Thirty-two rural finance and fisheries experts from Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, UK, Canada and the USA met to discuss ways to improve access to financial services for small-scale fishers in Asia.  The expert workshop, organized by the Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA) in close collaboration with FAO, aimed to finalize practical guidelines in support of better access to financial services, and design a capacity building programme for financial services to small-scale fisheries.

Photo from the workshop © FAO

The insurance and credit guidelines prepared will facilitate the implementation of the SSF Guidelines, as well as contribute towards achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 14. Access to financial services will enable the small-scale fishers to invest in more responsible fishing operations and technologies, reduce overfishing, contribute to fisheries management and implement climate change adaptation measures.

The draft guidelines will be finalized for endorsement by APRACA members, followed by implementation throughout the Asian region. Then the Programme on Capacity building for small-scale fisheries in micro-finance, credit and insurance services (CABFIN SSF) is expected to be finalized for submission to resource partners later in 2019 and pilot projects in Thailand and the Philippines are being developed at present.

The Report of the Expert Workshop on Guidelines for Micro-finance, Credit and Insurance for Small-scale Fisheries in Asia can be found here.