381
Implementation Strategies
The implementation strategies, especially the involvement of the community in
each stage of the project, differed in Chipala and Vinthenga. For instance, the community in Vinthenga were more involved from the onset of the project by selecting
the construction site and supporting the artisans in the construction process.
Implementation was also affected by conflicts within the community, which were
unresolved throughout the project period. Adoption was halted, and thus also management of the facilities.
Various levels of governance were in conflict: between the Fisheries extension
office and the BVC, between the community and the SEED-Fish project and, third,
between the BVC and fish processors. The choice of the site came from the Fisheries
Department in Chipala, thus using a top-down approach, causing the BVC and other
members of the community to conclude that the dryer was constructed for the
Fisheries Department, rather than the community. Governance, as an interaction
between different stakeholders or levels of governance, has been a challenge; however, as Johnson (2006) states, governance as a process should reinforce ties between
stakeholders. There was lack of harmonisation of the levels of governance, and that
was observed in the differences between the two communities, even though they are
neighbouring villages. The loop diagram (Fig. 5) shows how governance has
affected livelihood outcomes. The situation in Chipala showed that if the governance structures are not transformed through development initiatives, projects will
not yield the expected outcome, as the community goes through a circle of low
adoption and thus minimal impact due to poor governance. The findings here confirm that in value addition in fisheries, economic and ecological components are at
the centre of governance while side-lining or totally ignoring the sociocultural
domain (Urquhart and Acott 2013; Reed et al. 2013).
Adoption
Poor
Governance
Assets
Livelihood
Outcomes
Fig. 5 Illustration of the
effect of governance on
livelihood outcomes
Between the Sun and Fish Are People: A Socio-economic Study of Solar Dryers for Fish…
Implementation Strategies
The implementation strategies, especially the involvement of the community in
each stage of the project, differed in Chipala and Vinthenga. For instance, the community in Vinthenga were more involved from the onset of the project by selecting
the construction site and supporting the artisans in the construction process.
Implementation was also affected by conflicts within the community, which were
unresolved throughout the project period. Adoption was halted, and thus also management of the facilities.
Various levels of governance were in conflict: between the Fisheries extension
office and the BVC, between the community and the SEED-Fish project and, third,
between the BVC and fish processors. The choice of the site came from the Fisheries
Department in Chipala, thus using a top-down approach, causing the BVC and other
members of the community to conclude that the dryer was constructed for the
Fisheries Department, rather than the community. Governance, as an interaction
between different stakeholders or levels of governance, has been a challenge; however, as Johnson (2006) states, governance as a process should reinforce ties between
stakeholders. There was lack of harmonisation of the levels of governance, and that
was observed in the differences between the two communities, even though they are
neighbouring villages. The loop diagram (Fig. 5) shows how governance has
affected livelihood outcomes. The situation in Chipala showed that if the governance structures are not transformed through development initiatives, projects will
not yield the expected outcome, as the community goes through a circle of low
adoption and thus minimal impact due to poor governance. The findings here confirm that in value addition in fisheries, economic and ecological components are at
the centre of governance while side-lining or totally ignoring the sociocultural
domain (Urquhart and Acott 2013; Reed et al. 2013).
Adoption
Poor
Governance
Assets
Livelihood
Outcomes
Fig. 5 Illustration of the
effect of governance on
livelihood outcomes
Between the Sun and Fish Are People: A Socio-economic Study of Solar Dryers for Fish…