The blue economy offers a great opportunity for coastal communities, especially women and youth, enabling them to improve their living conditions while strengthening their resilience to the harmful effects of climate change.
That is why about twenty women and young people representing 10 blue economy entrepreneurial groups gathered for a 5-day training camp in Antsiranana for skills development. This initiative is launched by the ReSea project in collaboration with Mission Inclusion, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Ocean Hub Africa, C for C, and the Malagasy government. The beneficiaries come from rural communes of Mangaoka, Ambolobozibe, Ankarongana, Andranovondronina, and Mahavanona in the Antsiranana II district. The goal is to provide them with business skills that enable the development of viable and resilient entrepreneurial activities in the blue economy sector, while aligning with the local context. This includes promoting value chains such as fish processing and crab fattening.
Entrepreneurship Manual
It must be acknowledged that women and youth are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. “Strengthening their capacity to successfully engage in socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable value chains offers them the opportunity to earn an income for themselves and their families and is an essential way to boost community resilience and shift gender power dynamics. Moreover, the beneficiaries of this program are the ‘pioneers of tomorrow,’ as their creativity, determination, and passion drive change,” said Holy Ratsimanoroarisoa, Marine Landscape Manager at Mission Inclusion. In addition to supporting these coastal communities in developing income-generating activities, an entrepreneurship manual focused on the blue economy has also been launched to benefit regional stakeholders.
Women’s Empowerment
“The ReSea project, funded by Canada, fits perfectly within the national development strategy of the Malagasy government, and more specifically the regional development plan for the Diana region. One of our main priorities is the promotion of the blue economy, which is vital for our region,” emphasized Théogène Bealahy, Regional Development Director for Diana, on this occasion. He added that the project also significantly contributes to women’s empowerment and the promotion of entrepreneurship, particularly among women in our communities. “These are essential pillars for sustainable and inclusive development in our region,” he continued. It is worth recalling that the ReSea project aims to strengthen the socio-economic resilience of 350,000 people in coastal communities across Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, and the Comoros against the adverse effects of climate change.
Source: midi madagasikara.
