AquaRT Governance

The Round Table Governance aims to ensure that the AquaRT continues to be strategically oriented to deliver towards stakeholder needs as the aquaculture sector evolve dynamically in future, and that the comprehensive, consistent and continuous operational oversight is successfully provided. Thus, the overall governance of the Round Table needs to comprehensively and consistently reflect stakeholder expectations and guide implementation and continuous improvement of the then AquaRT activities. The extent to which the AquaRT governance structure ensures delivery towards stakeholder’s expectations will determine its acceptability and credibility in regard to its stakeholders.

To achieve this, the AquaRT will consist of an annual round table event at which all stakeholders will be participants, supported by a Steering Group which will work as a formal tier of the AquaRT Governance to be involved in decision making. The Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Water Development will Chair the entire AquaRT.

AquaRT Steering Group

The Steering Group is a coordination body that should consist of a core group of (public, private and civil society sector) individuals who are appointed in their individual capacity and for their respective competence to successfully support operations of the AquaRT.

The Steering Group will be chaired by the Director of the Department of Fisheries who shall report to the Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Water Development. Membership, composition and roles of members of the Steering Group and EWGs will be changed every two years.

The main objective of the Steering Group is to ensure the successful operation and evolution of the AquaRT independent of the views, opinions, expectations and needs of particular individuals and stakeholders. It achieves this through managing the progress of five expert working groups, which were identified at the Stakeholder event in April 2018. The AquaRT Steering Group meets periodically (e.g. twice per calendar year). It;

• Oversee reporting and overall performance by the Expert Working Groups
• Reviews, discusses and approves the annual (short term) and 3-year (medium term) strategic plans of the AquaRT and its working groups
• Commends mechanisms and protocols for engaging stakeholders in different activities and balancing expectations of all stakeholders within the value chain
• Appoints and solicits support from the members of the Expert Working Groups to aid implementation of activities and channel information about new developments to other stakeholders and farmers
• Accounts for the strategic evolution of the AquaRT in order to be self-sustained
• While non-binding, the recommendations of the AquaRT will inform the future planning work on aquaculture development in Malawi. The group will not replace statutory consultation processes required to establish any potential emerging issues in aquaculture

In addition to these responsibilities, the Steering Group will in collaboration with all workings groups;

• Develop a road map that will be used for developing a strategic plan
• Develop the strategic plan with support from AVCP
• Develop and monitor progress of the action plans for all working groups
• Discuss the mid- to long-term operational structure of the AquaRT

The Steering Group will physically meet twice a Year but depending on the need, the Group will regularly meet using other platforms such as Skype call to discuss any important matters regarding the Round Table.

AquaRT Secretariat

GIZ-AVCP will avail the secretariat of the AquaRT who will be responsible for:

• Support for the AquaRT Steering group to deliver its mandate
• Invitation letters and setting of the agenda for both the AquaRT (once a year), for the AquaRT Steering Group and for the working groups (twice a year)
• Organization of the venue including facilitation/moderation (in case needed contracting an external moderator)
• Preparation of materials needed for the workshops including Follow-up with members on activities/materials/deadlines
• Coordination with members of the AquaRT in the development of materials (policy briefs, manuals etc.)
• Minute writing of all meetings and reporting (post-processing of each workshop)
• Organize regular meetings (in Districts) of the working groups and for the overall AquaRT (once a year)
• Acquisition of new partners
• Develop a sustainability plan and exit strategy in liaison with all stakeholders