This document was developed through a participatory process initiated by FAO, following a series of regional consultations on the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable SmallScale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) during which a request for more information on how to address gender issues, in particular women’s empowerment in small-scale fisheries emerged. The International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) carried out the preparation process, including the gathering of case studies and illustrative examples of small-scale fishing communities and government agencies from all over the world, to highlight and interpret the principles and recommendations of the SSF Guidelines in ways that promote gender equality. An online survey as well as two regional workshops (one in Costa Rica and one in Senegal) gathered input from people who have worked with the sector for many years – from government, civil society organizations (CSOs), research and academia, and regional organizations and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) – to inform the draft prepared by Nilanjana Biswas. The final draft was reviewed through an “Expert workshop on gender-equitable small-scale fisheries in the context of the implementation of the SSF Guidelines” held in Rome on 26–28 November 2016, involving researchers, academics, government representatives, and representatives of NGOs and CSOs from various countries.