Gender transformative approach to promote women in fisheries and aquaculture

To get a better understanding of the social roles and activities of men and women in the fish value chain, a value chain analysis with the focus on gender inequality can be applied. Based on the analysis a gender strategy can be promoted focusing on the development of a joint pathway towards gender equality.

The analysis takes place on different levels, including both desk reviews as well as field research. The country level includes documentation of leadership positions of men and women, access and ownership of land and water resources, wage deployment in the fish value chain and the access to education.

On a macro level, the review of sector relevant policies and strategies such as the water policy for example and their acknowledgement of a framework for gender mainstreaming and a gender bias is conducted. The results of this review are than compared with the actual implementation of these sector specific policies in activities of institutions, because legislative framework and the practical application of gender mainstreaming in actions may differ.

While the meso level focuses on partner organisations and their support of gender-balanced participation and implementation of gender mainstreaming, the micro level includes a qualitative analysis, concentrating on the target group. Questions include sector specific and business knowledge as well as power relations at both community and household levels. Finally, extension service workers are asked about their specific gender training and knowledge.

For example, the gender analysis conducted by the “Fish for Food Security” (F4F) project in Zambia indicated that men tend to dominate fishing and farming (95 %) while women (90 %) dominate the post-harvest fishing activities, active in retailing, marketing, and selling fish. This leads often to an income gap between male and female traders. Additionally, the analysis helped to identify barriers, socio-norms and power differences hindering women from doing fish farming. It identified key strategic areas for implementation, such as using a household approach for gender mainstreaming to redistribute power relations, integrating gender mainstreaming in already existing interventions at community level, partner organisations capturing more and better gender-related data or having a special gender mainstreaming budget line.
 

Based on the results of the gender analysis, a demand-oriented gender strategy can be adopted. Approaches and activities include not only measures focused on removing ­structural barriers but also aspects such as the adjustment of training venues, training locations, and time to enhance the accessibility for differently abled people and all genders. All are part of demand-oriented capacity building measures. 

“Gender Makes Business Sense” (GmBS) by the project “Aquaculture Value Chain for Higher Income and Food Security in Malawi” (AVCP) is such a practical capacity development programme for agripreneurs, aimed at enhancing participants understanding of business while integrating gender dimensions. It focuses on gender transformative changes, tackling power relations at root causes systematically, and seeking behavioural change at various levels and stages to redress gender imbalances at the different levels of the aquaculture value chain. 

Through the experiential learning approach both women and men are equipped with practical business management skills and financial know-how as well as an understanding of the socio-economic impact of gender dynamics in their business. The programme seeks change not only from ­agripreneurs but from value chain actors themselves, policy actors, and the GmBS facilitators in the field. It therefore trains not only farmers, but also stakeholders including extension workers, senior fisheries officers, and political focal persons to lobby for the inclusion of gender transformative change approaches at the policy level. Through the engagement of various actors from all genders, the potential to transform social relations for example regarding decision-making and access to resources towards food ­security is improved.

To promote ownership and continue to equip farmers with the skills and knowledge shared by GmBS, it has been integrated into an “Aquaculture Technical and Vocational Education and Training” (A-TVET) programme. Training institutes, such as the Malawi College of Fisheries or the Stephanos Vocational Training Centre, were supported with training materials, toolkits, and further qualification of their trainers in gender transformative aquaculture. 

Another capacity building programme was the ­training of women groups on Lake Victoria, Uganda by the “­Responsible Fisheries Business Chains Project” (RFBCP) to enhance and strengthen women’s capacities to equally participate in the fisheries value chain. In contrast to GmBS it was more focused on building up confidence and skills in the field. Female boat owners, processors and traders were trained about hygiene handling, fish processing, team building, leadership principles and conflict management to sustain small-scale fisheries.

As an outcome of the training measures women were not only encouraged to increase their involvement in the decision-­making processes, but also to publicly speak about ways to protect fisheries resources and advocate for themselves without fear, contributing also to a reduction of domestic violence. They furthermore strengthened women groups and worked better as a team. 

The training in “Business Development Services” (BDS) in Uganda focused on entrepreneurs involved in the fish value chain at micro and small-scale levels acquiring knowledge, skills, and competencies that are critical to business development and the promotion of sustainability. It was implemented at Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga in partnership with local organisations such as the “Katosi Women Development Trust” (KWDT), the “Association of Fishers Lake User Uganda” (AFALU), and the “Federation of ­Fisheries Organisations Uganda” (FFOU).

The trainers educating about business development concepts were community-based, participated in a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop, and held monthly coordination meetings for exchange. They focused on topics like reinforcing the groups, entrepreneurship, business planning, branding and marketing, financial management and fish processing and value addition, record keeping aimed at enhancing skills and knowledge, and attitudes regarding business operations. For better and long-term success, the training materials were illustrated and translated into the local languages. The activities led to a business growth, which has strengthened women’s confidence in doing ­business as well as expanded women’s networks.

To measure the success of the capacity building approach, a baseline survey and impact evaluation can be conducted. Such was done for the BDS programme in Uganda. The baseline survey helped to establish the status of the fisheries business and their demands while the impact evaluation measured the application of the training contents. Results indicate that over 80 % of the participants were applying the content into their fisheries businesses. It’s important to consider that women’s access to capacity-building training doesn’t stop at training, but next to involvement in women’s networks and exchange groups the application of the content is key for business growth as well as empowerment, enhanced through more self-esteem and independence. 

To publicly raise awareness on gender equality and structural boundaries, different approaches were taken by the projects.

In the “Project for Aquaculture in Madagascar” (“Projet d’Aquaculture Durable à Madagascar”, PADM), part of the training from the cooperative “Tilapia de l’Est” (TDE) for female small-scale aquaculture producers was the topic how to involve more women in the cooperative. To fight against the stereotype, that the profession of aquaculture is a “man’s job” and to improve the representation of women in the sector they documented women’s success stories to encourage other women to venture into fish farming. The stories were on the one hand spread through videos to ­integrate them in the training and capacity-­building activities. To raise awareness on the role of women, they on the other hand produced ten “success stories” of female fish farmers based on a survey and broadcasted them in three regional and one national radio station each morning and evening for two months. 

In Zambia, F4F followed another approach with the video and comic series “Let Me Tell You”. In those, women are represented as female fish farmers and actors in the fish value chain, working together with men in their communities and families with equal knowledge and contribution, therefore depicting gender equality as a norm. For example, Chimwemwe, the grandmother figure in the series, often explains important knowledge and is praised by the others, regardless of their gender, as wise and skilful.
 

Capacity building measures through trainings or awareness campaigns can help to overcome sociocultural barriers, but structural boundaries, unequal rights and policy could remain. To limit these boundaries for gender equality, the involvement of all genders in management organisations is important. In Cambodia, the “Sustainable Aquaculture and Community Fish Refuge Management Project” (SAFR) promoted women’s participation in leadership and management of the Community Fish Refuge (CFR) ­committees – a form of dam or other water resource management organisation which members are elected by the community. CFR management are vital fish conservation measures that intend to improve the productivity of rice field fisheries and reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The approach introduces community-based management committees and assists them in developing plans such as detailing how and when the fish is utilized and by whom. This initiative significantly contributes to rural livelihoods by enhancing food security, nutrition, and income generation by restoring rice field fisheries systems that are ­accessible to everyone.

To ensure women’s equal participation in the decision-making process, the programme supported the ­electoral process for CFR leadership within the communities where rice field fisheries exist. Capacity-building training was conducted with the members focusing on organisational development, transparent decision-making, gender roles and improved management. Through this, a social-­ecological environment was created, in which members could actively and jointly manage their resources. The support also involved documenting and encouraging women to take on active roles in the management of the committees, such as vice chief and accountant positions. It also took into consideration how to reduce participation boundaries for women, for example by situating CFR closer to the village to increase safety while fishing.

“As a woman, I know that not only me, but other women in the community also feel proud to work for the community assuming that the society accepts and supports us in decision-making positions. After several elderly people from the community approached my husband and suggested he encourage me to become a candidate, I decided to play a more active role in community development and stand as a candidate for a position on our CFR Management Committee.” 
Ms. Sokh Samart, a woman CFR Management Committee member from Boeng Khangek Ngout.

In Madagascar, PADM followed a similar approach to promote leadership of women in farmer’s groups and increase their representation in decision-making bodies. As for the CFR their programme included training in the promotion of women’s memberships, development of a strategy to encourage women to express their opinion in decision-making groups and management organisations and in the valorisation of women’s work and contribution to fish farms. They also included a special training for men to mentor and accompany women to become leaders themselves, highlighting the necessity to include the whole community in gender transformative approaches. 

“I must admit that I did not know much about the importance of having women join the (CFR Management) Committee. After I received training on gender roles and I better understood them, I realized that women are as important as men in doing community work. So, my male colleagues and I work together and support the female CFR Management Committee members to perform their jobs.” 
Mr. Ly Peng Chhoun, CFR Chief – Boeng Khangek Ngout.

To enable women to assert themselves and assume full responsibility at all levels in the long term, PADM assisted in the creation of a support framework, including regularly using different tools and maintaining contact with the trainers.

Instead of being restricted to housework according to traditional gender roles, through agency and capacity building together with a demand-oriented, refined management, women were empowered to actively contribute to the development of their communities.

The final gender transformative approach is not only to change relations, but also to initiate changes in structural boundaries, policies, and rights by strengthening local, national, and regional platforms where women can connect and share their knowledge and experiences.

On a local level for example Ugandan women organised themselves in groups to even out some economic disadvantages they face due to lack of capital and utensils to process fish. They are led by the “Katosi Women Development Trust” (KWDT) and received modern equipment such as smoking kilns by RFBCP, thus helping to balance ­children, household, and fish processing. With the help of business development training the women in the group can organise themselves, share their skills with each other, and can invest their savings in new equipment without having to rely on external support in the long term. 

On the national level, the programme also supported the establishment of the “Uganda National Women’s Fish Organization” (UNWFO), a platform for women processors and traders in Uganda. The network focuses on creating sustainable opportunities, fostering innovation, and advocating for inclusive value chains. The support included the development of a constitution, a strategy, action plans, and a gender plan.

Additionally, the programme strengthened the regional umbrella network, the “African Women Fish Processors and Traders Network” (AWFISHNET), by supporting the development of action plans, budgets, and a resource mobilisation strategy for their East African Chapter. It also assisted the organisation of the AWAFISHNET ­Symposium 2019 in Kampala, Uganda, where women from across the African continent were able to network, share knowledge and experiences on value addition, and influence decision-making processes through exhibitions and presentations.

These national and regional platforms allow women to share best practices, experiences, and technologies in a collaborative way that drives innovations. They promote dialogue and negotiation, increasing the participation of women in policy dialogues at both the national and regional levels.