IOI-SA is partnering with the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in developing a 5-day training program in regional small-scale fisheries governance for Africa.
The Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines 2014) promote governance reform in order to create food security and poverty eradication in small-scale fishing communities. The capability to implement the SSF Guidelines varies within States and regions, as do national policies and small-scale fisheries governance strategies. Many States have poor awareness and recognition, capacity, co-ordination and institutional structures to effectively implement many of the fundamental values that the SSF Guidelines seek to promote.
The training program therefore aims to contribute towards creating an enabling environment for the implementation of the SSF Guidelines, through capacitating practitioners to address key small-scale fisheries governance issues using holistic and participatory methods. It also aims to strengthen capacity at national and regional levels, by creating increased awareness, facilitate institutional linkages and the development of good governance frameworks. The training is being developed in conjunction with regional experts, with the pilot training event expected to be held in Cape Town 2021. The pilot course will invite small-scale fisheries practitioners from a number of African countries who are currently working with the FAO on implementation of the SSF Guidelines in their countries.