In Africa, as in many regions worldwide, women’s presence in the maritime sector remains limited.
According to data from a survey conducted in 2021 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA International) on women in the maritime sector, women represent only 29% of the global workforce in the industry overall and 20% of the workforce in national maritime authorities within IMO member states.
Female seafarers constitute only 2% of the crew workforce, primarily found in the cruise sector, while in ship-owning companies, they make up 34% of the workforce. Additionally, the report reveals that, based on data collected from IMO member states, national maritime authorities have significantly fewer women in search and rescue teams (only 10%) compared to women diplomats (33%) and training personnel (30%).
To strengthen women’s participation in the maritime industry, several initiatives have been implemented by institutions, organizations, and associations.
IMO’s Women in Maritime Program
The IMO, for example, launched a gender equality program in 1988 known as the Integration of Women in the Maritime Sector (IWMS) program, now called the “Women in Maritime Program.” This program includes:
- Granting scholarships specifically for women, enabling them to access high-level technical training in the maritime sector of developing countries;
- Creating an environment where women are identified and selected for career development opportunities in maritime administrations, ports, and maritime training institutions; and
- Supporting the establishment of professional associations of women in the maritime sector, especially in developing countries.
Women’s Maritime Associations in Africa
Under the aegis of the IMO, four (4) Women in Maritime Associations (WIMAs) have been established in Africa. These include:
Women in Maritime of West and Central Africa (WIMOWCA) (https://www.wimowca.org/index.html) created in July 2021 in Ghana as part of the IMO’s strategy to enhance women’s contributions as key stakeholders in the maritime sector.
Arab Women in Maritime Association (AWIMA) founded on October 19, 2017, in Egypt.
Network of Professional Women in the Maritime and Port Sectors for West and Central Africa (NPWMP-WCA), established in February 2007 under the auspices of the Ports Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) and the IMO, focusing primarily on the port sector in West and Central Africa.
Women in the Maritime Sector in Eastern and Southern Africa (WOMESA), (https://womesa.org/) launched in December 2007 in Mombasa, Kenya, as part of the IMO’s IWMS program.
In addition to those created under the IMO’s auspices, the African Women in Maritime (WIMAFRICA) (https://wimafrica.net/) was founded in 2015 in Addis Ababa by Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, then Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC).
This nonprofit organization aims to promote gender equality, empower women, and develop entrepreneurship for African women in the maritime sector. It is composed of professional women, leaders, and maritime entrepreneurs from over twenty-two (22) African countries, including Togo, Angola, South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Niger, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Nigeria.
The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA International) (https://wistainternational.com/) an international networking organization founded in 1974 to attract and support women in management positions in the maritime, commercial, and logistics sectors, has also been active in Africa.
In 1994, it established the first National WISTA Association (NWA) on the continent in Nigeria, known as WISTA Nigeria. Today, WISTA International comprises 62 NWAs, six of which are based in Africa (Angola, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, and Cameroon).
Timeline of the Establishment of Women’s Maritime Associations in Africa
All these associations share a common goal: promoting gender equality and empowering African women in the maritime industry in line with:
- SDG 5: “Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls,” one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda;
- Goal 17 of Aspiration 6: “Full gender equality in all spheres of life” of the African Union Commission’s Agenda 2063, which envisions “An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of its people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children.”
Training
Through its Women in Maritime Program, the IMO grants scholarships for training specifically designed for women at institutions like:
- The World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden;
- The IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) in Valletta, Malta.
Additionally, among the scholarships specifically for women are:
- Courses offered in partnership with WMU to enhance women’s skills and empower them in the maritime sector;
- Courses offered in partnership with the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA), IALA World-Wide Academy in France. For more information about scholarships specifically for women, click here.
Beyond the IMO’s efforts, African women’s maritime associations also provide scholarships to their members, sometimes in partnership with other institutions. For example, the Enhanced Maritime Action in the Gulf of Guinea (EnMAR) project, a partner of NPWMP-WCA, funded a master’s degree in maritime business law and security for a member of this network.
Mentoring
Mentoring plays a crucial role in supporting the personal and professional development of women in Africa’s maritime sector by offering learning opportunities, networking, guidance, and personalized support. Various organizations are committed to mentoring women, including Maritime EmpowerHer, based in South Africa, which organizes free mentoring sessions for young women in the South African maritime sector.
Blue Women Africa: Amplifying Women’s Voices
Launched in May 2024, Blue Women Africa is an initiative created to amplify the voices of women’s projects and women’s associations in the blue economy sector.
Its goal is to:
- Make actions more visible through its website www.bluewomenafrica.com, magazine, and social networks;
- Support institutions and associations in their efforts to empower African women in the blue economy.
It also aims to be a platform for all women working or aspiring to work in the sector, providing key information to better understand the industry and make informed decisions.
Since the IMO’s initiative in 1988, several associations and projects have been launched to promote gender equality and empower African women in the maritime sector. Despite these efforts, the representation of women in this sector shows the significant work that remains to achieve their empowerment. Increasing awareness campaigns to attract more women to the sector, expanding training opportunities to strengthen their skills, and intensifying mentoring programs are essential to seeing more women in decision-making positions in the industry.
By Pascaline Odoubourou,
Specialist in Gender Integration and
Promotion in the Blue Economy,
Co-founder of Blue Women Africa
References :
https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/TechnicalCooperation/Pages/IMOFellowships.aspx
https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/TechnicalCooperation/Pages/WomenInMaritime.aspx
https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/TechnicalCooperation/Pages/Women-in-Maritime-Training.aspx
