Assessment of Gendered Power Relations in the Anchovy Fishery Value Chain: The case of Mkokotoni, Zanzibar

Assessment of Gendered Power Relations in the Anchovy Fishery Value Chain: The case of Mkokotoni, Zanzibar

The anchovy fishery is a critical small-scale fishery in Zanzibar, providing both livelihood for local communities and revenue for the nation. There is however inadequate examination on the nature of gendered power relations between actors and how these influence the positions that men and women occupy in the anchovy fisheries value chain. Using the case study of the Mkokotoni fisheries of Zanzibar, this study examines the roles and factors that influence the positions that men and women occupy in the anchovy fisheries value chain, and the outcomes of this positioning. This study used social construction and feminist theories to develop a theoretical framework for examining gendered power relations within the anchovy fishery value chain. The study employed an explanatory and cross-sectional approach, and draws upon qualitative data from anchovy fishery value chain in Mkokotoni. A purposive sample of 43 participants, representing various roles within the anchovy fishery value chain, were selected. The findings show that within the three nodes of the anchovy fishery value chain in Zanzibar namely, pre-production, production, and post-production (processing and marketing), women and men occupy diverse roles, with some being gender-specific and others mixed-gender, while some perform multiple tasks across different nodes. Women play crucial roles in both productive and reproductive spheres, contributing significantly to their families and the broader community's well-being. However, they primarily participate in pre-production and post-production activities, while a few own gear and participate in the production node. This positioning is an outcome of factors that include access to capital, customary gendered labor roles, easy accessibility of tasks, and individual disposition and capacity for agency. Moreover, the persistence of traditions associated with gender-specific tasks continue to limit women’s participation and the outcomes they achieve within the anchovy value chain activities, although some women agencies help to overcome these obstacles. The study concludes that although men and women participate in different roles within the anchovy fishery value chain, men still have the power to dominate certain key nodes as a result of gendered power differences. In addition, some women adopt strategic measures to overcome limitations that limit their engagement.