PROJECT TITLE   JUST AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS OF FISHING & AGRICULTURE COMMUNITIES
DURATION   April 2015 to December 2015
LOCATION   Karachi, Thatta, Jamshoro & Sujawal
FUNDING AGENCY   Oxfam Novib
BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT / NEEDS AND JUSTIFICATION The Right to Livelihood and access to natural resources is the human right of all women, men, youth and children to a dignified and productive livelihood which enables them to live in peace, security, justice and dignity. All people have the fundamental human right to fulfilling, dignified work and livelihood, including equal access to land and productive resources, and to basic labor protections.

These rights are enshrined in the various national and international laws and instruments such as  Article 38-D of constitution of Pakistan, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 11.1 and Article 11.2, General Comment No. 12 of The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Rome declaration on world food security, Right to Food Guidelines,  Voluntary Guidelines on Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries and the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Lands, Fisheries and Forests in Context of National Food Security and Right to Food Guidelines. Sindh province is lucky in having both the coastal belt and inland waters available for fishing. Traditional fishers’ communities in Pakistan had been enjoying satisfied lives with the rich natural resource from inland water and coastal area since long time.

However, The basic issues that are affecting the lives of Fisherfolk and their livelihoods and food security rights are illegal occupation on water bodies by influential and Climate Change.

Previously There was contract system on water bodies in Sindh. The PFF launched movement for its abolition and after prolonged and consistent struggle succeeded in getting it abolished by the Government of Sindh in 2007. Ending of contract system benefited about one million fishermen directly and indirectly. Now despite abolition of contract system, the influential are reluctant to free the water bodies and thereby depriving fishermen from right to food and standard living.

Second issue is lack of sustainable fisheries policy in Sindh. This policy in light to intentional guide lines is need of hour. Unless this policy is brought, the issues of fish.

The third, major problem is food insecurity compounded by climate change. Vast majority of fishing community is food insecure. And Such situation has to be aggravated in face of climate change. Far, Sindh is also vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Like other parts of the world, there is an evidence of sea level rise along the Pakistan coast also.

This project the address the livelihood rights fishing communities  and  other core issues which are affecting those rights such as violation of right to food and emerging climate change issues affecting lives of Fisherfolk and their livelihoods rights. Thus this project address three issues illegal encroachment  of  on water bodies, lack of sustainable fisheries policy and food security issues compounded by climate change. These issues are addressed in very coherent way. A clear set of interventions is extended address these issues in much harmonized way. Right based approach is adopted. Activities ranging from mobilization, organization, research to advocacy are designed.

Through these interventions fishing communities would organized and mobilized fishing community on their food security and livelihoods rights. Their capacity on such rights and issues like food security and climate change would be built. Lobbying, networking and coordinating with civil society, media and other relevant stakeholders through publications, meetings and sensitization for the joint action on livelihood & food security right would also be made.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
  • To organize and mobilize fishing community on their food security and livelihoods rights.
  • To improve the access of Fisherfolk to public inland water bodies.
  • To build capacities of fishing communities on the issues such as climate change and right to food.
  • To strengthen and promote lobbying, networking and coordinating with civil society, media and other relevant stakeholders through publications, meetings and sensitization for the joint action on livelihood & food security right.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES:   Outcomes: 1.Capacities and knowledge of community leaders on livelihoods rights, Food security and climate change is improved and enhanced.

2.Targeted fisher folk have increased access to more water bodies of fishing.

3.Issues of livelihoods rights of targeted community are raised at various levels.

4.Publications related to rights of food security and livelihoods translated, published and disseminated among target groups, civil society and Government departments.
MAJOR ACTIVITIES:   A-Mobilization and Sensitization

1-Mobilization Meetings.

2- Awareness Raising & Sensitization Sessions.

3-Community Theaters.

4-District Body Meetings.

B-Capacity Building:

1- Capacity Building on VGGT.

2- Capacity Building on International Guidelines on Small Scale Fisheries.

3- Capacity Building on Right to Food.

4- Capacity Building on Climate change and impacts on Livelihoods.

C-Research & Publications

1-Translation of Summary document of VGGT and publication in Sindhi.

2- Development of food and nutrition security strategy for PFF.

3- Quarterly News letter

D-Advocacy and Networking

1-Provincial dialogue on Climate change issues in Pakistan, COP 21, and Prospects.

2-International Fisheries day.

3- District level Rallies against illegal encroachments on fresh water bodies.

4- District level Dialogues on illegal encroachments on fresh water bodies. 5- Exposure visits’ of Journalists.