ACHIEVEMENTS:

To promote sustainable small-scale fisheries in Cahora-Bassa and Mogoe Districts in Mozambique, the ECOFISH-ADPP project empowers and builds capacity of fishing communities, improves integration of fishing groups into value chains and increases access to drinking water and sanitation. In this context, the project provided the following supports to date:

1. Empowerment and capacity of fishing communities for sustainable resources management

• 531 fishers were trained in community-based natural resources and 36% are engaged in decision making
• 10 functional Fisher Clubs composed of 177 women and 354 men in both target districts are established. This enables fishers to get required trainings and technical support easier than before.
• 10 clubs are legalised into associations making them eligible for funding.
• 10 Community Fisheries Councils members (CCPs) actively participating in natural resources co-management groups
• 140 Community Fisheries Councils members (CCPs) trained as trainers to facilitate and increase knowledge about sustainable fishing practice, promoted abandonment of harmful and prohibited fishing gear
• 1500 harmful gear seized throughout Albufeira in coordination with local authorities
• The project licensed 1,444 small-scale fishers
• 1 gender study conducted, resulting in the formulation of an action plan and production of training material.
• 10 demonstration fields were established in each of the 10 fisher clubs. As a result, fishers club members started market products from gardening in the two target districts of Magoe and Cahora Bassa.

2. Integration of fishing groups into value chains through market-related infrastructure and investments to ensure good quality fish handling and marketing under hygienic conditions.

• 2 fish cooperatives created to enable fishers manage future fish processing and sales centers.
• Negotiations with MozBeef and Bazaruto Fisheries fish selling companies to ensure technical support to processing and sales centres.
• 10 functional credit and saving groups created – Boosting 172 of its members capacity to develop small businesses and purchase fishing gear
• 10 literacy groups with 271 fishers set up. This enhanced fishers’ ability to read and count.

3. Access to drinking Water and Sanitation

• 5 boreholes equipped with Afridev pumps hand over to fishery communities. About 1500 households have been granted access to clean water through the project.
• 5 water committees were created and trained in the communities that benefitted from boreholes in the two districts.
• 100 fishers were trained in the operation and maintenance of the SF2 solar pumps provided by the ECOFISH The 10 pumps can supply 12.000 L of water per day and ensure the irrigation of the demonstration fields and vegetable production in the 10 clubs throughout the year.
• 10 clubs were introduced to the construction of 10 model ecological latrines. The rate of adoption is steadily increasing, and 250 fishermen constructed new latrines
• Awareness raising campaigns carried out reaching fishers and communities, i.e., 531 registered fishers and more than 1500 community members against COVID-19 prevention & open defecation.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS:

• Empowering the fishing communities and increase capacities on sustainable resources management.

• Strengthen 6 existing Fishers’ Clubs and create 4 new ones.

• Strengthen 2 existing Fishery Councils and create 2 new ones.

• Creation of a Fishers’ Forum which will contribute to strengthen the economic and social sustainability of SSF communities.

• Increase sales volumes and incomes of target fishers by providing processed products.

• Connect the fishing communities to drinking water supply and sanitation.

• Improve health and nutrition and increase safety of women.

ACTIVITIES:

• Promoting stable co-management structures by providing training on natural resources management, negotiation and conflict resolution to Community Fishery Councils.
• Provide training on sustainable fishing practices & climate-resilient livelihoods to approximately 500 fishers, out of which 30% are women.
• Connect the fishermen to potential buyers and to microfinance institutions.
• Establish processing and sales centres in 2 strategic locations equipped with post-harvest handling and conservation equipment powered by solar energy.
• Train approximately 300 fishermen out of which 50% are women.
• Construction of 10 boreholes equipped with solar pumps, water storage and eco-friendly traditional latrines.
• Awareness raising campaigns about hygiene and prevention of drinking water.
• Creation of water committees and training of youth in maintenance of water systems and fixing of solar pumps.

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