Building skills in communities devastated by economic crisis

Venezuela | 2024 | CERF

Venezuela, El Rincón. “Fishing is for men,” is the saying around these parts. In remote communities like this one in Sucre state, ensuring people have enough quality, nutritious food can be a challenge. Fish are a great source of nutrition, but social norms and lack of skills have made fishing an untapped source of food and work for many women.

Venezuela’s severe economic crisis, affecting over seven million people, has highlighted the need for innovative livelihood programmes that help improve food security.

The Central Emergency Response Fund allocated US $8.2 million under the Underfunded Emergencies programme, aiming to help families hit by the economic disruption and struggling to feed their families.

New skills to expand opportunities

The World Food Programme and partners are implementing a livelihoods programme in Sucre to help women expand their opportunities for work – ranging from baking and pastry making to fishing.

Participants received food baskets with rice, pasta, beans, and flour to support their families during the training period, allowing them to focus on learning new skills. In El Rincón, the group of mostly younger women embraced learning about the fishing trade, and challenging long-held stereotypes.  

For three months, the group met several times a week in a local school to practice fishing skills, fish preservation, boat repair, and financial management. “We realized this is not just for men, we can do it too,” said one young woman. “I’m thinking of starting a business selling the food the sea provides,” she added.

Trying new things

In other towns, women learned baking and pastry making. At a local gastronomy school, the project supported a three-month class that offered cake making skills and the business management skills that could help them run a sustainable business.

Asked how they picture ‘an entrepreneurial woman’, many answered that they now picture themselves – alongside their mother and grandmothers, who always found solutions to every day challenges.

The next phase of the project will involve families with children living with disabilities, aiming to provide them with tailored livelihoods skills to help address their particular needs.

Published November 2024

More information on the CERF allocation to Venezuela

Based on an original story from WFP, published in June 2024.