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The freshwater fisheries of Africa are important sources of income and protein for the people of the continent, and stocks of biodiversity for the world. This report discusses the experience for eight important lakes (Baringo, Chad, Kariba, Malawi, Naivasha, Nakuru, Tanganyika and Victoria), in order to provide an overview of the challenges facing the African freshwater systems, the interventions undertaken to manage the challenges, the inputs that have been required, and the lessons learned to guide further actions. In particular, the experience of the Global Environment Facility in promoting sustainable fisheries and lake basin management at five of these lakes (Baringo, Chad, Malawi, Tanganyika and Victoria) is discussed. The overall experience to date indicates a lack of effective management actions, as a result of limited accessibility and application of scientific information, poor dissemination of management information, inappropriate and un-harmonized fishery laws and regulations, inadequate enforcement of existing laws and regulations, weak institutions and institutional processes, and inadequate funds for implementing fishery programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]