Empowerment of women in post-harvest fisheries for livelihood enhancement

Liberia

Women are key players in Liberia fisheries sector, particularly in the post-harvest part of the value chain, where there is a need for financial support. In this regard, it is envisaged that an OPEC Fund grant can be used to establish new women-owned businesses by providing financial and technical support. This will include climate-smart interventions in improved fish smoking and drying technologies, enhanced fish packaging to enhance shelf-life, as well as various interventions related to the improvement of sanitary and hygiene conditions targeted for women and children. These interventions will be complemented through training and demonstration in adopting climate-smart practices, including the use of energy-efficient equipment such as solar powered cold storage for better product handling, especially in fish smoking and drying, as well as market-based sustainability approaches to enhance business growth.