A digitised version of ICSF library, with more than 2000 original documents and 12,000+ curated links, collected over the last 33 years The International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) is an international non-governmental organization that works towards the establishment of equitable, gender-just,self-reliant and sustainable fisheries, particularly in the small-scale, artisanal sector.
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Exploring gender inclusion in small-scale fisheries management and development in Melanesia

Mangubhai, Sangeeta and Lawless, Sarah (2021) Exploring gender inclusion in small-scale fisheries management and development in Melanesia. Marine Policy, Vo.123. pp. 13-11.

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Official URL: https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0308597...

Abstract

Fisheries, like other sectors, is not immune to gender inequality, and women tend to experience the brunt of inequality as undervalued and underrepresented actors in fisheries management and development. A comprehensive understanding of the gender approaches in use, including potential barriers to their implementation, is needed to promote gender equitable outcomes in the small-scale fisheries (SSF) sector. We conducted interviews with fisheries managers and practitioners working in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu between 2018 and 2019. We found gender inclusive approaches were broadly applied in three ways: (a) through community-based projects and programs (e.g., inclusive participation techniques); (b) national level research and policy; and (c) internal organizational operations (e.g. gender-sensitive recruitment policies). Although fisheries organizations approached gender inclusion in diverse ways, when critically evaluated according to gender best practice we found 76.2% of approaches were designed to ‘reach’ women, and very few ‘benefited’, ‘empowered’, or ‘transformed’ women’s lives. ‘Gender’ was conflated to ‘women’ indicating a poor understanding of what gender inclusion means in practice. We found gender inclusive approaches were limited by the knowledge and capacities of fisheries managers and practitioners, and inhibitive institutional cultures. We argue that SSF organizations need to build explicit institutional gender commitment, strategies and systematic efforts to implement gender approaches with effective accountability mechanisms in place. While the fisheries sector is in its infancy, the plethora and diversity of development organizations in the Pacific provides a unique opportunity to build strategic partnerships to improve gender inclusion in practice in SSF management and development. Such a step can assist the transition from gender inclusive approaches being ‘new’ to the ‘norm’ whilst setting a benchmark for what is acceptable practice.

Item Type: Articles
Keywords: Gender, Equality, Women, Small-scale Fisheries, Fisheries Management, Melanesia, Community Based Programme, Recruitment Policies, Gender Inclusion, Inclusive Approach, Empowerment
Subjects: Gender in Fisheries and Aquaculture
Depositing User: Users 4 not found.
Date Deposited: 23 Dec 2021 04:32
Last Modified: 23 Dec 2021 04:32
URI: http://icsfarchives.net/id/eprint/6014

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