Senegal builds fish processing units to aid women
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Women in the Casamance region of Senegal, specifically in Mangacounda, Fanda, and Baghagha, have long faced difficult conditions while processing fish.
These women deal with smoke exposure, working on the ground, substantial post-catch losses, low income, and a lack of suitable infrastructure. The Senegalese government, with funding from Japan, is building modern fish processing facilities through the Anaré Difal (Women of the Sea) project, implemented with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
These new facilities aim to improve working conditions by providing safer spaces, modern equipment, and improved technologies to reduce waste and enhance product quality for local and national markets. Sékou Ndiaye, the mayor of Kaour, noted that despite abundant fish resources, the lack of modern tools limits their value, often leading to low prices or spoilage. The Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy believes the units will fight poverty, create jobs, and empower women economically.
Local actors anticipate the facilities will transform artisanal fishing in Casamance, offering women in these communities work that is less strenuous, more profitable, and better for their health, and ensuring that the region’s fishing wealth benefits those who depend on it.
