Mr Acacio Sarmento da Silva

Senior Research Analyst, WorldFish

Acacio Sarmento is a health professional, research analyst, nutrition sensitive agricultural trainer, agriculture and nutrition curriculum developer, senior researcher, program manager, advisor at National Alliance for tobacco control, health promotor, agriculture group and community facilitator and DMERL specialist.

Acacio Sarmento is a highly accomplished senior researcher and development practitioner in Timor-Leste, specializing in agriculture, nutrition, and rural economic development. With deep expertise in agriculture-sensitive nutrition and gender-inclusive programming, he brings extensive experience in research design, methodologies, data analysis, project implementation, and MEL (Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning). Acacio has a strong background in capacity building, serving as an advisor to project teams and junior researchers, and as a trainer and facilitator for government staff. His work is grounded in community-level engagement, with a proven track record of advancing food security and nutrition outcomes through collaborative, evidence-based approaches.

ABSTRACT

Women’s voices in fisheries governance for climate-resilient food systems in Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste is highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, with a food system heavily reliant on imports, contributing to widespread malnutrition, particularly among women and children. Fisheries, managed appropriately, can provide a climate-resilient source of nutrients and income, as fish can still be harvested from the sea during natural disasters or food system disruptions, ensuring food availability. However, the sector remains male-dominated, and women’s critical roles, such as gleaning aquatic foods, processing and trading, are often overlooked in policy and governance.

We present a project aimed at fostering women’s participation in fisheries governance by establishing co-management committees in coastal communities. These committees ensure women’s representation and members are trained in climate-smart practices for coastal resource management. Through the committees, communities participate in trainings in fish processing and business literacy, strengthening resilient livelihoods with gender-sensitive technologies while promoting the nutritional value of aquatic foods, particularly for pregnant and lactating women and young children.

The project estimated the contribution of gleaning and fisheries to local diets by analysing the nutrient content of 32 aquatic species caught by both women and men fishers and quantifying their consumption. This research demonstrates that these resources are vital for year-round nutrition security and highlights the importance of gleaning in local food systems. Incorporating women’s knowledge and practices into coastal management is essential to enhancing food security and the sustainability of marine resources.

By fostering the participation of women in co-management committees and valorising gleaning, we make a compelling case for including women’s voices in fisheries governance to support climate resilience and enhance food systems’ sustainability.