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Assessing and Advancing Gender Equity in Lake Malawi’s Small-Scale Fisheries Sector

Author

Listed:
  • Elin Torell

    (Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, 220 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA)

  • Chikondi Manyungwa-Pasani

    (Department of Fisheries, Lilongwe P.O. Box 593, Malawi)

  • Danielle Bilecki

    (Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island, 220 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA)

  • Innocent Gumulira

    (Monkey-Bay Fisheries Research Station, Monkey Bay, Mangochi P.O Box 27, Malawi)

  • Gordon Yiwombe

    (Salima Agriculture Development Division, Private Bag 1, Salima, Malawi)

Abstract

Women play important, but often invisible, roles in Lake Malawi’s small-scale fisheries sector. This paper augments previous research by exploring the productive and reproductive roles that men and women have in fishing communities and how this shapes women’s access and control over fisheries resources. Contributing to advancing the understanding of how to strengthen women’s roles in the fisheries sector, this paper reports on a qualitative assessment conducted in seven Malawian lakeshore districts. Data collected via focus group discussions, which included gendered resource mapping exercises, revealed belief systems and gender norms that shape men’s and women’s access to and control over lacustrine resources. While both men and women have access to lake and land resources, their roles differ. Men dominate fishing resources whereas women dominate resources that are tied to household management. While all value chain nodes are open to men, women tend to be concentrated in lower-value processing and trading activities. Social norms and values shape people’s access and control over communal resources. It is noteworthy that women who earn an income from the fisheries value chain have more access to savings and credit and have more equal household bargaining power.

Suggested Citation

  • Elin Torell & Chikondi Manyungwa-Pasani & Danielle Bilecki & Innocent Gumulira & Gordon Yiwombe, 2021. "Assessing and Advancing Gender Equity in Lake Malawi’s Small-Scale Fisheries Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-17, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:23:p:13001-:d:686736
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chiwaula, L. & Jamu, D. & Chaweza, R. & Nagoli, J., 2012. "The Structure and margins of the Lake Chilwa fisheries in Malawi: a value chain analysis," Monographs, The WorldFish Center, number 39912, April.
    2. Torell, Elin C. & Jamu, Daniel M. & Kanyerere, Geoffrey Z. & Chiwaula, Levison & Nagoli, Joseph & Kambewa, Patrick & Brooks, Alan & Freeman, Peter, 2020. "Assessing the economic impacts of post-harvest fisheries losses in Malawi," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 19(C).
    3. Elizabeth Asiedu & Isaac Kalonda-Kanyama & Leonce Ndikumana & Akwasi Nti-Addae, 2013. "Access to Credit by Firms in Sub-Saharan Africa: How Relevant Is Gender?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 103(3), pages 293-297, May.
    4. Lawless, Sarah & Cohen, Philippa J. & Mangubhai, Sangeeta & Kleiber, Danika & Morrison, Tiffany H., 2021. "Gender equality is diluted in commitments made to small-scale fisheries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
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