A two-day capacity building workshop on ‘communication techniques, lobbying and fundraising strategies’ for fisherfolk was recently held at NaNA conference hall in Kanifing, organised by the National Association of Artisanal Fisheries Operators (NAAFO).
The Association’s President Madam Fatou Pierre Choye, in her statement, thanked PRCM [The Regional Partnership for Coastal and Marine Conservation] for facilitating the funding support through MAVA small pelagic project.
She also commended the Ministry and its Department of Fisheries for their open door policy with artisanal fisheries operators, including their readiness to work with them at all times.
Acting Director of Fisheries, Anna Mbenga-Cham, noted the great contribution of the artisanal small-scale fisheries sub-sector to livelihoods and the country’s economy.
She said research has shown that an estimated 300,000 people in the Gambia are directly or indirectly employed in the fisheries value chain, ranging from fishermen, boat builders, fish processors to traders, just to name a few.
“The fisherfolk’s socioeconomic contribution in the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the fisheries sector, in particular, cannot be overemphasized. Over 65% of the fisheries sector’s contribution to GDP comes from the fisherfolk from the artisanal fisheries sub-sector.
“Government is fully determined to see to it that the fisheries sector of the Gambia will succeed in meeting the National Development Plan objectives,” said Ag. Director Mbenga-Cham.
She believes the workshop could not have come at a better time than now, while underscoring the significance of the said workshop in enhancing the communication skills and lobbying as well as fundraising abilities of the fisherfolk, in complementing government’s development efforts in the right direction.
She described lobbying skills an important intervention that influences legislation, policy, regulations of government decisions directly or indirectly.
Madam Mbenga-Cham further told the gathering that the ability to lobby for the association could persuade in achieving the set goals of the association, and she underlined “it all depends on the communication skills”.
She had also urged the participants to be diligent and have frank and constructive debates on achieving the results of the training.
Mr. Pa Modou Faal, the Resource Person, argued it’s important to train members of NAAFO on communication, lobbying and fundraising, reasoning this is necessary for members of NAAFO because acquiring the skills would help them for the growth and development of their businesses.
While maintaining the training was very good, Faal, however, reminded them that it’s also important to implement and share the knowledge they would gain from the training with other members of their association.
