What do you think are the 5 most relevant chapters, paragraphs, and/or topics of the SSF Guidelines for assessing progress towards securing sustainable small-scale fisheries? Please describe why you believe these chapters, paragraphs, and/or topics are most relevant.
⦁ The guiding principles are all of great importance and need to be addressed in a holistic and interlinked approach for ensuring sustainability in the fisheries sector. Directing resources to rural areas provides benefits that go beyond the urban areas, rewarding the lives of a whole population and the growth of a nation. As the rural landscape transforms, it catalyses on-farm and off-farm economic activity to thrive, resulting in more schools, health centres and social services to spring up.
⦁ Aggregated gender equality that enhances equal opportunities to work and access to finance/non finance resources (especially for women and the youth) in the fisheries sector will contibute to household food security and nutrition as well as economic development.
⦁ Capacity development and research is vital for raising awareness issues in sustainable capture fisheries. It is necessary for building capacity for integrated fish health and disease management. Also takes into consideration fish feeds and nutrition.
⦁ Incorporating indigenous knowledge in modern sustainable fish production systems which will lead to producers having a sense of ownership thereby resulting into change of attitudes. Small scale fish workers more willing to embrace new methods of fishing for improved yields.
⦁ Efficient and effective policy and monitoring frameworks ensure quality control, maintenance of standards, adherence and enabling market environments along the entire fish value chain.
⦁ Economic, social and environmental sustainability: applying the precautionary approach and risk management entails justice and enhancement of sovereignity for biodiversity and their ecosystems. Mechanisms in place for sustainable resource utilisation and conservation measures.
At what geographical scale should progress be measured (e.g. local, national)?
⦁ At local community level simplified structures for measuring their own progress should be put in place to provide information to the subnational and national levels.
⦁ The sub national and national levels must also have their own monitoring mechanisms in order to ensure data credibility and perform gap analysis.
2. Meaningful and feasible indicators: How can we measure progress?
⦁ Linking progress to country specific food security and national plans
⦁ Comparison with international mandates such as the SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDG1,5,8,9,10,12,14)
⦁ Framework for assessing progress in implementing technical guidelines and good governance requirements for measuring/monitoring SSF could be the Criteria (e.g. Developing the capacity to implement Monitoring/measuring for SSF), Indicator (e.g. Development of MRV procedures (methods, tools, etc.) ), Progress level (e.g. Development of MRV procedures not planned- 0/Low, Development of MRV procedures planned - 3/Moderate, Development of MRV procedures started and developed - 5/High), Score (e.g. 0-5 rating from low to high)
What do you think are key elements of successful participatory monitoring?
1. Organizational Structures with M&E Functions
2. Human Capacity for M&E
3. Partnerships for Planning, Coordinating and Managing the M&E System
4. M&E frameworks/Logical Framework
5. M&E Work Plan and costs
6. Communication, Advocacy and Culture for M&E
7. Routine Programme Monitoring
8. Participatory Surveys
9. National and Sub-national databases
10. Supportive Supervision and Data Auditing
11. Evaluation and Research
12. Data Dissemination and Use
What are your experiences with participatory monitoring?
When capacities are built, farmers and extension staff assigned with roles and responsibilities to take up monitoring at community level are able to spearhead monitoring activities (site visitations, interviews using monitoring forms, focused group discussions etc). The scenario is the same at subnational stages.
Who should be the key actors involved in or responsible for the design and implementation of a monitoring system for the SSF Guidelines?
Project funders, Project implementers, Extension staff, Local community representatives (e.g. fish farmers, fish traders), other Key Stakeholders (e.g. local authority)
Joromana Phiri