The Fish for Development (FfD) programme in Ghana was launched in 2019 as a technical cooperation initiative between Ghana’s Fisheries Commission and Norwegian institutions, including the Institute of Marine Research and the Norwegian Veterinary Institute.
The programme set out to improve the sustainability of Ghana’s marine fisheries and aquaculture sectors in close alignment with Ghana’s national priorities. It targeted key challenges, including:
- Unsustainable fishing practices
- weak monitoring systems
- limited fish health management
To address this, FfD’s core objectives were to build technical capacity, strengthen data systems and support regulatory reforms.
Our role
Itad led the independent end review of the Fish for Development programme, providing evaluation services to assess the programme’s relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact.
Our role included:
- Documenting results achieved across both fisheries and aquaculture work-streams
- Evaluating the programme’s contribution to outcome-level change
- Reviewing the effectiveness of revised management structures and coordination mechanisms
- Identifying lessons learned and generating actionable recommendations for future cooperation
We worked closely with stakeholders in Ghana and Norway, conducting key informant interviews and facilitating a stakeholder validation workshop. We delivered a report providing insights and evidence to inform decision-making on future programming, while supporting learning across partners.
We applied a mixed-methods approach grounded in three complementary frameworks:
- Theory-based analysis: reconstructed and validated the programme’s Theory of Change to assess contribution to outcomes.
- Process evaluation: assessed the quality and efficiency of implementation, including management structures and coordination.
- Normative framework analysis: evaluated performance against recognised standards for value for money and sustainability.
Findings and outcomes
The end review found that the FfD programme made meaningful progress in strengthening technical capacity, improving data systems, and supporting regulatory reforms.
Key achievements include:
- Approval and launch of the National Aquaculture Development Plan (2024–2028).
- Introduction of biosecurity guidelines and fish health training.
- Enhanced stock assessment capacity and data management systems.
- 100% compliance with trawl gear regulations following targeted training.
However, the review also identified persistent challenges, including limited counterpart funding, weak integration of cross-cutting issues, and gaps in monitoring and reporting systems. These findings informed five strategic recommendations to guide future cooperation, including continued funding, improved governance and stronger financial planning.
