EU-EC_Empowering Women Fish Retailers (EWFIRE) - 1st YEAR INTERIM NARRATIVE REPORT_April 2018 to March 2019

Abstract

In April 2018, the Empowering Women Fish Retailers (EWFIRE) Project was launched. Funded by European Union, the project aims to support vulnerable women fish retailers and processors to develop profitable businesses in five sites across Sharkia governorate, Lower Egypt. Through provision of technical and social assistance, it aims to generate 300 full-time jobs and improve profitability of 100 women retailers. Since the 1980’s, Egypt’s per capita fish supply has grown rapidly, adding substantially to affordable fish markets and employment opportunities for informal retailers, many of whom are women. However, research reported that women’s retailers, compared to men retailers, generate poorer returns and experience poorer job security. To date, few initiatives have focused on improving the livelihoods of Egyptian women fish retailers. In Year 1’s planning period, the project team launched actions from work package 1 (WP1), including outreach and promotional campaigns, retailer needs assessment survey and theory of change (ToC) workshops. ToC workshops were facilitated between diversity of stakeholders to capture feedback on the project’s intervention logic. Key recommendations were incorporated into Year 1 & 2 implementation plans regarding locations and content of training, affiliate organizations and the design of fish processing units. Participants included men and women retailers, wholesalers and fish-shop owners operating in Sharkhia governorate; fish feed company representatives, technicians, scientists, and representatives from public regulatory and research institutions (for participant lists see Annex I). Following closure of final ToC workshop, stakeholder feedback was used to update the EWFIRE ToC diagram, which is presented below. These updated work-plans have expanded on EWFIRE’s original logical framework design to include seven outcomes.