Photo: ©FAO/Diana Glover

19 March 2020, Accra - In small-scale production, although women make up for almost 50 percent of the workforce, they are often invisible, and do not take part in decisions that shape their work situation and livelihoods.

To enable women and to promote sustainable small-scale fishing in Africa, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is working closely with stakeholders in the fishing sector with the financial support of USD 2.2 million from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

This project supports small-scale fishers and fish workers in Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, and focusing on women to support and provide them with opportunities. This project will allow them to earn and control income, and contribute to nutrition, health, and education in their households.

Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, noted the worrying situation of the unequal power relations that exist between men and women along the fishing value chain. He further indicated that this situation has made women more vulnerable and in disadvantaged position with regards to fish sales.

“The FAO fishery project funded by NORAD will contribute towards a positive change to correct such imbalances and disadvantages. This we believe could be achieved through engaging women directly in fisheries and support them to enhance their capacities and contribute to food systems transformation,” he added.

Transforming small-scale fisheries through women empowerment in five African countries

In Africa, women play a crucial role in small scale fish production along the value chain, from pre-harvest to consumption in fish production. Women’s involvement in fish production supports livelihoods and strengthens food security at the household level, but their limited access to finance, technology, and training technology give them little choice but to accept unfavorable contracts, or unfair conditions and practices in fish sales and markets.

To overcome such issues, the FAO fishery project will support women in small scale fisheries by building capacity and family enterprises and strengthening professional organizations and cooperatives. In addition, it is also empowering the women based on their needs, raising awareness to encourage fish consumption for balanced diet for their children, and promoting public private partnerships (PPPs). The project will be rolled out in parallel to co-develop and improve small-scale infrastructure, value chains, distribution, and trade of fish products.

The Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture in Ghana, Francis Ato Cudjoe stated, “Empowering women is a sure way to sustainable food systems. The roles these women play in the value chain of small-scale fisheries should be recognized. They should be actively involved in decision making processes regarding the industry. Since most women in the small-scale fisheries have a lot of dependents to cater for, there is the need to encourage them to opt for better technologies which could improve upon their health as well as increase incomes to support their households.”

The way forward in ensuring sustainability

The project will help collect valuable data on how strengthened small-scale fisheries could contribute to food and nutrition security in the five project countries. Moreover, the project will map and analyze the gender roles within the value chain and suggest best ways for women to be empowered such as boosting their skills in decision-making and leadership, or through joining or establishing organisations, networks and platforms relevant to their needs and their work. With the project’s evidence-based data and experience, it will set out and develop guidance on best practices for the future.

Through the foreseen activities, the project will implement the recommendations in the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). Such actions will also be an important step on the way towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 1 ‘No poverty’, Goal 2 ‘Zero hunger’, Goal 5 ‘Gender equality’ and Goal 14.b to “Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets.”