@FAOGhana/David Youngs

Enhancing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and sustainable livelihoods 

In Ghana, the small-scale fisheries sector employs 80% male dominated fishers  and over 50% in the post-harvest fisheries sector besides it role in food security and nutrition. Small-scale fisheries (SSF) value chains therefore provide opportunities for poverty eradication, equitable development and sustainable fisheries in Africa.  . However, women small-scale fisheries stakeholders face many obstacles and frequently do not have the same rights and opportunities as men.

BAt the launch of a new project aimed at empowering women for sustainable food systems in Ghana, the Regional Gender Officer of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation Clara Min Young Park, for FAO Representation in Ghana, observed that the fisheries sub-sector presents great opportunities for job creation and livelihood improvement for both women and the youth.

Clara further noted that, the sector is still confronted with a number of challenges including lack of storage facilities, limited technological innovations to promote and market their products, issues of gender discrimination against women leading to high postharvest losses, food safety and hygiene concerns”. She added.

The project is an extension phase of the FAO’s Norwegian Development Cooperation (NORAD) funded project “Enhancing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and sustainable livelihoods through better policies, strategies and initiatives”  in support of the implementation of an SSF guidelines.

 The FAO’s Norwegian Development Cooperation

The project is an extension of the FAO’s Norwegian Development Cooperation (NORAD) and  focus on  “Enhancing the contribution of small-scale fisheries to food security and sustainable livelihoods through better policies, strategies and initiatives, 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 SSF Guidelines were endorsed by the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in 2014.

The FAO Norad project –will implement national or local level activities to support women in the small-scale fisheries post-harvest sector in five countries, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. The project will strengthen institutional structures at the regional level and global levels to facilitate sharing of lessons learnt and good practices..

Foreseen activities of this project will include, building capacity of women individuals and family enterprises, strengthening professional organizations and cooperatives, empowering women based on their needs, undertaking appropriate awareness-raising and communication activities , promoting fish consumption for children targeting school feeding programs, and, promoting public private involvement.