DFM Reports & Books

Dried small fish (dagaa) are among the most important fisheries products in the African Great Lakes, supporting millions of livelihoods while contributing significantly to food security, nutrition, and regional economies. Despite their growing importance in international markets, little research has examined how these value chains extend beyond Africa or the socioeconomic and environmental implications of their expansion. This report investigates the transnational dagaa value chain linking the African Great Lakes region with Canada, with particular attention to women-led market networks, export and retail systems, consumer demand, and sustainability challenges.  Drawing on qualitative research conducted across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and four Canadian provinces, the study combines semi-structured interviews, narrative life stories, deliberate observation visits, informal conversations, field notes, and limited online secondary sources to examine the organization and performance of the value chain. The findings show that women play central roles in processing, trading, and retailing, sustaining transnational business networks that support livelihoods while maintaining important cultural and dietary connections for African diaspora communities. The report identifies key constraints, including inadequate infrastructure, informal market arrangements, regulatory barriers, limited access to finance, and environmental pressures associated with declining fish stocks and ecosystem change. It also highlights opportunities to strengthen sustainability through improved governance, value chain upgrading, and the potential development of Canadian-sourced dagaa-like fish products. More broadly, the findings suggest that Canada could diversify domestic fisheries markets by engaging immigrant entrepreneurs, supporting value-added dried fish products, and strengthening partnerships with diaspora retail networks. The report provides evidence to inform future research, policy, and investment aimed at strengthening sustainable and resilient dried fish value chains across Africa and Canada.