Background

• Compared to other areas of the world, the gender characteristics of Caribbean small-scale fisheries (SSF) are poorly documented and gender is not mainstreamed in policy or practice.
• Persistent data and knowledge gaps on gender in SSF, and the lack of sex-disaggregated data and information limit fisheries conservation, management and development in the region.
• It is difficult to assess and compare different gender roles and socioeconomic contributions
• UWI-CERMES and partners conduct applied interdisciplinary research and outreach to better understand and assist with policy and practice concerning gender in Caribbean SSF.
• To do this, a regional Gender in Fisheries Team (GIFT) with a global network was formed in 2016.

Purpose

• The main purpose of GIFT is to support implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) in the 17 member states of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM).
• This is by implementing the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (CCCFP) Protocol on securing sustainable small-scale fisheries for Caribbean Community fisherfolk and societies.
• Within the SSF Guidelines our focus is on Responsible fisheries and sustainable development, sub-section 8 on Gender equality, and we address all aspects of the CCCFP SSF protocol.

Aims
Aims include but are not limited to:

• Review of global gender and SSF literature to inform the GIFT research framework and plans
• Continuous scoping of gender in Caribbean fisheries mainly from a fisherfolk perspective
• Capacity development for and implementation of gender analyses, policies and mainstreaming
• Outputs for communication at conferences and symposia, online and through social media
• Project proposals and engagement on diverse gender topics in order to mobilise resources
• Advice and assistance to partners and others on their gender in fisheries projects and activities
• Communication products mainly to promote gender mainstreaming and gender equality

Scope

• Current GIFT focus is on SSF fisheries value chains and governance arrangements at sub-regional, national and local levels (e.g. households, organisations and individuals).
• Our approach to gender concentrates on livelihoods, adaptive capacity and governance institutions (the GIFT research framework) but can be expanded to other aspects of gender.
• With an ecosystem approach to fisheries, topics such as climate, disasters, poverty, social protection, decent work, food security and other aspects of the SSF Guidelines are relevant.
• GIFT works with members of the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations (CNFO).

Funding
Some core funding is provided by UWI-CERMES but most funding must be through grants from a variety of Caribbean and external sources. Continued partnerships with FAO and others are highly valued. In-kind contributions from interested parties are also much appreciated.
 

17 GIFT focus countries are CRFM and CNFO members

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