In the first step of the solution GP Fish seeks to provide evidence about the role of fish in addressing malnutrition and supporting healthy diets, particularly for food insecure households. It is directed to professionals working in the field of food and nutrition security as well as rural development and investigates questions like “Does fish feed the poor, or is it too expensive?” By combining scientific insights with hands-on data from years of field experience, supplemented by practical examples, it aims to provide a broad overview of the current state in selected countries and a path forward.

Malnutrition is the most important aspect of food and nutrition insecurity and comes in many forms: undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies, often referred to as “hidden hunger”. The latter represents a major public health concern and results from inadequate intake of nutrients, such as iron, zinc, calcium, iodine, folate, and different vitamins. Strategies to combat micronutrient deficiencies include supplementation, (agronomic) biofortification, and most importantly diet diversification, which is the focus of contemporary policy discourses concerning the improvement of human nutrition. Diversifying diets by consuming animal proteins can significantly prevent micronutrient deficiencies, especially in low-income food-deficit countries, where diets are predominantly carbohydrate-based. Fish is a highly nutritious food that provides proteins, essential fatty acids, and micronutrients, as shown in Figure 1, to the point that it is sometimes referred to as a “superfood”. Due to its nutritional properties, even small quantities of fish can make important contributions to food and nutrition security. This is particularly true for small fish species that are consumed whole – including bones, heads, and guts –in regions where nutritional deficiencies and reliance on blue foods are high.

Figure 2 shows the share of recommended nutrient intake when consuming aquatic vs. terrestrial foods. Food sources are arranged from highest (top) to lowest (bottom) nutrient density. Visibly, aquatic “blue” foods like fish and mussels, are richer in nutrients compared to terrestrial sources. They are specifically good sources for Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin B12. Therefore, “blue foods” not only offer a remarkable opportunity for transforming our food systems but also contribute to tackling malnutrition.

This building block defines the criteria for selecting eligible tree planters and planting sites to ensure the success of the results-based incentive system. Participants include individual farmers and small community groups with land holdings ranging from 0.125 to 20 hectares.

Selection of planting sites is guided by established Land Use Plans (LUP), ensuring that the sites align with sustainable land management and restoration priorities. This approach helps optimize the ecological and socio-economic benefits of the plantations while reducing conflicts over land use.

The building block emphasizes proper identification of participants who meet the eligibility criteria and are committed to transforming their land into sustainable forests under the incentive system.

A comprehensive artificial breeding program was established over four years, producing 10,000 fish annually for conservation and reintroduction. Challenges included low genetic diversity and habitat-specific requirements.

Shei-Pa National Park has included the Qijiawan River catchment in its protected area, with conservation plans focusing on habitat preservation and breeding programs.

Inclusive and participatory mapping of all stakeholders in the mangrove space in the five counties of Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River and Lamu. A series of meetings for sensitization on the National Mangrove Management Plan, and later facilitated formation of the national and five county committees. The committees were then facilitated in developing their workplans and executing some of the activities. This has since been picked up. 

Before the game can be played, the facilitator must be trained, and the participants selected.

The choice of a game facilitator should fall on someone knowledgeable about land use issues and who knows the social background, culture, language and customs of the local communities, as this expertise is crucial for leading the final debate. To prepare the facilitator, a good approach is to have them play the game once, along with other future facilitators. The goal of this first trial is not only to train them, but also to adjust the game rules to the local context. The game functions better when tailored to the local context. After the trial, a debriefing should be conducted to assess what worked well, what didn’t, and to determine what events or tokens could be created to best represent the region where the game will be played.

To select the participants, the organizers can work with the village chiefs, who will help identify and mobilize the various groups affected by the land use issue to participate in the game. They also can assist in selecting an appropriate location for the game to take place.

Participants should come from diverse groups, including young people, women, farmers, breeders, and others. During the game, it may be beneficial to sometimes keep these groups together and at other times mix them, in order to foster different dynamics and debates.

The database fosters collaboration by providing accessible tools for policymakers, law enforcement, researchers, and NGOs. This collaborative model could be replicated to facilitate cross-sector cooperation in combating global challenges such as climate change or poverty.

The platform is designed to assess the effectiveness of laws and enforcement efforts, such as the Endangered Species Act and Lacey Act. This framework can be applied to evaluate policy impacts in other regulatory areas, like labor laws or international trade compliance.

To preserve natural resources, artificial intelligence must be introduced to preserve them, and automation must be used to preserve environmental diversity by linking to the use of the Internet today, which is everywhere, controlling it, and following up. It was made into a real reserve and controlled using connected surveillance cameras. Transporting animals to a safe environment protected by surveillance cameras to reduce poaching.

Effective monitoring relies on well-structured teams with clear responsibilities and close coordination. Based on elephant distribution, the project has built specialized drone monitoring teams following a “one herd, one strategy” approach, and established village-based monitoring groups in key areas. Drone teams track elephant activity with precision, while local teams provide on-the-ground support. This dual system—“follow the elephants” and “local presence”—covers over 95% of the wild elephant population (the remaining 5% are within protected areas). In areas where drones cannot operate, infrared cameras are used for 24/7 coverage. By combining aerial and ground technologies, the system has overcome challenges of nighttime and forest-area monitoring.
The system’s success depends on local personnel. Most monitors are young people from local communities who have received training in drone operation, field tracking, and warning communication. This approach not only improves local skills, but also enhances public awareness and engagement. It contributes directly to GBF Targets 20 and 21 by building community monitoring capacity and encouraging participation.