Empowering Women in Weskusmandjie
Weskusmandjie is a fisherwomen’s cooperative located in the hamlet of Steenberg’s Cove along the West Coast of South Africa, established in 2017. The women in this cooperative represent generations of fisher families who have relied on the sea for food, livelihoods, and culture. They embrace their indigenous knowledge to collectively process products from local marine resources.
The group produces traditional items such as pickled fish and mussels, sea lettuce salt, and sour fig jam. Selling these items provides them with an alternative source of income and allows them to share their traditions with the public and celebrate their culture.
The Launch of ABALOBI Pantry
In August 2019, Weskusmandjie, in collaboration with the University of Cape Town, ABALOBI, and other women fishers from coastal communities, launched the ABALOBI Pantry, a digital marketplace. The launch of the ABALOBI Pantry was a key milestone as part of the organization’s cross-cutting Women in Fisheries program.
The platform was specifically developed for products made in fisher communities, originating from coastal resources, with the majority of producers being women. The ABALOBI Pantry is a component of the ABALOBI Marketplace, allowing chefs in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Pretoria to purchase pantry products made by local communities.
Codesign and Implementation
Weskusmandjie played an instrumental role in co-designing the ABALOBI Pantry, which first commenced in March 2019. Along with other producers, they created a co-designed ABALOBI Pantry ODK form, enabling producers to record their products, expenses, and income and utilize the ABALOBI Marketplace as a sales platform. Each product has a unique QR code supplied to the restaurant or chef, allowing them to communicate the story behind the product to patrons engagingly. After four months on the ABALOBI Pantry, Weskusmandjie sold over 100 products on the digital marketplace.
Impact and Growth
The ABALOBI Pantry has provided Weskusmandjie with an additional market opportunity and income, reinvigorating their efforts and facilitating new goals for the group, such as developing new products, acquiring new equipment, and enhancing their capacity. Over the past year, the group has participated in training opportunities related to food safety, financial management, and business plan development. Additionally, they have expanded their professional network and fostered partnerships with other organizations, including private shellfish producers and higher education institutions.
“Thank you so very much to everyone who is supporting Weskusmandjie and ABALOBI to make it happen. Your support is helping to empower us women economically. Thank you." -- Hilda Adams, Weskusmandjie