Nov 29, 2017 | Project

REPAO (Le Réseau sur les Politiques de Pêche en Afrique de l’Ouest)

Capacity building programme for women members of REPAO organisations

Republic of Benin
Burkina Faso
Republic of Cabo Verde
Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
Republic of Ghana
Republic of Guinea
Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Republic of Liberia
Republic of Mali
Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Republic of the Niger
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Republic of Sierra Leone
Republic of Senegal
Republic of The Gambia
Togolese Republic

Amount: € 332,730.00

The REPAO (Le Réseau sur les Politiques de Pêche en Afrique de l’Ouest) project aimed to strengthen the organisational, technical and financial capacity of 200 women working in the fisheries industry in West Africa. To this end, the project assisted the women in meeting the challenges of marketing quality products, obtaining access to international markets and improving sustainable livelihoods in fishing communities.

The main activities implemented by the project included: conducting a diagnostic study of organisations of women working in the fisheries sector in Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cabo Verde, Togo, Benin and Côte d'Ivoire; implementing national networks of professional organisations of women working in the fisheries sector in Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cabo Verde, Togo, Benin and Ivory Coast ; providing practical training on hygiene and  quality processing techniques in Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau and Niger; and convening two regional workshops to inform women on the fish product certification process and the marketing rules in ECOWAS countries.

Key Results

REPAO empowered 200 women working in the fisheries industry in West Africa through the strengthening of the organisational, technical and financial capacity of. Hence enabling the women in meeting the challenges of marketing quality products, obtaining access to international markets and improving sustainable livelihoods in fishing communities. The project facilitated the establishment of 9 national women's networks associated with the fishing industry.

The project has helped women working in the fisheries industry in West Africa work towards a common vision of the development of fisheries through the national networks that serve as their framework for consultation and dialogue. As a result, women are able to defend their own interests with partners (ministries, donors, NGOs, etc.), leverage their interests at the national, regional and African level, engage in the process of obtaining legal recognition, participate in international meetings (workshops and forums) and exchange information with experts on how to improve the marketing and fish processing in Africa.