Underscoring the Importance of Capacity Building Activities on Promoting Gender in Small-scale Fisheries and Aquaculture in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Gender equality and equity is one of the basic guiding principles of the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). In order to support the promotion and implementation of the SSF Guidelines, SEAFDEC had made several initiatives on mainstreaming gender in the fisheries and aquaculture sector of the Southeast Asian region which include the development of SEAFDEC Gender Strategy and Practical Guide for Gender Analysis in Small-scale Fisheries and Aquaculture in Southeast Asia (Practical Guide) as well as the conduct of several capacity building activities and gender studies in selected areas in the ASEAN Member States (AMSs). Currently, SEAFDEC/TD in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing the project “Gender Dimension in the Value Chain of Small-scale Fisheries and Aquaculture in Southeast Asia” to support the initiatives made by SEAFDEC, particularly the SEAFDEC Gender Strategy and Practical Guide. The objective of the Project is to improve and strengthen the gender dimension in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture value chain in Southeast Asia by identifying gender issues and appropriate interventions, promoting gender equality and equity in decision-making processes and organizations, fisheries technologies, and policies, and empowering women and men in small-scale fishing communities in sustaining their livelihoods.