Awareness raising, promotion of dialogue and collaboration between artisanal fisheries stakeholders are essential for the sustainable development of the sector in Africa. This is within the framework of the implementation of the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries (SSF).
Knowing the importance of the sector and the content of SSF Guidelines, the African Confederation of Professional Organizations of Artisanal Fisheries (CAOPA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized in Ada, Ghana, on 23 and 24 June 2021, a workshop to “Strengthen the capacity of women (of CAOPA) in advocacy for IYAFA 2022″.
During the two days, participants shared lessons learned on voluntary guidelines initiatives to guide future actions on sustainable artisanal fisheries and aquaculture; and identified priority actions for the “Women in Action Agenda” to be presented at the next IYAFA 2022 celebration.
Towards IYAFA 2022
Already in 2017, the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2022 as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022).
For the FAO-RAF Chief Representative, IYAFA 2022 is an important recognition for millions of artisanal fishers, fish farmers and fishery workers who provide healthy and nutritious food to billions of people and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, including Zero Hunger.
“The Year aims to draw the world’s attention to the role that artisanal fisheries play in food and nutrition security, poverty eradication and the sustainable use of natural resources, thereby increasing global understanding and action to support fishing communities,” says Mr Ndiaga GUEYE.
To make the most of this opportunity, Mr. Gueye recommended thinking creatively, joining hands and setting up an agenda of concrete actions to make IYAFA 2022 a memorable year.
For her part, the Women’s Programs Coordinator of CAOPA insisted on the role and importance of women in the celebration of IYAFA 2022. Ms. DION SOMPLEHI Micheline invited women to have “ambitions”.
Because, she says: “Providing decent living and working conditions for women in small-scale fisheries is essential if we want sustainable small-scale fisheries. Guaranteeing women’s access to fish, through fisheries policies that protect resources, is essential for sustainable small-scale fishing; encouraging, through appropriate investments, the processing of fish for human consumption rather than for meal, is essential for sustainable small-scale fishing.”
To achieve this vision, the Coordinator asked her colleagues to organize themselves better and to think about the women’s action agenda for IYAFA 2022.
Aliou DIALLO