GISLI for Fisherwomen, supported by IFFS, is founded on a simple yet powerful principle: resilient coastal communities begin with empowered women, safer fishing practices, and stronger access to sustainable livelihoods.
Over two impactful days in Palabuhanratu, the initiative brought together fishermen and fisherwomen to strengthen maritime safety, enhance livelihood opportunities, and support sustainable community development. Participants engaged in practical and interactive sessions covering fishing vessel safety, emergency response, first aid, fire prevention, digital marketing, fish processing, business licensing, and halal certification. Through these sessions, participants gained practical knowledge and skills applicable both at sea and within their households and businesses.
To support continued learning after the program, each participant received a maritime safety handbook developed by the Harbormaster (Syahbandar) of PPN Palabuhanratu. The handbook serves as a practical reference that participants can bring home and apply in their everyday fishing and maritime activities.
The program also provided direct support to strengthen community resilience. Fishermen who were not yet registered with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan received three months of insurance coverage, helping expand access to social protection. The initiative also recognized participants who demonstrated strong engagement throughout the program. The most active fisherwomen from each group received essential food packages, while the highest-performing individual participant was awarded a one-year English course scholarship to support future personal and professional opportunities.
The success of GISLI for Fisherwomen was made possible through the collaboration of PPN Palabuhanratu, including the Harbormaster (Syahbandar), the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries (DJPT), BBP3KP, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, BNN, and the Directorate of Fisheries Business Empowerment. Their collective efforts demonstrate the importance of cross-sector collaboration in building safer, more resilient, and economically empowered coastal communities.
The initiative was fully supported by IFFS, whose sponsorship enabled the delivery of the program in its entirety, from capacity building and educational materials to social protection and participant recognition. Through this collaboration, GISLI for Fisherwomen seeks not only to strengthen maritime safety today, but also to empower women as active leaders in creating safer, more resilient, and sustainable futures for their coastal communities.