Fisheries Co-management And Gender Roles in Lake Victoria Fishing Communities of Busia and Mukono Districts, Uganda

ABSTRACT Women play crucial roles in fisheries, particularly in the processing and marketing. Despite this, women’s knowledge and abilities are overlooked in research and policy making. Therefore a research was conducted to assess the effect of co-management of fisheries on the traditional gender roles at household and community as well as the [ishing roles; obstacles encountered by women in the co-management of fisheries and the coping and transformative strategies; the women’s benefits and empowerment in the co-management of fisheries. A total of 248 of Beach Management Units members in Lake Victoria fishing communities of Majanji in Busia District and Katosi in Mukono District, Uganda were involved and a thorough analysis of secondary information and primary data collected with the help of questionnaire. interviews, observations, and focus group discussions. Key findings proved that under co-management of fisheries, there was evidence of inequality in gender division of labour with women doing more work than men, There is no significant difference in the obstacles faced by either gender in participation in co-management of fisheries. Furthermore, there is a considerable stride towards equity in terms of distribution of benefits of both gender and process clarity in co-management of fisheries. In conclusion, of women in co-management arrangements ensures a gender orientation towards gender equality, equity, empowerment and sustainable development, thus the recommendation to promote gender sensitive policies and further research.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Declaration a

Declaration b 11

Approval sheet III

Dedication IV

Acknowledgement V

Abstract VI

Table of contents VII

List of tables x

List of figures Xl

CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTION - I -

1 .0 Introduction

1. 1. I3ackground Information - 6 -

1.2. Problem Statement - 12 -

1.3. Study Purpose - 12-

1.4. Study Objectives - 12-

1.5. Research Questions - 13-

1.6. StudySignificance - 13-

1.7. Study Scope -13-

1.8. Theoretical Framework - 16 -

CHAPTER TWo -LITERATURE REVIEW - 20 -

2.0 Introduction - 20 -

2.1. The Definition of Management - 20 -

2.2. The Dcfini~ion of Co-Management -21 -

2.3. Co-Management of Fisheries and Gender Roles - 23 -

CIIAPTER THREE -METHODOLOGY -36-

3.0 Research Design - 36 -

3.1. Research Population -36-

3.1.1. SampleSize -36-

3.1.2. Sampling Procedure -37-

3.2. Research Instrument - 38 -

3.2.1. Questionnaire -38-

3.2,2. Key Infbrmani Interviews - 39 -

3.2.3. Participatory Observation -39-

3.2.4. Focus Group Discussions (Fgds) .-40 -

3.3. Validity and Reliability of the Instrument - 40 -

3.31 Validity -40-

3.3.2 Reliability -41 -

3,4 Data Collection Procedure - 42 -

3.5 DataAnalysis -44-

3.6 Limitations of the Study - 44 -

CHAPTER FOUR -PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF

DATA -47-

4.1. Demographic and Socio Economic Characteristics -47-

4.2. Impact of Co-Management of Fisheries on Traditional Gender Roles - 57 -

4.2.1 Gender Roles During Pre-Co-Management of Fisheries - 58 -

4.2.2 Gender Roles During Post-Co-Management of Fisheries - 61 -

4.2.3 Gendered impact on Fishing Roles - 66 -

4.3 Obstacles Encountered in Co-Management of Fisheries - 68 -

4.3.1 Women’s Obstacles -68-

4.3.2 Men’s Obstacles - 70 -

4.3.3 Coping and Transformative Strategies - 72 -

4.4 Women’s Empowerment and Benefits from Co.Managerncnt of Fisheries - 77 -

4.4. I Women’s Benefits - 77 -

4.4.2 Men’s Benefits - 79 -

4.4.3 Bmu Committee Membership - 80 -

4.4.4 Access To And Control Over Fishing Technologies - 81 -

CHAPTER FIVE - FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS -84 -

5.0 Discussion of the Results - 84 -

5.1 Demographic and Socio-Economic Characteristics - 84 -

5.2 Gender Roles in the Fishing Communities - 85 -

5.3 Women’s Obstacles to Participation in Co-Management of Fisheries - 86 -

Benefits Accruing from Co-Management of Fisheries - 88 -

5.5 Conclusion -88 -

5.6 Recommendations - 91 -

References- 97 -

Appendices - 78 -

Appendix 1: Transmittal Letters - 105 -

Appendix 11: Research Instrument - 107 -

Appendix III: Proposed Budget .- 111 -

Appendix IV: Time Frame - 112 -

Appendix V: Registered Members of Brnus in Majanji And Katosi - 113 -

Researchers Curriculum Vitae - 114-

Personal Profile - 114 -

Educational Background - 114 -

Work Experience - 114 -

Other Relevant Data - 11 5