Empowering Women In Small Scale Fisheries For Sustainable Food Systems

In March 2020, a regional inception workshop was held in Ghana a project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) entitled Enhancing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and sustainable livelihoods through better policies, strategies and initiatives. This is the report from the workshop. The project promotes the application of the principles of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (the SSF Guidelines) in FAO member countries and regions. The project end date was originally in December 2019 but was extended for another year into 2020 to focus on the issue of empowering women in fisheries for sustainable food systems. Accordingly, the project will support women in small-scale fisheries, particularly in the postharvest sector, with a view to improving food security and nutrition and promoting gender equality. In 2020, related activities will begin in Ghana, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. The project will also support sharing lessons learned and good practices, and it will help to strengthen institutional structures at the regional and global levels.

This report presents the design and results of a baseline survey with respect to a project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) focusing on empowering women in small-scale fisheries. The project supports the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (the SSF Guidelines), giving particular attention to the post-harvest sector in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Ghana, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.

This report presents the design and results of a baseline survey with respect to a project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) focusing on empowering women in small-scale fisheries. The project supports the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (the SSF Guidelines), giving particular attention to the post-harvest sector in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Ghana, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.

Post-harvest challenges faced by small-scale fisheries stakeholders have been the focus of numerous projects, programmes and investments in Africa. Many of these initiatives have aimed to benefit women, who often dominate processing and trade activities. This report provides a summary of key findings from a desk review and primary data research that has aimed to identify successful post-harvest initiatives related to infrastructure design and management, improved post-harvest technology, value addition and access to finance. The examples described could be used by development practitioners and policy makers to inform the direction, design and implementation of future post-harvest fisheries initiatives. The use of locally made fish boxes to improve on board handling and the use of drying racks are described. And although the intention was to focus on small-pelagic fish value chains, some of the examples have a more general application such as those for infrastructure, value addition and the microfinance models that are included. It is important to note that this is not a definitive study and that the focus has been primarily on initiatives is Ghana, Malawi, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Uganda. The report and guidance align with and aim to support the implementation of the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). The guidelines promote the role of SSFs in food security and nutrition, the right to adequate food, equitable development and poverty alleviation, and to the provision of decent work for fishers and fish workers.

The workshop on How to leverage the Illuminating Hidden Harvests approach for better small-scale fisheries data explored how the results and methodology of the study Illuminating Hidden Harvests: The contributions of small-scale fisheries to sustainable development study (IHH) can be leveraged to support the improvement of small-scale fisheries data, with a view to inform management and policy. [Author] The IHH is a global initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Duke University and WorldFish carried out in support of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). [Author] The IHH report, published in March 2023, provides new evidence about the benefits, interactions and impacts of small-scale fisheries to inform policy and practice. [Author] This workshop focused on sub-Saharan Africa as a starting point; however, in the future, collaboration and support could extend to other regions. [Author] The workshop concluded that there is considerable value in both the IHH approach and the data already collected that can be capitalized on, at both national and regional levels, taking country priorities into account. [Author] Small-scale fisheries organizations should be further empowered for engagement in relevant policy processes by equipping them with IHH data and information, and partnerships should be sought also outside the fisheries sector. [Author] Tailored communication pathways and products for diverse audiences will be needed, including multiple language translations and simplified versions of the IHH report. [Author] Using the IHH results and approach wisely will help improve the knowledge on the subsector and contribute to sustainable development. [Author]

The small-scale fisheries subsector is a crucial provider of livelihoods, nutrition, and food security to millions of people all over the world. However, small-scale fishers, fishworkers and their communities face many challenges, including lack of recognition, limited participation in decision-making, unsustainable use of aquatic resources, climate change impacts and conflicting interests with other sectors. The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) are the first international instrument entirely dedicated to small-scale fisheries and provide guidance on how to address existing challenges in the subsector. One of the key areas discussed in the SSF Guidelines is the need for an enabling environment that promotes good governance. This publication, Small-scale fisheries governance – A handbook in support of the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication, was based on a number of training courses on governance in small-scale fisheries. It offers an overview of the SSF Guidelines and guidance on their implementation in particular with regard to good governance and the enabling environment needed.

Through the FAO-NORAD project, survey data was used to “map” women’s organizations and assess their present capacities and needs in the small-scale fisheries sector. Data collection for this study (herein referred to as the Women’s SSF Mapping Assessment) in Ghana focused on six regions: Western, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Volta and Oti. Across these regions, a total of 46 surveys were collected between 23 September and 5 November 2020 (for a full overview of the study methods, see Appendix 1). The results of this study and related recommendations for capacity enhancement activities were later validated by stakeholders at the National Inception and Consultative Workshop held on 20–23 April 2021 in Winneba in the Central region. The workshop was attended by 59 participants, including fish processors drawn from ten project communities; officers from the Fisheries Commission and other partner agencies, including the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Food Research Institute (CSIR-FRI); and civil society organizations and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Each of the ten communities were represented by two processors who participated in project-related surveys (e.g. the study’s baseline assessment) and a leader from at least one women’s small-scale fisheries group. In addition, women’s small-scale fisheries group leaders at the district, regional and national levels were also invited. In all, 30 fish processors and leaders participated in the validation process.

Through the FAO-NORAD project, survey data was used to “map” women’s organizations and assess their present capacities and needs in the small-scale fisheries sector. Data collection for this study (herein referred to as the Women’s SSF Mapping Assessment) in Sierra Leone focused on five districts: Kambia, Port Loko, Moyamba, Bonthe and Pujehun. Between 26 February and 15 March 2021, a total of 59 groups were surveyed (for a full overview of data collection and methods, see Appendix 1), including 10 groups in Pujehun, 11 groups in Port Loko, 18 groups in Kambia, 13 groups in Bonthe and 7 groups in Moyamba. The results of this study and related recommendations for capacity enhancement activities were later validated by stakeholders at the National Inception and Consultative Workshop, held 22 June 2021 in Freetown. Twenty participants attended the workshop, including representatives from all five coastal districts. A variety of stakeholders provided their input on the recommendations to enhance the capacity of women’s small-scale fisheries organizations, including the minister, director and other senior staff members from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), fisheries out-station personnel, and community stakeholders (e.g. Community Management Associations [CMAs], women fishworkers).