Global Environment Facility-6 Coastal Fisheries Initiative (GEF-6 CFI) Indonesia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) through Kendari Oceanic Fishing Port (OFP) and the Konawe Regency Fisheries Service, implemented the Best Practice Replication through Capacity Building for Women Fishers’ Businesses at Sorue Jaya Red-White Fisher Village (KNMP) in Konawe Regency.

Held from 20–22 August 2026, the activity was part of efforts to expand the learning and good practices of GEF-6 CFI Indonesia to communities outside the project’s main intervention areas, while supporting the development of Red-White Fisher Village (KNMP) as one of the government’s priority programmes. The activity was aimed at strengthening the capacity of coastal women to develop fishery-based businesses, increase product value added, and gain access to wider markets, including opportunities to connect with the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) Programme.

Over the three-day activity, participants received training and took part in practical sessions covering group business management, business legality, food safety and PIRT, halal certification, fishery product handling, product value addition, and the development and diversification of processed fishery products.

Collaboration to Strengthen the Capacity of Women Fishers

The event was officially opened by M. Rahman, Head of the Division of Fisheries Resource Development, Institutions and Fisheries Resource Monitoring at the Konawe Regency Fisheries Service, representing the Head of the Konawe Regency Fisheries Service. 

M. Rahman, Head of the Division of Fisheries Resource Development, Institutions and Fisheries Resource Monitoring, Konawe Regency Fisheries Service, delivers remarks and officially opens the activity. He emphasizes the importance of strengthening women fishers' capacity to develop value-added fishery products and strengthen the coastal economy (20 August).

The opening was also attended by Faridatun Amalia, Gender Specialist of GEF-6 CFI Indonesia; Ikram, representing Kendari Oceanic Fishing Port (OFP)/MMAF; Sahrudin, Secretary of the Konawe Regency Fisheries Service; Arnani of the Konawe Regency Fisheries Service; Samsinar, Fisheries Extension Coordinator; and Mira, Deputy Chair of the Sorue Jaya Merah Putih Village Cooperative.

In his remarks, Rahman emphasized the importance of strengthening the capacity of women fishers as part of efforts to strengthen the coastal economy. According to him, realizing Konawe Regency's fisheries potential requires communities to have the capacity to process and develop fishery products into higher-value products.

"The fisheries potential we have needs to be matched by the capacity of communities to process and develop these fishery products into value-added products. Women fishers play an important role in this process. Therefore, we hope that this activity will enhance their skills while broadening the groups’ perspectives on developing more structured businesses, obtaining the necessary legal status, maintaining product quality, and identifying market opportunities," Rahman said.

Gender Specialist of GEF-6 CFI Indonesia, Faridatun Amalia, explains the objectives and purpose of the activity while introducing the project (20 August).

Meanwhile, Faridatun Amalia, Gender Specialist of GEF-6 CFI Indonesia, explained that the activity was part of the project’s strategy to expand the benefits of learning developed through support to coastal community groups.

"This best practice replication is part of GEF-6 CFI Indonesia’s efforts to expand the learning developed together with coastal community groups. We want to ensure that strengthening women’s capacity goes beyond production skills to also cover institutional aspects, business legality, food safety, and access to market opportunities. In this way, women can play an increasingly important role as business operators in the fisheries value chain and contribute value added to household economies," Faridatun explained.

M. Ikram, representing Kendari OFP, delivers remarks at the Best Practice Replication through Capacity Building for Women Fishers’ Businesses activity at Sorue Jaya KNMP, Konawe Regency (20 August).

Support was also expressed by Ikram, representing Kendari OFP/MMAF, who emphasized that the development of KNMP needs to go hand in hand with strengthening the capacity of communities as key actors.

"The development of Red-White Fisher Village requires not only the construction of infrastructure and facilities, but also communities with the capacity to manage and utilize the available potential. Therefore, capacity-building activities such as this are important for strengthening the capacity of groups, particularly women fishers, to develop fishery products into value-added products that can contribute to the local economy," Ikram said.

He noted that synergy among the central government, local governments, the project, and communities is an important factor in expanding good practices and ensuring that KNMP development provides sustainable benefits for coastal communities.

Strengthening Product Legality, Quality, and Safety

One of the focuses of the activity was to strengthen participants’ understanding of product legality, quality, and safety as foundations for business development. 

Sahrudin, Secretary of the Konawe Regency Fisheries Service, delivered a session on group business management, emphasizing the importance of more structured group and business management to support the sustainability of economic activities.

Participants also received training on food safety and PIRT, halal certification, proper handling of fish for storage and processed products, as well as strategies for increasing the value added of fishery products.

Participants enthusiastically take part in the Best Practice Replication through Capacity Building for Women Fishers’ Businesses activity at Sorue Jaya KNMP, Konawe Regency. The programme is designed to strengthen coastal women’s group capacity, from obtaining business legality and certification, ensuring product quality and food safety, to product diversification through practical sessions on producing fish nuggets and fish balls to promote the economic self-reliance of fishing households (20–22 August).

To strengthen fishery product handling, a resource person from BPPMHKP provided information on proper fish handling, both for cold storage and as raw material for processed products. This knowledge is important to help groups maintain the quality of raw materials from the initial stage through processing.

Regarding halal certification, Nur Asma from BPJPH explained the halal certification application process and demonstrated how to create an account for submitting an application. Participants will also receive further assistance in fulfilling the requirements until certification is issued.

Meanwhile, PIRT-related aspects were facilitated by the Health Office, including support for the product recommendation process and label design development. For the application for a Business Identification Number (NIB), participants were advised to coordinate further with the One-Stop Integrated Services (PTSP).

Strengthening these aspects is expected to help groups improve their business readiness, ensuring that the products they develop not only have economic value but also meet requirements related to legality, safety, quality, and consumer confidence.

Opening Opportunities for Local Products in the MBG Supply Chain

In line with the development of KNMP and the government’s priority programmes, the activity also provided participants with an opportunity to explore opportunities for developing fishery products that could potentially support the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG).

On the third day of the training, women fishers participating in the activity practice making fish nuggets and fish balls as part of efforts to promote the diversification of value-added fishery products in Konawe Regency (22 August).

A session introducing products with potential to support MBG was delivered by relevant resource persons in Konawe Regency. Participants were introduced to the importance of preparing products that meet requirements related to quality, food safety, continuity of production, and market needs.

This approach is expected to encourage groups to move beyond a production-oriented focus, develop a better understanding of market needs, and strengthen their business readiness should opportunities arise to connect with the MBG supply chain.

From Training to Product Diversification in Practice

Following the training sessions, participants took part in practical sessions on diversifying processed products made from tuna on the second and third days. The practical sessions were an important part of the activity, providing participants with an opportunity to directly apply the knowledge gained during the learning sessions.

On the final day, participants practiced making fish balls and fish nuggets. The practical process covered raw material preparation, processing, product forming, and the final stages of processing.

Through these practical sessions, participants gained not only technical skills but also experience in developing product varieties that can be adapted to the potential of local raw materials and market needs.

This practical approach also strengthened the concept of best practice replication, whereby learning is not delivered only in theoretical form but translated into skills that groups can apply and further develop at new locations.

Expanding Impact through Best Practice Replication

The activity at Sorue Jaya KNMP was part of GEF-6 CFI Indonesia’s efforts to expand the impact of learning and good practices developed through its coastal community strengthening programme. As a location outside the project’s main intervention areas, the activity provided an opportunity to adapt these lessons to the needs and potential of the community at Sorue Jaya KNMP.

The replication focused not only on improving processing skills but also on strengthening group institutions, business legality, food safety, product development, and market access.

This approach is expected to strengthen the position of women as key players in the fisheries value chain while creating opportunities to increase income and strengthen the economic resilience of fishing households.

Thus, best practice replication is not merely a process of knowledge transfer, but also an effort to extend programme benefits to more coastal women and strengthen their role in the economic development of coastal communities through the sustainable and value-added utilization of fishery resources.