Pan-Africa Policy Research Network for Fisheries & Aquaculture
Concept Note for a Writers-shop to be held in Libreville, Gabon, from 13-16 November 2019.
Background
Gender inequalities limit fisheries and aquaculture productivity and sustainability and, in so doing, undermine development agendas of African Union. Consequently, the AU has prioritized gender issues. For example, the AU theme for the 2015 Summit was “Empowering our women, Securing our Food and improving our Nutrition”’; and emphasised on the effective implementation and delivery of nutrition and food security policies, plans and programmes for results and impact. In addition, the AU theme of 2016 was the “African Year of Human Rights, in particular, with focus on the Rights of Women”. In July 2006, the Summit of the African Union in Banjul, the Gambia, adopted the African Youth Charter (AYC). The Charter is a political and legal document which serves as the strategic framework that gives direction to youth empowerment and development at the continental, regional and national levels. All these were milestones in the recognition of the importance of aligning food, nutrition, empowerment as well as Human Rights with women and youth rights. Just as these themes had put food, nutrition, empowerment as well as human rights at the forefront of the AU Agenda, it is critical for food systems, such as fisheries and aquaculture, to be reflected in the policy and advocacy discourses concerning women and youth.
Objectives of the writers-shop
- To consolidate information on Best Practices from the 8th ANAF and the 3rd· AWFishNet Sessions into policy briefs that will contribute to the Policy Framework & Reform Strategy (PFRS) and African fisheries and aquaculture knowledge on women and youth;
- To consolidate the general knowledge about women’s and youth’s role in fisheries and aquaculture value chains into information pieces that will contribute to the African Fisheries and Aquaculture Report (2020);
- To devise a mechanism for disseminating the Best Practices to African Member States· through the African Fisheries Reform Mechanism; and
- To identify key research issues and questions to be integrated into the Pan-African Policy Research Network Plan of Action.
Expected outcomes
- A consolidated report of Best Practices in the role of women and youth in fisheries and aquaculture value chains,
- A comprehensive list of policy briefs on role of women and youth in fisheries and aquaculture value chains, A comprehensive Dissemination and Outreach Strategy aimed at increasing the visibility of the role of women and youth in fisheries and aquaculture value chains,
- Information pieces and new policy research areas for 2020, and
- Enhanced information-sharing among practitioners of gender issues in fisheries and aquaculture in Africa.
Approach to the writers-shop
Participants, mainly comprising of about 20 people (including representatives of women and youth), some of your bureau members of both Pan-African Policy research Network and AWFishNet, as well as invited gender practitioners (sound and writers), will be expected to prepare short papers and presentations highlighting experiences and best practices from ongoing women and youth fisheries and aquaculture initiatives. The presentations will also provide key policy issues that need to be taken into account by MS, gender development practitioners, fish farmers, fish traders, policy makers and fisheries and aquaculture management institutions. Presentations will also focus on key breakthroughs with regards to women and youth empowerment methodologies that need to be scaled up by African Union Member States, as well as those working on issues of women and youth empowerment.
Venue and dates
The writers-shop will be held Libreville, Gabon during the fourth quarter of 2019.
