Empowering Women in Small-Scale Fisheries for Sustainable Food Systems (2020-2021) - Malawi

Abstract
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To support sustainable fish food systems and nutrition in sub-Saharan Africa, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) provided funding to the FAO to support initial project activities in five countries (Sierra Leone, Malawi, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania) with a focus on strengthening women's roles in the small-scale fisheries post-harvest sector. The project conducted a baseline survey as well as a needs assessment and mapping of women's organizations. Three surveys were developed to capture information from various stakeholders:

- Individual/Household level: The baseline study conducted for this project included individual intercept surveys targeting women as actors in small-scale fisheries value chains. The purpose of the survey was to understand both the individual respondent (i.e., the woman) and her household's involvement in fisheries, how they acquire and consume fish, their experiences of food security and dietary practices, and participation in fisheries governance and organizations. Approxtaimely 300 women were surveyed per country. This study was conducted for baseline monitoring and evaluation of the project “Empowering women in small-scale fisheries for sustainable food systems”.

- Focus group discussions: Focus group discussions were held in each landing site alongside data collection using other survey instruments. The purpose of the focus group discussions was to elicit qualitative data reflecting the opinions of women from the same fish landing sites on key issues affecting their work, status, and roles in the sector. This included their opinions of discrimination or harassment against women, their voice in decision-making and ability to influence fisheries governance, changes in gender relations over time, and their access to training, facilities, and assets needed to conduct their fisheries activities. This study was conducted for baseline monitoring and evaluation of the project “Empowering women in small-scale fisheries for sustainable food systems”.

- Individuals (with policy-level influence in the small-scale fishing sector): The baseline study conducted for this project included key informant interviews with those in policy, programme, or other similar levels of sector influence (e.g., Policy Makers, Government, Projects, Programmes working on social and health interventions in fishing communities). The purpose of the key informant interviews was to understand the opinion of respondents on local the diet and eating patterns of the community, women's empowerment, facilities they believe exist at or are in place and serve fish workers. In addition, the questions sought to gain an understanding of what is already known at decision-making levels of the FAO SSF Guidelines and knowledge of fishing community's capacity building needs and how learning and technological change occurs. This study was conducted for baseline monitoring and evaluation of the project "Empowering women in small-scale fisheries for sustainable food systems".

- Organizational level: The purpose of the survey is to enhance understanding of where women are organized in small-scale fisheries (or 'map' them both geographically and within the value chain) and what their present organizational characteristics, capacities, and needs are. Data were collected and analyzed to recommend interventions to enhance women’s organizational capacities and to work towards greater gender equality in fish value chains. The survey covers organizational-level characteristics (i.e., not individual members) of women’s small-scale fishery organizations (defined as formal or informal organizations whose members and leaders are majority women who work in the small-scale fishing sector). Data collection entailed 3-5 members of one women’s organization meeting and collectively answering the survey questions regarding the characteristics of their organization. The survey included questions about group structure, characteristics, and history as well as participation in the value chain, membership benefits, external linkages, and greatest needs.

*Uganda study will be published soon.

Geographic coverage
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National coverage of coastal areas of high importance to fisheries, including both inland and marine fisheries (where relevant) and both major and minor water bodies. A sample of coastal regions or districts that met these criteria and represented the diversity of fisheries in the country was chosen (non-random sample).

Analysis unit
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Individuals, Households, Focus Groups, Organizations

Universe
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- Individual/Household level: Women who work in small-scale fishing value chains (harvest, post-harvest processing or trade).
- Focus groups: Women who work in small-scale fisheries.
- Individuals (with policy-level influence in the small-scale fishing sector): Policy-level actors in the fishing sector. This includes government and non-governmental personnel working in fisheries, environment, or gender and development themes that impact fishing communities.
- Organizational level: Women's small-scale fisheries organizations, whether formally registered or informally operating. This was defined as an organization whose members and leaders are majority women engaged in small-scale fisheries activities (whether harvesting or post-harvest processing and trade).

Kind of data
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Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure
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Individual/household level:
- Sample size: 300 individuals per country
- Selection process: Surveys were conducted as intercept surveys at fish landing sites, markets and within fishing communities.
- Stratification: By district and landing site. The target number of surveys per country (300) was divided by the number of landing sites chosen for the study.

Focus groups:
- Non-random sample of women chosen opportunistically (based on availability) to participate in a small group, focus group discussions. Typically 2 focus group discussions were held in each district or region where data collection occurred for the larger, baseline assessment of the project.

Individuals (with policy-level influence in the small-scale fishing sector):
- Survey sampling for key informant interviews was purposive, selecting individuals who were known to be knowledgeable about relevant policy issues impacting fishing communities that were of interest to the project (e.g., nutrition, gender issues, leadership, decision-making). These individuals were identified based on the expert knowledge of the National Project Coordinator with input from the government and influential local leaders. Approximately 10 key informants were surveyed per country, with 1-3 individuals interviewed per district/region.

Organizational level:
- Varied by country, ranging from approximately 40-60 organizations.
- Selection Process: This survey was not a random sample or stratified sample of organizations. However, efforts were made to ensure the survey was representative of organizations in each country and the districts chosen for surveying. To ensure this, prior to implementing the survey a combination of existing information on women's fisheries organizations was used (e.g., registries, lists, expert knowledge), and where needed, background data was collected on the number of women's small-scale fisheries groups in each district. After this, background and existing data were collected, we used this estimate of the population or organizations in each district. Based on these estimates of the population of organizations, we applied the sampling protocol (described below) to determine the target number of surveys to be collected in each district. However, surveys were implemented opportunistically in the field with individual organizations that were available and accessible at the time of data collection. Inclusion criteria. To be included in the survey, organizations had to meet the following criteria: a. The group identifies as an organization, either formally registered or informal. b. Membership is majority (more than 50 percent) women. c. Women are an active part of the organization's leadership. d. The majority of group members are engaged in capture fishing and related activities including pre-harvest, processing, and trade of fish or fish products.
- The following sampling protocol was applied to the estimated number of women's small-scale fisheries groups in a district (always rounding up to a whole number): Fewer than 7 organizations: do not sample (i.e. survey all groups); - 8-10 organizations: sample 60 percent; - 11-14 organizations: sample 50 percent; - 15-20 organizations: sample 40 percent; - More than 20 organizations: sample 30 percent where possible, 20 percent as needed.

Sampling deviation
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At the organizational level, the individual groups selected for the survey were not chosen randomly, instead, they were chosen for interviews based on their availability at the time of data collection and ease of contact.

Mode of data collection
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Face-to-face [f2f], Focus Group [foc]

Research instrument
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Individual/Household level:
- Questionnaire used: Empowering Women in Small Scale Fisheries for Sustainable Food Systems Individual Questionnaire.
- Language: English.

Focus Groups level:
- Questionnaire used: Empowering Women in Small Scale Fisheries for Sustainable Food Systems Focus Groups Discussions Questionnaire.
- Language: English.

Key Informants Interview:
- Questionnaire used: Baseline KII survey
- Language: English

Organizational level:
- Questionnaire used: Questionnaire Mapping Assessment Women's ssf Organizations.
- Language: English.
- Questionnaire Design: The questionnaire was designed based on earlier studies conducted in Tanzania. The first draft of the survey was tested in Ghana with 10 organizations. Then the questionnaire was also reviewed by stakeholders in each country where data collection took place (including Sierra Leone) and minor changes were made as needed.

Cleaning operations
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Individual/household level:
- Data editing took place at two stages: 1. Enumerators visually checked surveys entered before finalizing the survey entry. 2. The consultant analyzing the data for internal reports made visual checks of the data and needed corrections

Organizational level:
- Data was entered automatically (no manual data entry) as the survey was collected through the survey software Kobocollect. Data were visually checked in Excel for structure and completeness and during internal analysis (reports written) for the project. No manual data entry took place. Enumerators saved a draft of each completed survey and visually inspected it for accuracy and completeness before later finalizing it and uploading it to the server.

为支持撒哈拉以南非洲的可持续渔业食品体系和营养，挪威发展合作署（NORAD）向联合国粮农组织（FAO）提供资金支持，以支持在五个国家（塞拉利昂、马拉维、加纳、乌干达、坦桑尼亚）的初步项目活动，重点在于加强女性在小型渔业产后部门的角色。项目进行了基线调查以及女性组织的需求评估和图谱绘制。为捕捉不同利益相关者的信息，开发了三项调查：

- 个人/家庭层面：为该项目进行的基线研究包括针对小型渔业价值链中的女性参与者的拦截调查。调查的目的是了解受访者（即女性）及其家庭在渔业中的参与情况，他们如何获取和消费鱼类，他们的粮食安全和饮食习惯，以及他们在渔业治理和组织中的参与情况。每个国家大约调查了300名女性。本研究是为了对“赋予小型渔业女性可持续食品系统权力”项目进行基线监测和评估。

- 焦点小组讨论：在每个渔获地同时使用其他调查工具进行数据收集的同时，举行了焦点小组讨论。焦点小组讨论的目的是收集定性数据，反映同一渔获地女性对影响她们工作、地位和角色的关键问题的看法。这包括她们对女性歧视或骚扰的看法，她们在决策中的声音和影响渔业治理的能力，性别关系随时间的变化，以及她们获得培训、设施和进行渔业活动所需的资产的情况。本研究是为了对“赋予小型渔业女性可持续食品系统权力”项目进行基线监测和评估。

- 具有政策影响力的个人（在小型渔业部门）：为该项目进行的基线研究包括与政策、项目或其他类似级别部门影响者（例如，政策制定者、政府、项目、在渔业社区从事社会和健康干预措施的非政府组织）的关键知情者访谈。访谈的目的是了解受访者对当地社区饮食和饮食习惯的看法，女性赋权，他们认为存在的或为渔工服务的设施，以及FAO SSF指南的决策层已知情况以及渔业社区能力建设的知识，以及学习和技术变革如何发生。本研究是为了对“赋予小型渔业女性可持续食品系统权力”项目进行基线监测和评估。

- 组织层面：调查的目的是增进对女性在小型渔业中组织情况（或‘映射’）的了解，以及她们当前的组织特征、能力和需求。收集和分析数据，以提出增强女性组织能力并致力于在鱼价值链中实现更大性别平等的建议。调查涵盖了女性小型渔业组织的组织层面特征（即非个人成员）。数据收集涉及一个女性组织的3-5名成员集体回答有关其组织特征的调查问题。调查包括关于小组结构、特征和历史以及价值链参与、会员福利、外部联系和最大需求的问题。

*乌干达的研究将很快出版。

地理覆盖范围
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渔业具有重要意义的沿海地区国家覆盖范围，包括内陆和海洋渔业（如有必要），以及主要和次要水域。选择符合这些标准且代表国家渔业多样性的沿海地区或地区样本（非随机样本）。
分析单元
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个人、家庭、焦点小组、组织

总体
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- 个人/家庭层面：在小型渔业价值链中工作的女性（捕捞、产后加工或贸易）。
- 焦点小组：在小型渔业中工作的女性。
- 具有政策影响力的个人（在小型渔业部门）：渔业部门的政策层面行为者。这包括在渔业、环境或影响渔业社区的社会和性别发展主题中工作的政府和非政府人员。
- 组织层面：正式注册或非正式运营的女性小型渔业组织。这被定义为成员和领导者多数为参与小型渔业活动的女性的组织（无论是捕捞还是产后加工和贸易）。

数据类型
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样本调查数据 [ssd]

抽样程序
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个人/家庭层面：
- 样本量：每个国家300人
- 选择过程：在渔获地、市场和渔村进行拦截调查。
- 分层：按地区和渔获地。每个国家（300人）的调查目标数按所选研究渔获地数量划分。

焦点小组：
- 非随机样本的女性，根据可用性选择参与小型小组的焦点小组讨论。通常在每个地区或地区进行数据收集时，每个地区或地区举行2次焦点小组讨论。

具有政策影响力的个人（在小型渔业部门）：
- 关键知情者访谈的抽样是有意的，选择那些据称了解影响渔业社区的项目感兴趣的相关政策问题的个人（例如，营养、性别问题、领导力、决策）。这些个人是根据国家项目协调员的专家知识以及政府和有影响力的当地领导人的意见确定的。每个国家大约调查了10名关键知情者，每个地区/地区访谈1-3人。

组织层面：
- 每个国家的范围从大约40-60个组织不等。
- 选择过程：此次调查既不是随机样本，也不是分层样本。然而，努力确保调查代表了每个国家以及选定进行调查的地区中的组织。为此，在实施调查之前，使用了有关女性渔业组织的现有信息（例如，登记册、名单、专家知识），并在需要时收集了每个地区女性小型渔业小组的背景数据。在此之后，收集了背景和现有数据，我们使用每个地区或组织中组织的估计人口数。根据这些组织的估计人口数，我们应用了抽样方案（如下所述）以确定每个地区要收集的调查目标数。然而，调查在数据收集时根据当时可用的和可接触的个别组织的机会主义实施。纳入标准。要纳入调查，组织必须满足以下标准：a. 小组被认定为组织，无论是正式注册的还是非正式的。b. 会员多数（超过50%）为女性。c. 女性是组织领导层的积极成员。d. 小组成员的大多数参与捕捞和相关活动，包括捕前、加工和鱼或鱼产品贸易。
- 以下抽样方案适用于一个地区中女性小型渔业小组的估计数量（总是向上取整到整数）：少于7个组织：不抽样（即调查所有小组）；- 8-10个组织：抽样60%；- 11-14个组织：抽样50%；- 15-20个组织：抽样40%；- 超过20个组织：尽可能抽样30%，必要时抽样20%。

抽样偏差
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在组织层面，为调查选择的小组不是随机选择的，而是根据数据收集时的可用性和联系便利性进行选择。

数据收集方式
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面对面 [f2f]，焦点小组 [foc]

研究工具
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个人/家庭层面:
- 使用的问卷：赋予小型渔业女性可持续食品系统权力个人问卷。
- 语言：英语。

焦点小组层面:
- 使用的问卷：赋予小型渔业女性可持续食品系统权力焦点小组讨论问卷。
- 语言：英语。

关键知情者访谈：
- 使用的问卷：基线KII调查
- 语言：英语

组织层面:
- 使用的问卷：映射评估女性SSF组织问卷。
- 语言：英语。
- 问卷设计：问卷是根据在坦桑尼亚进行的先前研究设计的。调查问卷的第一稿在加纳与10个组织进行了测试。然后，问卷还由每个进行数据收集的国家（包括塞拉利昂）的利益相关者进行了审查，并根据需要进行了轻微的修改。

数据清洗操作
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个人/家庭层面:
- 数据编辑发生在两个阶段：1. 记录员在最终完成调查输入之前对输入的表格进行了视觉检查。2. 分析数据的咨询师对数据进行了视觉检查，并进行了必要的更正

组织层面:
- 数据自动输入（没有手动数据输入），因为调查是通过调查软件Kobocollect收集的。数据在Excel中进行了结构性和完整性的视觉检查，并在内部分析（撰写报告）期间进行了项目检查。没有进行手动数据输入。记录员为每个完成的调查保存了草稿，并在最终完成和上传到服务器之前对准确性进行了视觉检查。