Windhoek, Namibia– The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), hosted a workshop on October 15, 2024, to validate the findings of a Training Needs Assessment (TNA) and market assessment for Namibia’s small-scale fisheries (SSF) sector.
Key stakeholders, including fishermen and women, vendors, ministry officials, and representatives of Small-Scale Fisheries Organisations (SSFOs), came together to identify local training priorities and discuss strategies for capacity-building. The workshop focused on addressing post-harvest challenges, particularly those impacting women, and promoting climate-smart handling techniques.
The event forms part of an FAO initiative under the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF Guidelines), endorsed in 2014. Namibia is a beneficiary of the Flexible Voluntary Contribution (FVC) project titled “Implementing the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines for Gender-Equitable and Climate-Resilient Food Systems and Livelihoods,” building on previous efforts funded by SIDA.
Assessments conducted across the Kavango East, Zambezi, Erongo, and //Kharas regions revealed challenges, including high spoilage rates due to inadequate preservation techniques and infrastructure gaps in cold storage and transport. Women, who play a crucial role in fish processing, were found to lack access to adequate training, resources, and market opportunities.
Market barriers such as high transport costs, limited cold storage, and competition from commercial fisheries were also identified. Participants called for improved market linkages, better infrastructure, and governance reforms within SSFOs to support small-scale fishers.
The workshop concluded with consensus on key priorities for future capacity-building, reinforcing Namibia’s commitment to sustainable, climate-resilient fisheries with a focus on gender equity.