Uganda

The small-scale fisheries subsector plays a critical role in the provision of livelihoods and food security in Uganda. Ugandan small-scale fisheries operate exclusively in inland waters (as the country is landlocked). Thus, the FAO project entitled “Implementing the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines for Gender-Equitable and Climate-resilient food systems and livelihoods”, funded by the Flexible Multi-Partner Mechanism (FMM), is concentrated mainly in Lake Victoria and Lake Albert. The country has 5 major lakes and 160 minor lakes, with a high species diversity that supports livelihoods and the national income. Indeed, the fisheries sector contributes 2 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 12 percent to agricultural GDP.

The activities carried out under the project support national small-scale fisheries stakeholders – especially women involved in post-harvest activities – by enhancing their capacities to produce healthy aquatic food products. To do so, the project is providing beneficiaries training in post-harvest fish processing techniques and preservation methods.

Support for the development of appropriate small post-harvest infrastructure is also being provided, together with related trainings and arrangements that allow small-scale fisheries stakeholders to actively participate in its management. Women groups in small-scale fisheries are not only supported in enhancing their technical capacities, but also in matters of governance and financial management; this enables them to diversify their sources of livelihoods.

With the objective of improving food security and nutrition, the FMM project will also collaborate with local partners to train child caretakers in beneficiary communities on the nutritional benefits of consuming aquatic food products and how to integrate them into children’s diets.

Learn more about the  FMM project.

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