As part of the way forward, the adoption of integrated fisheries lake management as an inclusive management regime brings together multiple sectors to coordinate planning and inclusion of informal citizens (women). It uses Uganda's experience in fisheries lake management implementing diversity of power, influence, and assets, and the ability to challenge institutional arrangements that obstruct equal access to the advantages of fisheries resources. To enhance access and empower the participation of women fisherfolks.
Problems and Purpose
The study focuses on the failure to attend to the disparities among communities and how resource management variances influence local politics and strategic interaction—contributing to the notion of the local fisheries community tending to exclude the participation of women. Furthermore, the dominance of particular groups, a lack of accountability, and a failure to define what support and capacity building is required to facilitate women's participation in fisheries have left women with little means to exercise agency and participation [1]. The purpose of utilizing women in integrated lake management is to provide agency over the participation process; negative effects may be identified and, hopefully, reduced in specific communities. The main purpose of women’s participation in integrated lake management is to guide and ensure that women are able to hold accountability, transparency, and effectiveness; allowing themselves to monitor the functioning of organizations in which they are represented is considered critical.
Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities
The Government of Uganda organized and supported the integrated approach to lake management, founded based on fisheries management [2]. The Department for International Development funded the project of ‘Integrated Lake Management’ in Uganda with the formation of community-based Beach Management Units (BMU) [2]. In terms of support planning, all relevant groups and sectors have enabled plans to feed into the local government’s development processes to prioritize and coordinate coherent frameworks.
Participant Recruitment and Selection
Participant selection was based on Lake Kyoga in central Uganda and Lake George in the southwest. This initiative was open to all, however significant attention was given to marginalized groups such as women fisherfolk. Integration of participation involved local management peoples in forming Lake Management Organisations (LMOs) [2]. Organizers relied on local outreach networks to ensure the participation and cooperation of all groups. The selection of these local networks was based on focuses and various perspectives on the several social and natural resource challenges present.
What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation
Public participation was based on multiple interests and sectors being mobilized in new structures to change institutional arrangements, which usually prevent the participation of women in decision-making[1]. The engagement of women's participation in these new structures recognized and reflected the range of interests, power, and influence within and within community stakeholder groups, empowering the marginalized to assert their rights through existing and modified institutions. Women were able to benefit from the integrated lake management approach, enabling them to develop essential processes to use and challenge institutions[1]. However, Gabungas (traditional leaders) interactions that were not democratically elected and had no legal mandate tended to exclude more marginalized members, predominantly women from fisheries activities[1]. This indirect approach that challenges women's empowerment called for the formal recommendation of claiming their own rights of participation in changing new institutions to become more effective. Thus, the results that were communicated to a wider audience entailed moving away from decentralized management and leadership to partnerships with communities to women fisherfolk having better access to and control over fisheries resources.
Influence, Outcomes, and Effects
Men used to dominate Uganda's fisheries sector, which was primarily involved in fishing activities and management systems. Women were not allowed to go fishing since it was deemed illicit. Women worked in the fish processing industry, and some women even owned boats and hired men to crew them. The integrated lake management initiative had a significant impact on the participation and empowerment of underprivileged women. As a result of the legislation, women now make up 30% of the positions on beach management unit committees. Women were therefore empowered, having more say in decision-making, being able to speak out on gender equality issues, and having better access to boat licenses and, as a result, higher salaries[3]. Overall, the participation of Uganda’s fisheries women in integrated lake management further strengthened the voices of fisheries communities to become engaged in negotiations with development partners and state governments.
References
[1] Nunan, F. (2006). Empowerment and institutions: Managing fisheries in Uganda. World Development, 34(7), 1316–1332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2005.11.016
[2] Nunan, F. (2007). Managing lakes in Uganda: Integration through policies, structures and plans. Water Policy, 9(3), 253–269. https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2007.011
[3] A review of Women’s access to fish in small-scale fisheries. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2022, from https://www.fao.org/3/i4884e/i4884e.pdf