosen elements will be
implemented
Capacity needs
assessment and
intervention strategy
design
High All flagships will invest in
detailed capacity needs
assessments and intervention
strategy design at the start of
the CRP2 cycle and revisit
throughout through after-
action reviews (part of
program M&E for learning).
(Adapted) needs assessment methodologies
available in published form; proportion of
capacity development budget allocated to
interventions consistent with capacity needs
assessment recommendations (disaggregated
by implementing organization and flagship)
Design and delivery of
innovative learning
materials and
approaches
High All flagships will use a systems
approach with blended
learning methodology, build
on existing quality materials
and develop new tailored
materials as required.
Proportion of learning materials developed for
external audiences piloted with representative
audiences; participant evaluation of training
and workshops to assess increase in knowledge
and skills; number of people trained
(disaggregated by gender, job or role, location,
and literacy)

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Develop CRP and
centers’ partnering
capacities
Medium Flagships will identify gaps and
interventions to increase the
capacity of scientists to
partner to achieve target
outcomes.
Biannual survey of partner satisfaction
Develop future
research leaders
through fellowships
Low FP1 and FP3 will support
internships and postgraduate
students with research
partners and tertiary
education institutes.
Apply gender-
sensitive approaches
throughout capacity
development
High In partnership with the gender
teams and youth experts,
gender and youth dimensions
are incorporated into capacity
development activities
throughout the flagships.
Proportion of capacity needs assessments that
proactively target women and youth; number of
capacity development activities focusing on
gender approaches and toolkits initiated
(disaggregated by type)
Institutional
strengthening
High All flagships will support the
outcome of public sector
capacity to design and
implement policy and
regulatory measures that
affect the viability of scalable
technologies, management
practices and organizational
innovations for aquaculture,
fisheries and nutrition
outcomes through specific
strategies designed as part of
their engagement agenda.
Number of institutional assessments conducted
with national agricultural research systems
(NARS); number of policy decisions informed by
engagement and information provided by FISH;
outcome evaluation citing improved
institutional capacity in achievement of other
FISH outcomes
Monitoring and
evaluation (M&E) of
capacity development
Medium As part of the program’s M&E
system, capacity development
indicators will be monitored to
support adaptive management
and measures’ contribution to
cross-cutting sub-IDOs.
Budget (including staff time) allocated to M&E
of capacity development activities; treatment of
capacity development within program M&E and
impact assessment reports, including Center
Commissioned External Reviews
Organizational
development
Low Organizational development
will be pursued as appropriate
within the work on
institutional strengthening.
Research on capacity
development
Low Research on capacity
development will be
implemented through flagship
research.
Capacity to innovate Low Capacity to innovate will be
addressed within research
promoting aquaculture
innovation platforms (FP1) and
capacity for social-ecological
resilience (FP2).