The fishing industry in Gaza has been one of the sectors most affected by Israeli military operations and the continued blockade that has been imposed since 2007 . The fishery sector employs some 3400 registered fishermen in the Gaza Strip and characterised by both self-employed fishermen and workers (seasonal or permanent) working on bigger boats. Small-scale fishermen and their families are also some of the hardest hit by food insecurity in Gaza. Over half of these fishermen suffer from food insecurity which has deteriorated since 2010 relative to other population groups. The fishing industry also comprises of cooperatives and a syndicate of fishermen that mainly represents owners of larger fishing boats.

Supporting Livelihoods and Job Opportunities in the Fishery Sector in Gaza seeks to improve the livelihoods of those in Gaza who depend on the fishing sector within a family-based approach where youth and women benefit from the project and use it as a tool for their economic and social empowerment. Through the identification of demand and market driven needs, the project aims to devise strategies and produce short, medium and long-term opportunities in the sector. The project also considers creating alternative livelihoods for the fishermen who cannot sustain their household livelihoods through fishing as a result of the on-going blockade.

Objectives

The project falls within the scope of the ILO’s Decent Work Agenda and its Decent Work Country Programme in the occupied Palestinian territory and aims to:

• Promote a sustainable economic environment for greater access to employment and livelihood opportunities; and
• enhance the capacity of local stakeholders to deliver services and participate in recovery activities in the fishing industry.

Main Activities

Supporting Livelihoods and Job Opportunities in the Fishery Sector in Gaza will aim to fulfil its objectives through a series of interventions to:

• Carry out value chain analyses, institutional mappings, and SWOT analyses, as well as training and infrastructure needs assessments for all stakeholders and actors involved in the fishery sector;
• fine-tune specific competencies needed to enhance capacities of local stakeholders;
• adapt ILO training packages to the fisheries sector in Gaza;
• conduct training sessions for cooperative members to enhance capacities in core technical areas as well as in administration, inspection, conflict resolution, and soft skills tailored to local needs; and
• devise a normative and regulatory framework for the fishery sector focusing on freedom of association, licensing, fees at port, fees to sea, and fees for boat owners.

Outcomes

• The core technical capacities of local stakeholders in the fishery sector are enhanced; and
• a comprehensive fishery development plan for Gaza is prepared based on consultations with local stakeholders.