National Inception Workshop for ‘Empowering women in small-scale fisheries for sustainable food systems’ held in Sierra Leone

©MFMR (Ministry for Fisheries and Marine Resources)

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) launched the two-day national inception workshop for Sierra Leone as part of the Norad-funded project ‘Empowering women in small-scale fisheries for sustainable food systems’ on 16th November 2020.

The objective of the project is to support women working in the post-harvest sector of small-scale fisheries value chains across five African countries including Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi and Sierra Leone. In small-scale fisheries across Africa, almost half the labour force are women (FAO, 2020), but their work is often invisible, informal and underrecognized, and women do not take part in the decisions that shape their situation or impact the value chain they rely on for their livelihoods.

In her opening address, the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Emma Kowa Jalloh, described the project as “an opportunity for women engaged in fisheries activities to add value to their products” and commended FAO for assisting the Ministry in applying the recommendations of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (the SSF Guidelines). She encouraged participants to make the best use of the opportunity and share knowledge gained with their and other communities. The project is expected to address important aspects in the fishing sector such as fish handling, processing and marketing to enable women to become more competitive in the marketplace, increase availability and consumption of fish and fishery products, improve food safety and reduce loss and waste.

According to Mr Sheka Kargbo, FAO’s national project coordinator, the objective of the project - situated in the the Kambia, Portloko, Moyamba, Bonthe and Pujehun districts - is to support the social, economic and environmental transformation of the small-scale fisheries sector towards its better contribution to food security and poverty reduction in Sierra Leone as a result of improved policies, strategies and initiatives. Mr Kargbo pointed out that women in the small-scale fisheries sector can be more vulnerable and emphasized that the project would empower and address issues affecting them through capacity building training programs. Mr Kargbo described the project as highly participatory in nature, saying it would also provide logistical support to beneficiaries and ensure synergy among stakeholders, respect for rule of law, culture, gender equality, as well as beneficiaries’ rights and dignity.

The FAO country representative, Mrs. Nyabenyi Tito Tipo, applauded the MFMR for collaborating with FAO in implementing the project. She assured the participants that FAO would continue to support  women in small-scale fisheries who are adding value to their fisheries and fisheries products and hence improving their livelihoods.

According to the Public Relation Officer for the Fishermen Union Consortium, Mr. Wudi Baki, fishers have been benefiting from FAO and MFMR fisheries projects. He called on both organisations to continue providing environmentally friendly and cost-effective approaches that will minimise expenditure for the women and add value to their fisheries activities. He further stressed the need for logistical and financial support for women in Sierra Leone’s coastal communities.

Participants expressed their sincere thanks and appreciation to FAO and MFMR for their laudable venture in supporting small-scale fisheries, especially women, and asked for  continued support from FAO in the area of improved smoking ovens, fish processing and handling equipment or tools, clean water and hygiene facilities, and zinc roofed stores among others.