Gender-responsive and socially inclusive Fish Genetic Improvement Program and dissemination guidelines for improved tilapia strains in the SADC region

Abstract

Several countries are part of the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) fish genetics improvement program, including Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Madagascar, and the Comoros. This initiative aims to enhance the genetics of indigenous fish species to reduce reliance on the commercial farming of non-native tilapia species. This guideline document uses the reach–benefit– empower–transform (RBET) framework to suggest ways that the SADC region can consider gender in its genetic improvement and dissemination of fish species to ensure that women’s needs are met. Considering gender in fish genetic improvement programs will benefit women who actively participate in fish farming, processing, and marketing. When a fish genetic improvement program (GIP) is gender-responsive and has a clear, gender-targeted breeding objective, it can significantly benefit women by enhancing their livelihoods, nutrition, and economic empowerment, especially in aquaculture-dependent communities. The guideline document identifies approaches that can reach and benefit women, as well as those that can empower and transform gender norms.