Who is Joyce Ikwaput Nyeko?

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Joyce Ikwaput Nyeko is the Acting Director for Fisheries Resources in the Ugandan Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. She is a member of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization’s Senior Officials and of the Regional Working Groups on Co-management, Regional Plan of Action –Capacity & Frame Surveys. Since 2015, Joyce has been the Commissioner for Aquaculture Management and Development and in 2019 became the chair/lead of the Lake Albert/Edward Advisory Group. 

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Joyce has a distinguished career spanning over 30 years in fisheries management and research on Uganda’s aquatic ecosystems, including on lakes Victoria, Edward, Albert, and other inland lakes and rivers. She has authored and co-authored publications on fisheries management, the Nile perch fishery, and other monitoring and management functions. Joyce has been instrumental in the investigation and development of co-management institutions on Lake Victoria to help the world’s second-largest lake manage its critical fisheries.  

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Joyce earned an M.Sc. in fisheries policy and planning from the University of Hull, United Kingdom; held a fellowship from the United Nations University Fisheries Training Programme in Iceland; and rounded out her expertise through various post-graduate short courses. Her valuable knowledge and skills help develop fisheries research and management on the African Great Lakes and will assist ACARE in informing its core programs. For decades, Joyce has provided mentorship to young African women in the fields of fisheries and aquaculture, leading to improved livelihoods and gender equity, which is highly prioritized at ACARE.

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What Do Other Experts Say about Her?

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Kevin Obiero is the Chair of ACARE’s Board of Directors. This is what he had to say about Joyce:

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“We’re very pleased to welcome Joyce to the Board of Directors of the African Center for Aquatic Research and Education (IISD-ACARE). Joyce brings a wealth of experience spanning over 30 years in fisheries management, aquaculture, and aquatic resource management. She will be instrumental in the establishment of the African Women in Science program spearheaded by IISD-ACARE to benefit many female African scientists. We anticipate her skills and experience will be an asset to our Board, and we look forward to working with her in the future.”

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What is IISD-ACARE?

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IISD-ACARE is a new major partnership between the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the African Center for Aquatic Research and Education (ACARE).

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It provides an opportunity for the world’s freshwater laboratory and networks on the African Great Lakes—scientists and researchers from across North America and Africa—to come together and strengthen science on those seven Great Lakes.

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Six expert science advisory groups have been created to harmonize research priorities and harness resources to more effectively address the numerous anthropogenic stressors on these important resources.

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The seven Great Lakes of Africa contain about 25% of the world’s fresh water. The lakes and the ecosystem services they provide underpin the welfare and livelihoods of over 50 million people across 10 countries.