The fishing sector generates nearly 100,000 direct jobs and more than 580,000 indirect jobs, according to data from the Ivorian Ministry of Animal and Fishery Resources.
“The fishing sector provides nearly 100,000 direct jobs and more than 580,000 indirect jobs, of which one third are held by women,” Fatoumata Kone Ntehin, a researcher at the National Fisheries Directorate, in Abidjan said on Tuesday.
Ms. Fatoumata Kone Ntehin was speaking by video conference in Abidjan, on the occasion of a global conference of the Coastal Fisheries Initiative (IPC 2022) organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Her presentation focused on the “role of women in the fisheries value chains in Cote d’Ivoire.” This same exercise was done by the managers in charge of the Coastal Fisheries Initiative project, within their institution, in Peru and Indonesia.
Relating the context in Cote d’Ivoire, Ms. Fatoumata Kone Ntehin, noted that the sub-sector of inland fisheries employs more than 30,000 people of which 1/3 are women involved mostly in the processing and marketing.
The results of a UEMOA framework survey conducted in 2012 on inland fishing in Cote d’Ivoire reveal that 19,543 men are involved in the catching of fish against 1,608 women, i.e. 7.6 percent of women out of 21,152 actors.
At the level of processing, the survey mentions 1,587 men against 6,930 women out of 8,517 actors, i.e. 81.4 percent of women who however have “difficulties in accessing the product for marketing and processing.”
In the marketing segment, 2,997 men were counted against 7,799 women out of a total of 10,796 people surveyed, i.e. 72.2 percent women. According to Ms. Fatoumata Kone, women have difficulty accessing financing for their activities.
Ms. Fatou Sock, IPC project coordinator at FAO headquarters, took part in the discussions. In Peru, a study shows that women spend more time working and earn less money than men.
In Indonesia, the status of women in the fisheries value chain indicates a balanced percentage in fishing activities, although women participate very little in catching activities.
With regards to post-capture activities, women do most of the work, especially processing and marketing; they have limited access to credit compared to men.
Mr. Aboubakar Kone, National Administrator of the Coastal Fisheries Initiative-West Africa project, listed the performances obtained in West Africa (Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Cape Verde). In Cote d’Ivoire, he noted that the IPC project is taking place on the basis of existing activities.
The landing of Lokodjro, located west of Abidjan, was supported by FAO with FTT ovens. The one in Sassandra, in the southwest of Cote d’Ivoire, should also receive FTT ovens to support the fishmongers in their activities.
As solutions, Cote d’Ivoire plans to create a more favorable environment for access to products and financing of women’s activities, as well as for private investments, while encouraging synergy of actions with local communities to finance projects.
The Coastal Fisheries Initiative Program (CFI) is a global collaborative effort funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). It brings together United Nations agencies and international development organizations.
Its objective is to improve fisheries management and conserve marine biodiversity in coastal areas through improved governance and strengthening the seafood value chain.
The global IPC program is implemented jointly by the International Convention, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNDP, UNEP, the World Bank and WWF.
It is implemented through its five projects in six countries (Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Indonesia, Peru and Senegal) and constitutes an international framework for collaboration, sharing and capitalizing on the experiences of all partners involved.
As part of the project’s knowledge sharing strategy, the initiative’s partners hold an annual Global Conference to share progress, lessons learned and best practices.
This year’s edition takes place from March 21-25, 2022. Cote d’Ivoire has been scheduled to present the achievements of the project implementation at the national level. Fish processors from Sassandra explained at this forum the challenges related to their sector of activity.
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