Achievements
To improve livelihoods and food security of vulnerable small-scale fishing communities in Zambia, the ECOFISH-ActionAid project builds capacity, provides equipment and set up guidelines for the fishers. In this context, the project provided the following supports to date:
1. Empowerment and capacity building
- 70 Community Fisheries Committees for each of the 7 districts have been set up
- leadership building of fishers reached out 4, 660 fishers. 309 of them have now leadership position in the committees.
- 3, 915 fishers were trained on sustainable management of fisheries including restocking of fish through the department of fisheries
- fishers were trained in sustainable management of fisheries
Activities
- Establish and strengthen women and youth fishers’ platforms
- 70 committees were formed under the Action and of the 70, a total of 32 Women and youth fishers platforms were strengthened (Fisheries committees set into multi-purpose cooperatives – 7 in Kafue, 10 in Southern, 4 in Luangwa and 11 in Western).
- Leadership building of the fishers
- The leadership building of fishers reached out to 4, 660 fishers ( 2,100 Females and 2, 560 Males) both under training of trainers and cascading in the target districts. Out of 4, 660 fishers, 309 (110 Females and 199 Males) have taken up leadership position in the committees.
Outputs
- Enhanced livelihoods and food security of vulnerable small-scale fishing communities through sustainably managed small-scale fisheries.
- Women and youth small-scale fishers have strengthened capacities in value addition of fish and access to markets resulting in their increased contribution to sustainable growth, including to SDGs.
- Small-scale fishers, especially women and youth, are better able to advocate for adoption and implementation of national and regional policy and legal frameworks that favour sustainable management of fisheries resources, including security of tenure.
Finding bliss in fishing and gardening
Change is the only constant in life… Thanks to a wind of change, Anny Mabuku, a 32-year-old fish trader, found her calling and decided to expand her skills to make more money. Here is the inspiring story of a woman who can now live happily, by [...]
Empowered by vegetable farming and integrated fishing!
Fishing in the Luangwa River has been less and less fruitful over the years – the Zambian border is being nearly depleted. Elizabeth Chileshe is a 30 year old woman who managed to overcome this problematic situation thanks to… a piece of land! Here’s an overview [...]
Putting an end to sex-for-fish culture
“No deal, no fish”... This is a generally accepted axiom within the fishing communities in Zambia. The deal? A sexual transaction, solicited by fishermen, to women who want to buy fish. No other option Fish is a natural and highly nutritional source of food for people [...]
YOUNGSTERS AND SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
How does one fish efficiently and sustainably? Although this question has long been overlooked by the inhabitants of Litoya, in the west of Zambia, it is vital to young Muwela. Born in 1987, his life has changed considerably since the Community Fisheries Committee (CPC) visited his village. [...]
REAPING THE REWARDS OF GREAT APPRENTICESHIP…
This is exactly what the small-scale fishers of Kafue and Luangwa regions have been doing since the capacity-building exercises provided by ActionAid Zambia, with support from the European Union through the ECOFISH Programme. Overview. Honing their skills Figure 1: Community Sensitisation meeting As the [...]
PREVENTING FISHERIES DEPLETION!
Nature blossoms in many beautiful ways and our marine biodiversity is no exception. Unfortunately, human activity may often hinder the natural ecosystem and cause its downfall. Excessive fishing, for instance, is endangering the supply of fishes – a very valuable natural resource, especially in small villages [...]
INOCENCIA, DIVERSIFYING AND STRIVING FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE!
Have you ever wondered what tomorrow is made of? Even if you do not know what the future holds, you can surely try building it in the best way possible. It is with this mindset that Inocência Fazbem now plans hers. Born and raised in the [...]
ADOPTING GOOD FISHING PRACTICES
On the banks of the Zambezi – the fourth largest river in Africa – lies Wanyau, a small village in Zambia. The vast expanses of water and swamps surrounding the village set a conducive environment for fishing and growing vegetables... It is therefore not surprising that [...]
JOINING FORCES FOR A SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF FISHERIES!
"Cross the river in a crowd and the crocodile won't eat you." As this African adage aptly points out, a community can deal with different challenges when uniting forces. Mr. Sinyungu Evans Makandauko firmly believes it. He is a citizen of the Sesheke District in [...]
