GENDER AND FISHERIES : THE REPUBLIC OF HAITI

Fisheries in Haiti are relatively underdeveloped, with women making critical yet often underappreciated contributions, predominantly as fish processors and traders (‘machanns’ and ‘madan saras’). Beyond these roles, women invest in fishing activities, assist with fishing trip preparations, build and maintain fishing equipment, innovate in food processing and storage, engage in shore-based harvesting, generate alternative income streams and increasingly contribute to fishers’ associations. Haiti is unique among Caribbean nations for having ministerial level government structures tasked with improving the status and rights of women, combined with a constitutional requirement that 30% of elected and appointed national positions be held by women. Grassroots organizations and women's rights activists have made substantial progress in advocating for gender equality. Nevertheless, female political participation remains limited and gender-based violence is a serious and persistent concern. Ongoing socio-political instability and Haiti’s high vulnerability to natural disasters has further hindered progress. It is important to note that the deteriorating security situation manifests differently in urban and rural areas, with most challenges concentrated around urban centres and fishing communities located in mostly rural settings. This fact sheet provides an overview of the role of seafood production in Haiti, with a focus on gender dimensions, highlighting opportunities to strengthen gender equity and women’s empowerment in the sector and beyond. It is part of a series meant to offer development agency employees, government agencies, NGOs, funders, and researchers, with a snapshot of gender and fisheries to inform the planning and delivery of relevant activities these actors might be involved in or are in the process of developing.