Empowering Women in Small-Scale Fisheries for Sustainable Food Systems 2020-2021
Sierra Leone, 2020 - 2021
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SLE_2020-2021_EWSFSFS_v01_M_v01_A_OCS
Empowering Women in Small-Scale Fisheries for Sustainable Food Systems 2020-2021
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Sierra Leone | SLE |
Agricultural Survey [ag/oth]
- Individual/Household level: The baseline study conducted for this project included individual intercept surveys targeting women as actors in small-scale fisheries value chains. The purpose of the survey was to understand both the individual respondent (i.e., the woman) and her household's involvement in fisheries, how they acquire and consume fish, their experiences of food security and dietary practices, and participation in fisheries governance and organizations. Approxtaimely 300 women were surveyed per country. This study was conducted for baseline monitoring and evaluation of the project “Empowering women in small-scale fisheries for sustainable food systems”.
- Focus group discussions: Focus group discussions were held in each landing site alongside data collection using other survey instruments. The purpose of the focus group discussions was to elicit qualitative data reflecting the opinions of women from the same fish landing sites on key issues affecting their work, status, and roles in the sector. This included their opinions of discrimination or harassment against women, their voice in decision-making and ability to influence fisheries governance, changes in gender relations over time, and their access to training, facilities, and assets needed to conduct their fisheries activities. This study was conducted for baseline monitoring and evaluation of the project “Empowering women in small-scale fisheries for sustainable food systems”.
- Individuals (with policy-level influence in the small-scale fishing sector): The baseline study conducted for this project included key informant interviews with those in policy, programme, or other similar levels of sector influence (e.g., Policy Makers, Government, Projects, Programmes working on social and health interventions in fishing communities). The purpose of the key informant interviews was to understand the opinion of respondents on local the diet and eating patterns of the community, women's empowerment, facilities they believe exist at or are in place and serve fish workers. In addition, the questions sought to gain an understanding of what is already known at decision-making levels of the FAO SSF Guidelines and knowledge of fishing community's capacity building needs and how learning and technological change occurs. This study was conducted for baseline monitoring and evaluation of the project "Empowering women in small-scale fisheries for sustainable food systems".
- Organizational level: The purpose of the survey is to enhance understanding of where women are organized in small-scale fisheries (or 'map' them both geographically and within the value chain) and what their present organizational characteristics, capacities, and needs are. Data were collected and analyzed to recommend interventions to enhance women’s organizational capacities and to work towards greater gender equality in fish value chains. The survey covers organizational-level characteristics (i.e., not individual members) of women’s small-scale fishery organizations (defined as formal or informal organizations whose members and leaders are majority women who work in the small-scale fishing sector). Data collection entailed 3-5 members of one women’s organization meeting and collectively answering the survey questions regarding the characteristics of their organization. The survey included questions about group structure, characteristics, and history as well as participation in the value chain, membership benefits, external linkages, and greatest needs.
Sample survey data [ssd]
Individuals, Households, Focus Groups, Organizations
Scope
The individual-level survey uses a semi-structured survey instrument that includes:
- Profile of their household’s characteristics
- Participation in fisheries activities (individual and household)
- Fisheries assets owned
- Roles in household decision-making around fish-related activities
- Experience with food insecurity
- Types of foods consumed
- Post-harvest processing procedures
- Participation in fisheries governance and organizations
- Gender attitudes about work and decision-making in fisheries and the household.
The focus group discussion survey instrument covered the following topics:
- Diet, foods eaten
- Activities in SSF
- Gender-based discrimination
- Empowerment and voice in decision-making
- Changes in gender relations over time
- Access to assets through facilities at landing and marketing sites
- Female-led organizations
- Capacity building received or areas felt to be important.
The key informant interview uses a semi-structured survey instrument that includes:
- Profile of the respondent's position and knowledge of gender issues and policy in fisheries
- Assessment of local diet and food access issues
- Roles in household decision-making around fish-related activities
- Access to productive assets in fishing
- Access to fisheries extensions services
- Post-harvest processing procedures
- Women's fisheries organizations
- The respondent's personal gender attitudes about work and decision-making in fisheries and the household.
The scope of the Mapping Assessment of Women's Small-scale Fisheries Organizations covers the following organizational characteristics:
- Group structure location and structure: registration status and location, type of organizations, water body type, administrative structures in place
- Group age and stage of activity: Year group formed, history of group formation, level of activity
- Rules: Presence of different internal rules
- Group characteristics: size, gender ratio, level of participation
- Internal communication and meetings: information sharing, frequency and types of meetings
- Assets: Types of fisheries assets owned
- Value chain activities: Activities in pre-harvest, harvesting, and post-harvest processing and trade
- Post-harvest processing: Fish drying methods and related challenges
- Finances: Sources of internal funding, grants received
- Membership benefits, group strengths and barriers to success: types of member benefits, self-reported strengths, and barriers to success
- External linkages: Linkages to other women’s groups and to the government
- Participation in fisheries governance: Participation in formal governance activities and access to extension services
- Training: Types of technical training received
- Greatest needs: Self-reported greatest need to increase group’s capacity to do their work
Coverage
National coverage of coastal areas of high importance to fisheries, including both inland and marine fisheries (where relevant) and both major and minor water bodies. A sample of coastal regions or districts that met these criteria and represented the diversity of fisheries in the country was chosen (non-random sample).
- Individual/Household level: Women who work in small-scale fishing value chains (harvest, post-harvest processing or trade).
- Focus groups: Women who work in small-scale fisheries.
- Individuals (with policy-level influence in the small-scale fishing sector): Policy-level actors in the fishing sector. This includes government and non-governmental personnel working in fisheries, environment, or gender and development themes that impact fishing communities.
- Organizational level: Women's small-scale fisheries organizations, whether formally registered or informally operating. This was defined as an organization whose members and leaders are majority women engaged in small-scale fisheries activities (whether harvesting or post-harvest processing and trade).
Producers and sponsors
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Nicole Franz | Food and Agriculture Organization |
| Lena Westlund | Food and Agriculture Organization |
| Molly Ahern | Food and Agriculture Organization |
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Schoen | FAO consultant | Designed original questionnaire |
| Richard Kandongola | FAO consultant | Revised survey design |
| Hillary Smith | FAO consultant | Designed Organizational Mapping questionnaire |
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation | funder |
Sampling
Individual/household level:
- Sample size: 300 individuals per country
- Selection process: Surveys were conducted as intercept surveys at fish landing sites, markets and within fishing communities.
- Stratification: By district and landing site. The target number of surveys per country (300) was divided by the number of landing sites chosen for the study.
Focus groups:
- Non-random sample of women chosen opportunistically (based on availability) to participate in a small group, focus group discussions. Typically 2 focus group discussions were held in each district or region where data collection occurred for the larger, baseline assessment of the project.
Individuals (with policy-level influence in the small-scale fishing sector):
- Survey sampling for key informant interviews was purposive, selecting individuals who were known to be knowledgeable about relevant policy issues impacting fishing communities that were of interest to the project (e.g., nutrition, gender issues, leadership, decision-making). These individuals were identified based on the expert knowledge of the National Project Coordinator with input from the government and influential local leaders. Approximately 10 key informants were surveyed per country, with 1-3 individuals interviewed per district/region.
Organizational level:
- Varied by country, ranging from approximately 40-60 organizations.
- Selection Process: This survey was not a random sample or stratified sample of organizations. However, efforts were made to ensure the survey was representative of organizations in each country and the districts chosen for surveying. To ensure this, prior to implementing the survey a combination of existing information on women's fisheries organizations was used (e.g., registries, lists, expert knowledge), and where needed, background data was collected on the number of women's small-scale fisheries groups in each district. After this, background and existing data were collected, we used this estimate of the population or organizations in each district. Based on these estimates of the population of organizations, we applied the sampling protocol (described below) to determine the target number of surveys to be collected in each district. However, surveys were implemented opportunistically in the field with individual organizations that were available and accessible at the time of data collection. Inclusion criteria. To be included in the survey, organizations had to meet the following criteria: a. The group identifies as an organization, either formally registered or informal. b. Membership is majority (more than 50 percent) women. c. Women are an active part of the organization's leadership. d. The majority of group members are engaged in capture fishing and related activities including pre-harvest, processing, and trade of fish or fish products.
- The following sampling protocol was applied to the estimated number of women's small-scale fisheries groups in a district (always rounding up to a whole number): Fewer than 7 organizations: do not sample (i.e. survey all groups); - 8-10 organizations: sample 60 percent; - 11-14 organizations: sample 50 percent; - 15-20 organizations: sample 40 percent; - More than 20 organizations: sample 30 percent where possible, 20 percent as needed.
At the organizational level, the individual groups selected for the survey were not chosen randomly, instead, they were chosen for interviews based on their availability at the time of data collection and ease of contact.
None
Survey instrument
Individual/Household level:
- Questionnaire used: Empowering Women in Small Scale Fisheries for Sustainable Food Systems Individual Questionnaire.
- Language: English.
Focus Groups level:
- Questionnaire used: Empowering Women in Small Scale Fisheries for Sustainable Food Systems Focus Groups Discussions Questionnaire.
- Language: English.
Key Informants Interview:
- Questionnaire used: Baseline KII survey
- Language: English
Organizational level:
- Questionnaire used: Questionnaire Mapping Assessment Women's ssf Organizations.
- Language: English.
- Questionnaire Design: The questionnaire was designed based on earlier studies conducted in Tanzania. The first draft of the survey was tested in Ghana with 10 organizations. Then the questionnaire was also reviewed by stakeholders in each country where data collection took place (including Sierra Leone) and minor changes were made as needed.
Data collection
| Start | End | Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-09-01 | 2021-02-01 | Baseline - Key Informants Interview |
| 2020-09-20 | 2021-01-21 | Baseline survey |
| 2021-02-26 | 2021-03-15 | Mapping Assessment |
- Face-to-face [f2f], Focus Group [foc]
Individual/Household level: All enumerators were trained at either an in-person training (led by the National Project Coordinator) or trained remotely over Zoom by an FAO consultant with in-person checks on training (i.e., ability to navigate survey software on mobile devices) before heading to the field for data collection. Enumerator teams collected data in each district or region. Interviews averaged 1-hour.
Focus Groups: All enumerators were trained at either an in-person training (led by the National Project Coordinator) or trained remotely over Zoom by an FAO consultant with in-person checks on training (i.e., ability to navigate survey software on mobile devices) before heading to the field for data collection. Enumerator teams collected data in each district or region. Interviews averaged 1-hour. Focus group questionnaires were in English, and responses were recorded in English although discussions typically took place in local languages. Focus groups were facilitated with approximately 10 participants by two trained enumerators, one asking questions and the other recording responses using a mobile device and the survey software application KoboCollect. Focus groups took between 1-2 hours.
Organizational level: Data was collected by a team of 14 trained enumerators with overall fieldwork coordination provided by the National Project Coordinator. Enumerators were trained through in-person training on how to use the survey software and were virtually trained (via Zoom) on the survey instrument and protocols for data collection. Each survey was conducted by one trained enumerator using a smartphone and the survey software Kobotoolbox to record responses. The survey format is a focus group discussion with 5-10 members of the same women’s organization. However, the survey was designed with mostly closed-style questions (e.g., multiple-choice to select all) to capture the characteristics of the group. Surveys were conducted in the local language but recorded in English. Each survey/Focus Group took 1-2 hours to complete. Pilot surveys were conducted in Tanzania and Ghana prior to data collection in other countries. During enumerator and National Project Coordinator training in each country, feedback was provided on minor changes to be made to the survey (e.g., regarding the language used or exhaustiveness of response options) to fit the national context in each country prior to data collection.
Data processing
Individual/household level:
- Data editing took place at two stages: 1. Enumerators visually checked surveys entered before finalizing the survey entry. 2. The consultant analyzing the data for internal reports made visual checks of the data and needed corrections
Organizational level:
- Data was entered automatically (no manual data entry) as the survey was collected through the survey software Kobocollect. Data were visually checked in Excel for structure and completeness and during internal analysis (reports written) for the project. No manual data entry took place. Enumerators saved a draft of each completed survey and visually inspected it for accuracy and completeness before later finalizing it and uploading it to the server.
Data Access
| Is signing of a confidentiality declaration required? | Confidentiality declaration text |
|---|---|
| yes | The users shall not take any action with the purpose of identifying any individual entity (i.e. person, household, enterprise, etc.) in the micro dataset(s). If such a disclosure is made inadvertently, no use will be made of the information, and it will be reported immediately to FAO. |
Micro datasets disseminated by FAO shall only be allowed for research and statistical purposes. Any user which requests access working for a commercial company will not be granted access to any micro dataset regardless of their specified purpose. Users requesting access to any datasets must agree to the following minimal conditions:
- The micro dataset will only be used for statistical and/or research purposes;
- Any results derived from the micro dataset will be used solely for reporting aggregated information, and not for any specific individual entities or data subjects;
- The users shall not take any action with the purpose of identifying any individual entity (i.e. person, household, enterprise, etc.) in the micro dataset(s). If such a disclosure is made inadvertently, no use will be made of the information, and it will be reported immediately to FAO;
- The micro dataset cannot be re-disseminated by users or shared with anyone other than the individuals that are granted access to the micro dataset by FAO.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. A Baseline Assessment for the FAO - Norad funded project 'Empowering Women in Small-Scale Fisheries for Sustainable Food Systems', 2020-2021: Sierra Leone. Dataset downloaded from https://microdata.fao.org.
Disclaimer and copyrights
The user of the data acknowledges that the original collector of the data, the authorized distributor of the data, and the relevant funding agency bear no responsibility for use of the data or for interpretations or inferences based upon such uses.
Contacts
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Molly Ahern | Food and Agriculture Organization | molly.ahern@fao.org |
| Nicole Franz | Food and Agriculture Organization | nicole.franz@fao.org |
Metadata production
DDI_SLE_2020-2021_EWSFSFS_v01_M_v01_A_OCS
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Hillary Smith | Food and Agriculture Organization | Metadata producer |
| Office of Chief Statistician | Food and Agriculture Organization | Metadata adapted for FAM |
| Development Economics Data Group | The World Bank | Metadata adapted for World Bank Microdata Library |
2023-03-16
Metadata version
Version 01 (March 2023): This metadata was downloaded from the FAO website (https://microdata.fao.org/index.php/catalog) and it is identical to FAO version (SLE_2020-2021_EWSFSFS_v01_EN_M_v01_A_OCS). The following two metadata fields were edited - Document ID and Survey ID.