Empowering women in Small-Scale Fisheries

Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) promoting Gender Equality and Economic Empowerment in Namibia’s Small-Scale Fisheriessector.

Inanefforttoaddressgenderdisparitiesandpromote women's empowerment within the smallscale fisheries sector in Namibia, a pioneering training workshop was held under the banner "Achieving Gender Equality and Women's EmpowermentinSmall-ScaleFisheries"on7Julyin Mariental.

The event, which took place over three days, broughttogetheragroupof23women,including fisherwomen, fish processors, and fish traders fromacrossNamibia's14regions,whoaremembers of the Namibia Women's Fisheries Network (NAMFISHNET), with the aim of discussing opportunities,sharingexperiences,andexploring strategiesforfosteringgenderequalityinthisvital industry NAMFISHNET,establishedin2022,isNamibia's chapterofAWFISHNET,theAfricanWomenFish Processors' and Traders' Network.AWFISHNET comprisesmembersfromAfricanUnionMember States,includingNamibia.

Organised by the FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR),theworkshopaimedtoraiseawareness about the importance of women's participation andinclusionindecision-makingprocessesandto enhancetheirsocio-economicopportunitieswithinthesector

Additionally,theworkshopalsosoughttostrengthen NAMFISHNET's organisational capacities andestablishlessonslearnedandkeyissuesnoted forinformingotherSmall-ScaleFisheriesOrganisations (SSFOs) in the future. The workshop empowered NAMFISHNET members to contributetotheirnetwork'sstrategy,growth,anddevelopment.

During the workshop, the workshop facilitator, Alushe Hitula, FAO Fisheries Consultant, highlightedthesignificanceoftheworkshop'stheme. "Women play an essential role in small-scale fisheries, yet their contributions often go unnoticedorundervalued.Thisworkshopprovidesa platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building, enabling us to work together towards achieving gender equality and women's empowerment,"shestated.

Participants from diverse backgrounds and roles shared their insights and experiences during the workshop, highlighting the challenges faced by womeninthesectorandproposingpotentialsolutions. Two participants, Kaarin Kuumbwa and Aina Petrus, expressed their perspectives on the importanceofempoweringwomeninsmall-scale fisheries.

"Integrating women into small-scale fisheries in Namibia promotes socio-economic empowerment, sustainable development, and knowledge transfer ThankyoutoFAO,theMinistryoffisheries and NAMFISHNET for this opportunity," saidKaarinKuumbwa,afisherwomanandyouth fromthecoastalcommunityofWalvisBay

Meanwhile, Aina Petrus, NAMFISHNET Founder andChairperson,emphasisedtheeconomicbenefits of empowering women. "As a woman small-scale fisher in Namibia, I have witnessed firsthand the economic benefits that come with empowering women. When women are given equal access to resources, training, and opportunities, we become powerful contributors to the growth and sustainability of our communities. Investing in women meansinvestingineconomicprosperityforall." Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in interactive sessions, group exercises, and discussions that focused on identifying challenges and opportunities in their respective communities and thinking up practical ways to promote gender equality in the small-scale fisheries sector through NAMFISHNET

The importance of building supportive networks suchasNAMFISHNET,providingaccesstoresources, markets, education, and training, and ensuring fair representation in leadership positions emerged askeyareasthatneedtobeaddressed in order for women to flourish in the small-scalefisheriessub-sector

The workshop concluded with the completion of NAMFISHNET's actionplanandthefinalizationoftheir Constitution. Additionally, the women took part in an observation mission organised by MFMR, which took place at the Hardap Inland and Aqua-culture Centre. During this mission, MFMR staff provided NAM-FISHNET memberswithorientationtrainingby demonstrating the fish production process.