Gender roles in fishery planning and projects. The case study of coast region in Tanzania

Abstract

Women play crucial roles in fisheries, particularly on the post harvest level. Despite this, they are noticeably absent from the discussion of many development programmes in fisheries. The focus is mainly on the needs and interests of men, neglecting women. Women are hardly involved in the planning and decision making or in the implementation and management of the projects. Therefore this study examined the importance of involving both women and men equally during planning of the fishery projects. The study tried to relate to different theories on women in development (WID), gender and development (GAD) and women, environment and alternative development (WED). A total of 88 persons in connection with Mbegani Fisheries Development Centre (Mbegani FDC), Mafia Island Marine Park (MIMP) and with people in villages where these institutions have been involved: Mlingotini and Bagamoyo nearby Mbegani FDC and Juani and Jibondo at Mafia. The findings show that the involvement of women and men in the planning of the projects varied. At Mbegani FDC a female orientation has been weak and women’s participation in planning have been lacking from the very beginning and until to day. The same can be said about the projects in Bagamoyo and Mlingotini although the projects were aimed at women and sometimes both at men and women. However, women have participated in the implementation processes. In the projects related to MIMP, women have been integrated in the planning process from the very beginning and at all levels as a result of planned actions. Women are members in steering committees and leaders of their groups. There is a special gender officer in the MIMP structure as well as in the villages. Women have also been well trained. In this way their income generating projects are successful and reflect the sustainability of the resources. Some of the women have also involved themselves in other kind of development activities. I have therefore concluded that awareness of women’s needs and participation of women and men in the planning process seem crucial for the success of the fisheries projects.