The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a $22 million grant to fund the Blue Economy and Fisheries Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Maintenance Project (BEFIRM) in São Tomé and Príncipe. The project aims to harness the archipelago nation’s vast maritime potential while addressing pressing food security challenges. The financing package combines resources from the Transition Support Facility (TSF) Prevention Window and the African Development Fund (ADF).
The BEFIRM project is expected to directly benefit 30,000 people along the fish value chain, including small-scale fishers, processors, and traders, while indirectly improving food security and economic opportunities for an additional 100,000 citizens. São Tomé and Príncipe, a small island developing state heavily reliant on fisheries, faces challenges from climate change, aging infrastructure, and limited economic diversification.
Pietro Toigo, the African Development Bank Group’s Country Manager for Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe, emphasized the project’s significance for the country’s resilience and prosperity. By rehabilitating key port infrastructure, providing modern fiberglass vessels, and strengthening the fish value chain, the Bank aims to address immediate food security needs while building long-term economic stability in a nation with untapped blue economy potential.
The project will transform four key areas. Three multipurpose fishing ports—Neves and Porto Alegre in São Tomé, and Chimaelo in Príncipe—will be fully rehabilitated, alongside disaster management support for Port San Antonio Praia. These ports will enhance market connectivity and maritime transport across the islands. In addition, 400 climate-resilient fiberglass vessels will replace outdated wooden dugout canoes, improving safety, catch efficiency, and income potential for artisanal fishers.
The initiative also includes six refurbished cold storage facilities and four refrigerated trucks to reduce post-harvest losses, ensuring fresh fish products reach urban markets efficiently. Fish production is projected to rise from 15,000 to 25,000 tons annually, while post-harvest losses are expected to drop from 4,800 to 2,500 tons. Individual fisher incomes are forecasted to increase from €2,000 to €2,500 per year, with an internal economic rate of return of 21%.
The project prioritizes inclusion, with at least 50% of training programs and cooperative support targeting women and youth. Special provisions will support women-led SMEs and cooperatives, along with initiatives in maritime sports and ecotourism for young people. Neeraj Vij, the Bank’s Regional Sector Manager for Southern Africa, highlighted the project’s focus on addressing barriers faced by women fish traders and processors by providing infrastructure, training, and pathways to formalize and scale their businesses.
The BEFIRM project aligns with São Tomé and Príncipe’s Vision 2030 and the 2023-2027 National Development Plan, which emphasize blue economy development as a route to economic diversification and poverty reduction. With per capita fish consumption among the highest in Central Africa at 30 kg annually, the sector is critical for both nutrition security and export potential.
Implemented over five years from 2026 to 2030 by the Ministry of Economy and Finance through the Blue Economy Directorate and Satellite Intelligence Unit, the project will employ a revolving fund mechanism and public-private partnerships to ensure sustainability. Comprehensive training programs will also build local capacity for infrastructure maintenance and fisheries management.
São Tomé and Príncipe’s Exclusive Economic Zone spans nearly 165,000 square kilometers of resource-rich ocean. The BEFIRM project is positioned to unlock significant opportunities for sustainable blue economy development, providing both immediate and long-term benefits for the nation’s economy, food security, and coastal communities.
