Mapping Women S Small Scale Fisheries Organizations In Sierra Leone

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).

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) focused on four districts: Buikwe along Lake Victoria, and Mukono, Masaka and Buliisa districts in Lake Albert. Across these four districts, a total of 49 surveys were collected between 27 August and 6 September 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 at a workshop held 23–25 March 2021, by representatives from the central government (Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries – MAAIF), district-level officials, extension officers, and women from the small-scale fisheries sector. The workshop, which was presided over by the Commissioner for Resource Management, was attended by 40 participants. Their feedback on proposed capacity enhancement activities is reflected in this report.

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) focused on three districts along Lake Malawi: Karonga in the Northern region, Salima in the Central region, and Mangochi in the Southern region. Across these three districts, a total of 54 surveys were collected between 18 September and 30 October 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 through a workshop held on 24 March 2021, by representatives from the central government (Ministry of Fisheries), academia, NGOs, district-level officials, extension officers, and women from the smallscale fisheries sector.

The purpose of this methodological guide is to outline how to conduct an empirical assessment of the current landscape of women’s small-scale fishery (SSF) organizations. Applying this methodology will enhance understanding of where women are organized in SSFs (both geographically and within the value chain); what their present organizational characteristics and capacities are; and their primary needs. Gathering this information through this methodology can help design interventions to enhance women’s organizational capacities and to work towards greater gender equality in fish value chains.

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.

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.