Tanzanian Women Fish Workers Association (TAWFA) growing strong

Worldwide, women’s contribution to the fisheries sector has long been poorly documented and undervalued. Past policy and governance programs were largely centered around the notion that men participate in the capture fisheries while women contribute to processing and marketing spheres. In reality, women’s roles are diverse and dynamic, they vary regionally, economically, and culturally and span the entire fisheries value chain. Tanzania boasts many productive aquatic ecosystems, yet the benefits from the fisheries sector, particularly small-scale fisheries, and aquaculture, are not shared equally between genders. It is seen how large-scale changes in the ecology of Lake Victoria have had several implications for the women in riparian households. It has proven difficult for them to take advantage of the economic opportunities that have arisen while their access to the lake fisheries has been diminished. Such challenges present throughout the fisheries value chain have had their implications to the livelihoods of those involved.

Group photo of TAWFA leaders of Lake Zone chapter, during the meeting conducted at EMEDO offices in Mwanza region.

TAWFA establishment

Following a study by the Tanzania National task Team (NTT) in 2018 for implementation of the SSF Guidelines to which the Environmental Management and Economic Development Organization (EMEDO) is the member, that mapped the women’s organizations across the fisheries value chain; Information was collected that informs on where are women located along the value chain, what are they doing, what are their challenges and how they work to address them, how is the leadership in their groups etc. with the findings, establishment and launch of TAWFA in April 2019 was achieved. Such is an opportunity to unify their voices towards a collective action and be able to influence and advocate for some improvements in the policies and regulations that will at the end help to improve their work and well-being.

As their empowering slogan, TAWFA is what will be the supporting bridge in the fishing industry that women have been needing in a long time. With the support of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), EMEDO has been able to conduct various activities on empowering women in the small scale fisheries in Tanzania, as an initiative that promotes the use and application of the principles of the SSF Guidelines, by strengthening the institution capacity of Tanzania Women Fish-workers Association (TAWFA) and build the base of its membership at the district and regional level, while contributing to the implementation of the  8^th chapter of the SSF guidelines and addressing the 5^th  pillar of the International Year of Artisanal fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA) Global Strategic Plan of Gender equality and Equity, and hence contributing to the realization of the objectives of IYAFA 2022.

What more to say?

In its early stages of implementation, the project “Creating an enabling environment for securing sustainable small-scale fisheries” has turned out to be a success in the strengthening of TAWFA Lake zone chapter. The current achievements can be alluded to the previous project on “Empowering women in fisheries for sustainable food systems in Tanzania” that supported the TAWFA leaders through trainings such as the Transformational leadership training for women rights and empowerment and that TAWFA members have shown engagements with stakeholders and campaigns promoting other women in joining the association to be part of the journey to what has been the dream of many women in SSF. The continued support from EMEDO and FAO together with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, provide a huge potential reinvent women’s capacity to respond to changes when accessing market, resources, information technology and financial opportunities. It is through TAWFA that women’s courage has outgrowned their fears surrounding the fishing sector in Tanzania, they envision hope and bright future where there is equal opportunities in a sustainable environment. 

• Following the meeting with TAWFA leaders of Lake Zone chapter on the 18^th of February 2022 in Mwanza region, at the EMEDO Environmental Resource Center, members in Mara region have carried out campaigns on the market opportunities as one among many benefits in joining the association.
• Members have had the opportunity to present their products to the mayor of Musoma Municipality while branding TAWFA in the process and he promised for cooperation to raise the profile of the products as a means to access market.
• TAWFA members in Kagera region, have attracted the visit to their processing facility of the ambassador of Sweden in Tanzania, who promised to support their efforts.

There is an increased visibility on the TAWFA’s efforts to uplift other women in the SSF sector in order to build up viable SSF enterprises that provide access to nutritious food to the population.

TAWFA National chairperson Ms. Beatrice MMbaga and member of Coordination Committee Ms. Gloria Musoma District in Mara region, in a meeting with women groups where they raised awareness on and the benefits of joining the association.