Women in the Blue Economy
A situational analysis, key findings, and strategic recommendations on the role of women in the blue economy of East and Southern Africa.
Situational Analysis & Regional Trends
The blue economy, defined as the sustainable use of ocean and inland water resources, is a vital engine for Africa’s growth. Women are crucial contributors but often remain marginalized. They dominate fish processing and trade and are emerging as entrepreneurs in coastal tourism and renewable energy. However, they face structural barriers, including discriminatory norms and limited access to high-value assets like boats, licenses, and credit, risking their exclusion from the benefits of a growing blue economy.
Participation Rates
Action Plan (Research Objectives)
- Map the blue economy sectors in ESA.
- Assess women’s participation rates in employment and entrepreneurship.
- Identify gender gaps, barriers, and climate risks affecting women.
- Review enabling policies, investments, and gender-responsive laws.
- Highlight best practices and scalable models through case studies.
- Recommend targeted policies and programs for stakeholders.
Gender-Responsive Legal & Policy Frameworks
While continental strategies like the AU’s Agenda 2063 mention inclusive growth, gender is often treated as a cross-cutting issue without specific targets. Many national laws lack clauses to protect women’s rights, and their representation in management committees is minimal. However, promising examples like Malawi’s Fisheries Act (2020), which legally reserves seats for women, are emerging.
Infrastructure, Finance & Key Barriers
Women’s progress is limited by a lack of access to credit and essential infrastructure like cold storage, modern processing kits, and safe market spaces. The digital divide also restricts access to market information. Targeted investments in shared facilities (e.g., solar dryers, ice-making machines) and “blue-specific” micro-loans are proving to be effective investment opportunities.
Best Practices from the ESA Region
Technology Adoption
Women’s cooperatives in Kenya and Ghana are using solar-powered dryers and aquaponics to add value and reduce spoilage.
Cooperative Models
Groups that pool resources to buy equipment or form savings groups demonstrate strong collective agency and resilience.
Conservation Livelihoods
In Madagascar and South Africa, women are included in Marine Protected Area management, creating new income via eco-tourism.
Fisheries & Aquaculture
Current Status: Women are 30-40% of the workforce in capture fisheries (mostly shore-based) and 50-70% in post-harvest processing. They make up about a third of aquaculture workers in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Opportunity: Move up the value chain by leveraging technology like solar dryers and cold storage to reduce dependency on brokers and increase profits. There is also potential to formalize and expand their roles in aquaculture pond management and fingerling production.
Post-Harvest Workforce
Women constitute up to 70% of the post-harvest fisheries workforce.
Marine Trade & Coastal Tourism
Current Status: Women dominate local seafood trade, with some markets seeing up to 80% female vendors. In tourism, they run small guesthouses, craft businesses, and cultural tours.
Opportunity: Develop niche, high-value tourism products, such as the women-led dhow-riding cooperative in Zanzibar. Training in marketing, financial literacy, and eco-tourism can help scale their businesses from community-based to formal enterprises.
Seafood Vendors
In some local markets, up to 80% of seafood vendors are women.
Renewable Energy & Blue Technology
Current Status: Women are early adopters of accessible technologies like solar pumps for aquaponics and solar dryers for fish preservation.
Opportunity: Scale successful pilot projects and provide training in digital literacy to help women access e-commerce platforms and market information, overcoming the digital gender gap. Promote women’s entry into technical roles in emerging sectors like marine renewable energy through targeted education.
Institutionalize Gender in Policies
Adopt quotas for women in management bodies and mandate gender impact assessments for all blue economy projects.
Expand Access to Finance & Assets
Develop gender-sensitive financial products and invest in women-centric infrastructure like cold storage.
Build Capacity and Skills
Offer tailored training in technical skills (aquaculture, sustainable fishing) and entrepreneurial skills (financial literacy, marketing).
Promote Climate Resilience
Design adaptation programs that explicitly target coastal women by diversifying their livelihoods and securing tenure.
Leverage Digital Technologies
Implement programs to close the gender digital divide through training and promoting affordable internet access.
Invest in Gender-Disaggregated Data
Support continuous data collection to monitor women’s participation and inform evidence-based policymaking.