Out of the estimated 600 million small-scale fishers and fish workers worldwide—most of them in developing countries—almost 50 percent are women.
(FAO State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022)
We are pleased to bring you our first gender-focused newsletter from WorldFish, under our Social and Economic Inclusion Impact Area.
Our work aims toward ending hunger, malnutrition and discrimination, and empowering women, youth, and Indigenous and marginalized communities whose livelihoods depend on food, land and water systems to control their futures.
Our research is focused along six overarching pathways to ensure gains in aquatic food systems are equitable and inclusive:
Use of disaggregated data and building related capacities of researchers to inform policies
Inclusivity and responsiveness of innovations (technological, social, financial and institutional)
Inclusivity and equity in governance of land and water resources at different levels
Building resilience and adaptive capacities to climate change and other shocks and stresses
Addressing underlying structural barriers through gender transformative approaches
Job creation in the fisheries and blue economy sector for women, youth and marginalized individuals
To scale our impact, we work through strategic collaborations between researchers, research institutions, governments, civil society, development agencies, private sector actors and, most importantly, the communities. We produce scientific data and publications, conduct training workshops and engage in capacity building, widely communicating our work with aims of increasing scientific skills, realizing improved inclusive policies, informing public discourse and increasing investment in this high-impact area.
Our team includes nine researchers embedded in WorldFish’s country programs in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Egypt, India, Kenya, Timor Leste and Zambia, along with three PhD students at international research institutions. The WorldFish Gender team also works with gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) researchers and gender focal points across all CGIAR centers, a collaboration that recently launched the CGIAR Accelerator on Gender Equality and Inclusion as a key part of the CGIAR 2025–2030 research portfolio.
Through this newsletter, we aim to spotlight our work, findings and field stories and deepen engagement with the global wider community working at the intersection of food systems, aquatic foods, climate change and the environment.
Join us in advancing a future where all people—regardless of gender or social/economic status—can thrive on a just and resilient blue planet!
– Rahma Adam, Senior Scientist and Social & Economic Inclusion Impact Area Lead, WorldFish
Fostering a network of gender-aware professionals in Africa
WorldFish- and ILRI-led gender training during the Gender, One Health, Safeguarding, and Human Rights Principles Workshop at icipe, Nairobi. Some 200 participants reflected in small groups on gender roles across different agrifood systems, sharing experiences and perspectives from their own communities and areas of work. Photos: icipe
Egypt: Solar-powered coolers – a game changer for women fish retailers
By Menna Mosbah
Over the past several months, the WorldFish Egypt country program has integrated GESI as a cross-cutting priority across its aquaculture and climate resilience initiatives, driving progress in women’s empowerment, inclusive policy development and sustainable energy adoption. A standout innovation this year is the use of solar-powered coolers as part of the Center for Renewable Energy in Aquaculture (CeREA) project to address climate and market challenges that women fish vendors face in Egypt.
A group of women fish vendors seliing fish at a local market in Shakshouk village, Fayoum, Egypt. Photo by Mahmoud Rashad/ WorldFish.
The team conducted surveys and discussions with women retailers and vendors in Shakshouk village in Fayoum, and Riyadh village in Kafr El Sheik, to inform the design of the solar-powered cooler to ensure their adoption. Photo: WorldFish
The project launched three solar-powered cooler models as a pilot, so women can refrigerate their fish as they transport them. These coolers provide mobility between markets and reduce fish spoilage from high temperatures, strengthening women’s economic autonomy while reducing carbon emissions. Through the project, women fish retailers were trained on the use of the technology, with a focus on equipment maintenance and energy monitoring. The models were co-designed based on the women’s needs as identified in a GESI baseline study. A publication on the study is forthcoming.
Bangladesh: A Gender-transformative shift in coastal communities
By Sharmin Rezwana
Women produce dry fish for income generation. Photo: Dilruba Sharmin/WorldFish
Blue Guards collect ghost nets from the beach. Photo: WorldFish
WorldFish and Bangladesh’s Department of Fisheries led Enhanced Coastal Fisheries in Bangladesh II (ECOFISH II) from 2019 to 2024 to strengthen the resilience of coastal fisheries while promoting gender-inclusive development and women’s empowerment. The project mobilized 6,558 women into structured community groups and supported 15,010 households to build sustainable and adaptive livelihoods. Women, although central to coastal food security and labor, have historically lacked visibility and access to institutional support. ECOFISH II sought to remedy this with inclusive platforms for women’s engagement, leadership and entrepreneurship. A key innovation was the integration of GESI into all components, from fisheries conservation to livelihood development.
A WING member talks about the importance of different service providers for income-generating activities at a Women’s Congress. Photo: WorldFish
The formation of 222 Women Income and Nutrition Groups (WING) and community savings groups exemplifies this innovation. The groups didn’t just raise income; they fostered social capital and collective agency, and served as platforms for women’s leadership and influence in household decision-making. The project trained 517 WING leaders in organizational management, leadership and advocacy, and Women’s Congresses brought 610 women from coastal communities together to network, access government services and celebrate their achievements.
Meanwhile, 48 women have shifted household dynamics and gender roles by becoming community volunteers and service providers, promoting diversified livelihood practices such as poultry rearing, goat farming, homestead gardening and small enterprise development. Another ECOFISH II component, the Blue Guard initiative, mobilized 140 youth (20% young women) for beach clean-up and plastic waste collection; they removed over 36 metric tons of debris while cultivating environmental awareness and inclusive leadership.
India: Bridging the gap between science and communities on aquatic food systems
By Baishnaba Charan Ratha
The training emphasized the importance of dietary diversity and fair distribution of food within households, highlighting nutritional needs for women and children. Photo: WorldFish
Through the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the Government of India launched an intensive nationwide farmer outreach program between 29 May and 12 June 2025. The campaign focused on bridging the gap between science and rural communities by ensuring the last-mile delivery of agricultural and fisheries schemes, building gender-sensitive aquaculture and scope for livelihoods, promoting innovation and supporting inclusive development. WorldFish participated in the campaign by delivering training sessions and outreach materials in local languages, reaching 7,449 farmers, including 2,371 women, from 110 villages.
Training sessions disseminated knowledge on government fisheries schemes offering financial assistance, infrastructure development, modern technology, welfare measures for fishermen and nutrition awareness. The nutrition awareness component emphasized the importance of small fish as an affordable and nutrient-rich food to combat anemia and malnutrition. This initiative demonstrated how multi-stakeholder collaboration and outreach backed by research can effectively contribute to building the capacity of aquatic communities. It also underlined the importance of production efficiency, resilience, nutritional gains and sustainability in agriculture and allied sectors.
Timor Leste: Maria becomes her community’s mentor
By Ana Pinto da Silva
Maria Gusmao, a beneficiary of the IKAN Adapt project in Timor Leste. Photo: WorldFish
Tilapia farmed and harvested by Maria Gusmao. Photo: WorldFish
Maria Gusmão is a beneficiary of the WorldFish’s IKAN Adapt project in Liurai village, Aileu. Since the death of her husband two years ago, she has independently managed all decision-making and labor division for her aquaculture and other livelihood activities. Maria credits the WorldFish/IKAN Adapt project for providing technical training on fish farming in her village, and in turn contributing to her family’s food security and income generation. Successfully harvesting and selling monosex tilapia directly from her home has generated more than $250 dollars of income to date. The success of the enterprise has also empowered her to challenge unequal treatment, particularly given her status as a widow within her husband’s family.
Beyond the financial gains from better fish farming, Maria highlights the program’s positive contribution to tackling gender inequality. She observes that men in her community typically hold decision-making power, often to the detriment of their families. She values, therefore, the program’s support for women and especially for vulnerable women like herself. She has observed a positive ripple effect within the community, with initial skepticism transforming into recognition of the program’s income-generating potential. When she has been approached by other women seeking information and assistance, she has shared technical knowledge, encouraging them to pursue similar activities. The rapid growth and quick harvest time of monosex tilapia, a key aspect of the training, have particularly attracted other women to this type of fish farming.
Solomon Islands: Disability inclusion in the coastal fisheries sector
By Florence Sipalla
Workshop participants discuss disability inclusion in coastal fisheries management in Solomon Islands. Photo: Janet Saeni-Oeta/WorldFish
In a quest to fully embrace the inclusion criteria in their work, the WorldFish GESI team has sought to understand disability in the coastal fisheries management sector in Solomon Islands. The team therefore held a workshop focused on integrating disability inclusion into coastal fisheries management. Noting that progress has been made toward recognizing women’s needs through the draft GESI strategy of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, both WorldFish and the Ministry agreed that efforts need to be made to include people with disabilities.
The workshop was organized by these partners alongside People with Disabilities Solomon Islands, with participants drawn from national fisheries agencies, local organizations and community leaders. The participants discussed policy, best practices and shared examples of case studies from other sectors to enhance learning on disability-inclusive messaging and programming. They also identified systemic barriers such as data gaps and communication issues that need to be addressed. These and other insights from the workshop were published in the Pacific Community Fisheries Newsletter for January–April 2025.
Bangladesh: Equality and inclusion in Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture
WorldFish Bangladesh is advancing GESI within Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems under the Asia–Africa BlueTech Superhighway project, the future of regenerative aquatic food systems. Through a training-of-trainers workshop, project staff learnt the importance of actively engaging women and youth across the IMTA value chain, including cage preparation, seaweed and green mussel cultivation, processing, marketing and entrepreneurship. Through gender sensitization, staff were encouraged to foster support for women’s meaningful involvement in activities. These efforts aim to build a more equitable and resilient IMTA system that benefits all community members.
Policy Engagement and Development
Development of the Homa Bay fisheries and aquaculture policy in Kenya
WorldFish is working with the Homa Bay County government to develop their fisheries and aquaculture policy with a gender-sensitive lens. Public participation took place in August 2025, paving the way for a local milestone that may also become a model for transformation in other counties. If successfully implemented, it can unlock Homa Bay’s latent potential to generate more income, jobs and food security, particularly for youth and women, while reducing pressure on overexploited wild stocks in Lake Victoria.
Multi-stakeholder workshop to discuss the draft aquaculture and fisheries policy for Homa Bay County. Photo: WorldFish
Policy engagement in Egypt’s gender strategy for aquatic conservation
National consultative workshop on development and deliberating a strategy for mainstreaming gender in aquatic biodiversity conservation and integrated environmental management in Egypt. Photo: LFRPDA.
WorldFish supported the Lakes and Fisheries Resources Development Agency (LFRPDA) in drafting Egypt’s first national gender strategy for aquatic biodiversity conservation and environmental management, led by the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR). The draft will undergo validation in late 2025.
New Studies and Publications
Gender-responsive pathways to women and youth livelihoods in coastal Kenya
By Sara Bonilla Anariba and Rahma Adam
As part of the Asia–Africa BlueTech Superhighway project, WorldFish conducted a study in March 2025 to explore how aquaculture can contribute to sustainable livelihoods for women and youth in Kenya’s coastal counties. Specifically, this study took place in the coastal counties of Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa, where youth unemployment and underemployment remain a pressing challenge. It focused on Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), which involves the co-cultivation of fish, shellfish and seaweed in interconnected systems, where waste from one species supports the growth of another. The research findings highlight the importance of integrating gender considerations into the design of IMTA systems. (Read more)
Participants in a focus group discussion share their collective experiences, priorities and recommendations for increasing women’s involvement in IMTA-related livelihoods. Photo: L. Anzazi/WorldFish
Unveiling gender dynamics and disparities in the aquaculture value chain: Evidence from Ogun and Delta States, Nigeria
By Florence Sipalla
In this recent publication, Rahma Adam et al. share research findings on the gender dynamics in the aquaculture value chain in Ogun and Delta States in Nigeria. The researchers obtained data by collecting quantitative and qualitative datasets in households and communities, and used these to map gender roles, levels of engagement and benefits that men and women gain from their involvement in the aquaculture value chain. The study provides new insights into the gender dynamics which are important for different actors in the aquaculture food systems to take into consideration as they engage in research, policy formulation and funding endeavors in the sector. These include systemic barriers and gender disparities in asset ownership and wages across the value chain.
Exploring drowning prevention and barriers hindering women and girls from acquiring swimming skills in Zanzibar
By Shanali Pethiyagoda
Zanzibari women seaweed farmers participating in drowning prevention safety training. Photo: Shanali Pethiyagoda/ University of East Anglia
Zanzibari female farmers preparing deepwater seaweed farms. Photo: Shanali Pethiyagoda/ University of East Anglia
Zanzibari coastal communities experience high rates of drowning, with women and girls particularly at risk. There are gender norms around women knowing how to, and being allowed to, swim. Despite women having indicated a strong willingness to acquire swimming skills, women who can swim remain an exception in the archipelago. Having girls and women learn to swim would contribute to drowning prevention and open employment opportunities in fisheries and tourism. Swimming is also an important skill that allows them to participate in more climate-resilient seaweed production methods such as deepwater seaweed farming. Through the Exploring Behavioural Economics to Advance Women’s Participation in Climate-resilient Seaweed Production (BEACON) project, researchers have engaged local leaders and community members in a quest to get better insights on the issue.
Data collection was conducted from January to April 2025, and was implemented in collaboration with a local partner, the Milele Zanzibar Foundation. Data analysis is ongoing, and the research findings will be communicated once this is finalized.
Enhancing women’s empowerment and climate-adaptive capacities in aquaculture in climate hotspots in Zambia
By Netsayi Mudege
Aquaculture is crucial for food security, income and employment in sub-Saharan Africa. However, gender inequalities hinder women’s agency and climate-adaptive capacities in this sector. Women often face limited access to productive assets and climate-smart technologies and experience restrictive social norms. These constraints result in gendered divisions of labor, inequitable benefit distribution and disparities in resource access and power within the aquaculture value chain. Climate change affects water quality and fish health, posing economic challenges to communities that rely on aquaculture and exacerbating gender inequalities. This study explores whether addressing gender constraints in aquaculture can enhance women’s empowerment and climate-adaptive capacities. Qualitative insights emphasize the importance of women role models and of cooperatives to improve access to land as well as the challenges of gendered roles in control of resources and in decision-making.
Fish fry counting in Zambia. Photo: Agness Chileya/WorldFish
Gender inclusion and the challenges of women’s participation in decentralized food system governance at the district level in Cambodia
By Raksa Sok
WorldFish conducted this study as part of the CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas, now under the Scaling for Impact Program. It explored systemic issues in districts of Prey Veng and Kampong Thom provinces and an innovative pilot promoting decentralized food system governance. The pilot revealed structural challenges preventing women’s participation, such as patriarchal systems, gender stereotypes, lack of agency, insufficient policy implementation and inadequate data. Initial steps can make change more effective and sustainable, supporting other, more visible changes in the longer term. These include identifying women with potential to participate in governance; holding discussions on gender in meetings; including women as household representatives, with a focus on domestic water management; monitoring progress in gender participation; and holding workshops focusing on soft skills, food system knowledge and economic activities. (Read more)
A woman leader from Samkhuy Village participates in a community-led fisheries management session under the Mekong Fisheries Conservation II project. Photo: WorldFish