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Webinar
11
Nov
Access to finance for empowering women in small-scale fisheries value chain
African Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (AFRACA), Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), CAFI-SSF Network, FAO, Network for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific (NEDAC)
Friday, November 11, 2022
Friday 11 November 2022, 16.00 -17.30 hours Bangkok (GMT+7)
(11.00 am Rome, 13.00 noon Nairobi, 15.30 pm Delhi, 15:00 Bangkok)
Event summary
CAFI SSF Webinar Talk Series was organized on 11 November 2022. The webinar topic for discussion was Access to finance for empowering women in small-scale fisheries value chain. It was organized in association with African Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (AFRACA), Asia and Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA), Network for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific (NEDAC), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. About 70 participants from financial service institutions, women based fisherfolk organization as well as academic institutes attended from Asia, Africa and Europe region.
The distinguished panel of speakers shared information on successful policy initiative by decision makers to enhance livelihood of women self-help groups practicing small-scale fish rearing activities in village community ponds, collective community action being implemented for catfish production to processing activities and how women-member based fisher- folk associations support equitable access and promote inclusive financial services programs for women in small-scale fisheries value chain in Asia and Africa region.
For more details, the webinar recording may be accessed below.
Background Note
Women play an important role in fishery value chain activities, this includes aquaculture, mariculture, post-harvest processing, fish marketing and distribution. According to recent study findings of Illuminating Hidden Harvests (IHH), 45 million women participate in small-scale fisheries value chain, this represents 40 percent of the estimated labour force engaged in small-scale fisheries (SSF). Worldwide women are engaged in post- harvest activity where they account for roughly 50 percent of the labour-force in the processing (sorting and grading), transporting, trading, and selling of small-scale fisheries catch. Fish processing facilities employ a workforce predominantly comprising of women working on an output-based contract basis with minimal insurance and social security benefits. Further, in addition, women face constraints to access essential productive resources and services, technology, market information, financial assets, and financial services to fulfil their working capital requirements as well as household life cycle needs.
Although women’s contribution in SSF is economically and socially important, it receives minimal attention while formulating fisheries policies and programs. Hence, it is critical for policy makers and financial service providers (FSPs) to recognize the role of women in SSF value chain activities. Taking into consideration the unique business characteristics of small-scale fisheries sector, there is a special need to design and develop well-suited products and services to facilitate an inclusive financial services programme and provide them an opportunity to harness economic benefits from the profitable SSF sector.
The FAO supported initiative, CAFI-SSF Network has organized several knowledge sharing webinars, that covered Microfinance and Insurance Guidelines for SSF, Role of fish farmer producer organizations in facilitating inclusive financial services for SSF, Best practices within fisheries and aquaculture insurance sector. This webinar focuses on women in small-scale fisheries to enhance their entrepreneurship skills and access to financial services by applying best practices that may be beneficial to nations and institutions for replication.
CAFI SSF through this webinar brings to its member organizations and interested participants an informative session on initiatives in Asia and Africa regions that support access to finance for women in small-scale fisheries value chain.
Our speakers
• Jennifer Gee: Gender Team Leader, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome
• Kanthana Sangsingkeo: Business Consultant, Lam Sai Pattana Community Enterprise, Thailand
• Editrudith Lukanga: Secretary General, African Women Fish Processors and Traders Network (AWFISHNET), Tanzania
• Mansi Nimbhal: Mission Shakti Programme, State Mission Director, and Chief Executive Officer, India
CAFI SSF Webinar is organized for all stakeholders involved with SSF finance and insurance.
Please contact info@rfilc.org for Zoom credentials.
- Language French
- Keywords FAO- CAFI SSF Network Webinar Talk Series, Gender and Women's Empowerment
