Throughout the past decade, gender issues have been embedded and addressed in various global and regional initiatives related to fisheries, e.g. the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines), the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, the Regional Fisheries Livelihoods Programme for South and Southeast Asia (RFLP) of FAO, among others.
Nevertheless, in order that gender perspectives could be widely mainstreamed into fisheries and aquaculture programs/projects at the regional, national, and local levels, it is becoming necessary that appropriate methods and tools are developed to support the conduct of gender analysis specifically for the small-scale fisheries and aquaculture in the Southeast Asian region.
The development of the “Practical Guide for Gender Analysis in Small-scale Fisheries and Aquaculture in Southeast Asia” actively involved Gender focal points from the AMSs, SEAFDEC Gender Focal Persons, gender experts, and partner organizations during a series of experts consultation workshops organized by SEAFDEC with support from the SEAFDEC-Sweden Project.
This Practical Guide was carefully reviewed by the workshop participants to ensure that gender perspectives in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture of Southeast Asia are properly reflected in the undertaking of future programs and projects that are gender-sensitive and gender-responsive.
This Practical Guide was tested in the field with funding support from FAO before the final publication.