Organizational Background
Somalia Women Fisheries Association “SOWFA”, Is A Non-Profit And Non-State Actor For
Women Fisheries Organization Founded In 2020 After Several Consecutive Meeting And
Discussions Among Its Founding Members With The Consultation Of The Somali Federal
Ministry Of Fisheries And Marine Resource. SOFWA Is Targeted To Improve The Livelihood
And Develop Economic Condition Of Somali Women And Youth Working In The Fisheries
And Aquaculture Sector Value Chain. SOFWA Is Committed To Advance Sustainable
Economic Resilience And Development For Youth And Women Through Gender Fisheries
Empowerment In The Whole Nationwide Of Somalia.
SOFWA Vision Statement
Our Vision Is To Empower And Improve The Livelihoods Of Somalia Women And Youth
Through Capacitating Fishing Skills And Value Adding Techniques In Order To Enhance The
Living-Standard And Economic Resilience For Both Somali Women And Youth Involving The
Blue Sector.
SOFWA Mission Statement
To Create A More Developed Economic Stability And Maintain Opportunities For QualityOriented Women And Youth Fisheries Through Participating In And Providing The
Maximum Benefits To Better Engage With Producing The Highest Quality Seafood Product.
SOFWA – Objectives
- Improving The Livelihoods And Food Security For The Targeted Group Of Youth
And Women - Creation And Providing Employment Opportunities For The Marginalized Youth
And Women From Idps, And Other Vulnerable Groups From The Different Parties
Of The Communities Including Low-Income Group And Widows. - Enhancement Of Security And Stability In Location Of The Fish Venders, Markets,
And Coops.
- Developing The Skill And Capacities Of The Target Group To Increase Production
Capacity And Getting Reliable Markets For Seafood Products. - Provision Of Modernized Equipment And Training For Marginalized Youth And
Women Involved In The Fishery Sector By Fostering Fish Business Markets And
Engaging Women Lead Programs To Internatial And Global Seafood Markets And
Networks.
SOFWA – Core Values
1) SOFWA Is Committed To Promote Gender Equality And Empowerment Of Youth,
Women And Girls, And To Elevate Any Barriers That Prevent Full Participation Of
Women, Girls And Marginalize Youths In The Livelihood Opportunities.
2) We Believe In Full And Inclusive Participation By All And That Every Person, Man,
Women, Or Community Has The Right And Responsibility To Contribute Their
Talents, Skills And Resources To The Work We Do, For And With Them.
3) We Are Committed To Promote Full And Equal Access To Social Services, Capacity
Building Lessons And Skill Development Courses With Opportunities To All.
4) We Believe That Community Participation Is An Essential Part Of The Process Of
Good Local Economic And Community Development. Therefore, We Consider
Participatory Approaches As A Critical Instrument Of Our Association.
5) We Are Committed To Work With Marginalized Communities, Improve Their
Lives, Alleviate Their Suffering, And Develop A Vision For Change That Will Make
A Meaningful Difference In Their Lives And Economic Condition.
6) We Consider Partnership As One Of Our Key Organizing Principles; We Are,
Therefore, Committed To Developing, Maintaining, And Nurturing Partnerships,
Including Alliance And Linkages- With Institutions/Organizations And Individuals
Who Identify Our Vision And Mission.
Core Principals
Education, Information, And Training.
Economic Development.
Independence.
Concern For The Community.
Cooperation Among Association And Others.
SOFWA–Area Of Work
Capacity Building
Knowledge Improvement
Training And Capacitation
Awareness And Empowerment
Founding Statement Of The Association
The Following Are The Founding Priorities: –
Somali Women Especially In In Fishery Sectors Bear Unequal And Economic
Hardships Occasioned By Poverty, Conflict And Clan-Based Culture Which Promote
Strict Male Hierarchy And Authority; Women Are Either Excluded Or Have Less In All
Levels Of Life In Decision Making And Market Opportunities.
IDP Communities, And Other Marginalized People Including Youth From IDP And
Vulnerable Widows With Orphans Are Strictly Excluded From Market Opportunities
And Other Social Benefits
Women’s Accesses to Public and Private Markets Are Too Strict and Limited over
Men’s Hierarchy and Cultural Violence to Exclude Women’s And Girls from Market
Opportunity and Economic Participation Freely.
Key Challenges
Although Women In Developing Countries Face Substantive Challenges To Engaging In And
Benefiting Equitably From Fishing And Fisheries Sectors And Other Benefit Able Resource,
Somalia Fishing Is Often Seen As A Male Activity Over 99%, Including Limited Access To
Fishing, Fish Processing And Control Over Assets And Resources, Constraining Gender
