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oai:repository.unam.edu.na:11070/41262025-09-20T22:01:06Zcom_11070_3506com_11070_3317com_11070_3306col_11070_3628

Nhemachena, Artwell Fololindo, Tjova Raulinda 2025-09-19T08:14:42Z 2025-09-19T08:14:42Z 2025 http://hdl.handle.net/11070/4126 A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Gender and Development Studies Namibia's fishing industry is the third largest contributor to gross domestic product (GDP), accounting for approximately 20% of export earnings. Despite such stellar numbers, women are still not sufficiently empowered to gain economic opportunities in this industry due to a lack of knowledge and technical know-how and it being a male-dominated sector, hence the gender disparities. This study explored the opportunities and barriers to women’s economic empowerment in the fishing industry, including how their economic empowerment is perceived by women employed by Omankete Seafood Processors Pty (Ltd). The study contributes to the policy changes in the fishing industry. The study was informed by the Women Empowerment Framework (WEF), which aims to move towards gender equity and gender equality. Moreover, the framework takes into consideration the four dimensions of women’s empowerment, which are: women to access resources, exercise self-awareness, mobilize their rights, and control their environment. The study made use of the qualitative research methodology employing the case study approach. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews, with a total of 28 participants (4 key informants and 24 female factory workers) through purposive sampling. The data was subjected to thematic analysis, from which it was determined that women do derive opportunities and benefits from the fishing industry in the form of monetary compensation and access to pension funds. Moreover, the study found that women are hindered from actively participating in the industry due to certain job opportunities only being available to men. Future studies will benefit from interviewing more fishing companies and employees employed in auxiliary services. This research aimed to examine opportunities for women’s economic empowerment in the Namibian fishing industry and explore constraints to women’s economic empowerment in the fishing industry. The research study further explored perceptions of the empowerment of women in the fishing industry en University of Namibia Women Women’s economic empowerment Blue Economy Fishing industry Namibia University of Namibia Omankete seafood processors Walvis Bay An investigation into women’s economic empowerment in the blue economy: A case study of Omankete seafood processors in Walvis Bay, Namibia Thesisopen.access