2020 & 2021 YEAR-TO-DATE AT A GLANCE

2020 & 2021 YEAR-TO-DATE AT A GLANCE

of the Kenyan Chapter of the: Association for Women in the Maritime Sector in Eastern & Southern Africa.

NewsletterSeptember 2021 | Volume 5

Association for Women in the Maritime Sector in Eastern & Southern Africa.P.O. Box 95076 – 80104 MOMBASA, KENYATEL: (+254) 41 2318398/9, FAX: (+254) 41 2318397Email: [email protected] | Website: www.womesa.org

The year 2020 began normally and on high gear where the WOMESA Kenya Executive

Committee Members had a robust workplan for the Association which has been developed in their retreat in February 2020 until sometimes in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill. Schools were abruptly closed, people had to work from home, social gatherings were banned, and social distancing implemented to contain the spread of the virus and all we heard was; wash hands, wear a mask and social distance.

This affected implementation of most of the activities planned for WOMESA Kenya just as it did for the entire world. Things have never really resumed to what we were used to, but people slowly went back to work, schools reopened with the new norm of life. Most organizations have had to adjust from physical meetings to online ones to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

INSIDE

of women in the maritime sector and we strive to find the best approaches regardless of the circumstances to place the maritime women at the forefront.

Join us aboard the first ever combined 2020 and 2021 volume 5 WOMESA Kenya Newsletter.

Thank You.

From The Chairperson’s DeskMs. Fiona Mbandi

In spite of all these challenges, WOMESA Kenya has continued to thrive and succeeded in coordinating numerous initiatives since then. This was guided by the organization’s purpose which seeks to enhance gender equity by improving women’s access to maritime training and technology and promote their advancement to key decision-making levels within the maritime sector in Kenya among others and through collaboration with other similar partners, the advancement of women as key resource in the maritime sector.

As you read this edition which highlights some of these initiatives especially amidst COVID 19, be encouraged to always remember the words Steven Jeffes “Innovation is the unrelenting drive to break the status quo and develop anew where few have dared to go” that WOMESA Kenya seeks to continue being a pace setter in the region in matter advancement

2020 & 2021 YEAR-TO-DATE AT A GLANCE ...............................1

PARTNERSHIPS: .......................2

MENTORSHIP ACTIVITIES..........4

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING: ..5

AGM AND ELECTIONS...............5

CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT: ..........................6

PARTNERSHIPS:

One of WOMESA Kenya’s objectives is to establish and nurture smart partnerships with stakeholders. In our quest to broaden our networks with various organizations, we

have had constant collaborations with other organizations through participation in their activities and paying courtesy call visits to different organizations in line with our mission.

1) COURTESY CALLS:On 9th March 2021, WOMESA Kenya paid a courtesy call visit to the Director General, Kenya Maritime Authority – Mr. Robert Njue where he gave his assurance that KMA will continue hosting WOMESA desk, supporting its various activities and to involve WOMESA in all KMA activities that are relevant to it.

A courtesy call was made to Kenya Coast Guard Services on 27th July 2021 where the Director General- Brigadier

Loonena Naisho agreed to ensure KCGS is open to gender audits and the same is embedded in their policies. He further committed to continuous support for IPSTC training for WOMESA Kenya members. WOMESA shall also be included in their projects as much as it is relevant to both Organizations.

WOMESA Kenya EXCOM was well received by the DG, Kenya Coast Guard Offices and his team

Courtesy Call at KMA offices with the EXCOM led by the Chairpeson Ms. Fiona Mbandi

2 WOMESA NEWSLETTER | 2020 - 2021 | Volume 5

2) Marine Plastic Litter Campaign:

WOMESA Kenya attended a workshop at Sarova Whitesands Hotel on 26th April, 2021 and has been part of ongoing sessions aimed Marine Plastic Litter Campaign. The objective of the sessions is to plan a series of activities aimed to sensitize stakeholders on marine plastic litter management, discuss the proposed action plan in the fight against marine plastic litter and seek partnership with various stakeholders in actualization of plastic waste awareness campaign with a view of stopping plastic waste pollution from land to sea.

The campaign shall culminate sometime in September 2021 (Covid 19 protocols allowing) with a 14 day clean up exercise covering Nairobi- Malindi – Ukunda including the beaches along Malindi – Ukunda route championed by Kenya Maritime Authority in collaboration with other partners.

3) Go Blue Initiative:A research involving a project by the Government of Kenya (GoK), European Union (EU), and Go Blue initiative to assess and analyze skills needed in Kenya for selected Blue Economy sectors was conducted. The data was used to design technical vocational courses in the coastal counties of Kenya for employment and entrepreneurship especially among youth and women focusing on coastal tourism, maritime transport and logistics, vessel repair and maintenance and maritime security through CAP YEI who is a partner with WOMESA Kenya in the area of TVET Education.

4) Mombasa Port and Northern Corridor Community Charter:

WOMESA Kenya is a stakeholder in the Mombasa Port and Northern Corridor Community Charter( MPNCCC) where we were given two commitments; To advocate for gender inclusivity in maritime affairs and To develop the Charter’s gender programme within the maritime sector. WOMESA Kenya was given a scorecard on the same by the Charter’s Secretariat and guided on how to implement its objectives in the next phase.

In seeking to achieve the objectives issues to them by the Charter, WOMESA Kenya also requested the Charter Secretarait to officially operationalise the Gender sub committee as this will make WOMESA Kenya able to run with the 2 commitments in a professional manner.

WOMESA chair Ms. Fiona Mbandi presenting during the Stakeholders’ forum for MPNCCC.


Mentorship Program is the flagship of WOMESA Kenya

activities. The organization continues to identify new and existing opportunities to support women’s participation in various leadership roles and equipping them with the right information and skill sets.

WOMESA Kenya is focused on raising awareness and interest for increased participation by women in the maritime industry. The Mentorship program has the objective of raising interest and awareness in women from a young age and gearing their interests towards the Maritime sector. The sole aim of this program is to ensure that women actively participate in meaningful areas in the maritime sector up to the senior decision-making levels.

Between January 2020 and August 2021, 800 students have been mentored from different institutions as mentioned below:

MENTORSHIP ACTIVITIES

During a mentorship session with Winnie Maina at Presbyterian Girls High School, Mariakani

1) Presbyterian girls High School Mariakani on 18th March 2021.

2) Hatua Network Mentorship program on 8th April 2021.

3) Kombeni Girls Secondary School on 12th June 2021.

Career fair for high school students during Hatua Network Mentorship Program at Star of the Sea Primary School

Betty Makena at a Mentorship program at Kombeni Girls Secondary School

We managed to form a Maritime Club at Kombeni Girls Secondary School and many of the girls registered to join. The girls were enlightened on the different career opportunities within the maritime industry.


AGM AND ELECTIONSWOMESA holds elections after every two years. Following the 2019 elections, 2021 elections were virtually held on 9th June 2021 via Zoom as per the Covid protocols provided by the Kenyan government. A total of 38 members attended the AGM and participated in the elections where a new office was commissioned as follows.

NO NAME POSITION ELECTED1 Fiona Mbandi Chairperson2 Joyce Awino Vice Chairperson3 Winnie Maina Secretary4 Sarah Leparakuo Treasurer5 Rita Wahiti Marketing and Communications

OTE

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING:

WOMESA Kenya has six committees, one of them being Public Policy and Sector Reforms Committee. Between 2020 and 2021, this committee has

worked on WOMESA Kenya draft by – laws owing to the many changes and dynamic nature of the maritime industry that have evolved a woking set of by-laws under the WOMESA Region constitution for the National Chapter - WOMESA Kenya to guide in its operations.

A special general meeting was held on 11th March 2021 via the zoom platform where 48 members attended to give their contributions on the drafted WOMESA Kenya by – laws and gave the go ahead of the registration of the by-laws which process is almost complete.

WEBINARS:

In line with the new norm of conducting meetings since the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, there have been many virtual meetings organized by different institutions on various subjects. WOMESA participated in all the webinars listed below, having embraced the new way of meeting and sharing of information.

WEBINARS ATTENDED IN 2020

§‘Going Virtual in the Pandemic Era’ trained by Alfan Musa on 29th May 2020.

§‘Seafarers Are Key Workers: Essential to Shipping, Essential

To The World’ hosted by IMO on 24th June 2020

§Impact of COVID 19 on the EAC transport and Logistics on 25th June 2020

§Sustainable Port Initiatives – understanding MARPOL annex VI Webinar hosted by the

Maritime Technology Corporation Centre for Africa (MTCC Africa) on 30th June 2020.

§World Maritime Day webinar hosted by the Kenya Maritime Authority on Friday, 25th September 2020.

§‘Role of Women in Decarbonization” hosted by the Maritime Technology Corporation Centre for Africa (MTCC Africa) on the 29th October 2020.

WEBINARS ATTENDED IN 2021

§Making waves for ocean science: Empowering Women Leaders in the Ocean Decade hosted by UNESCO on Monday 8th March 2021

§“Women in Leadership; Effective Mentoring in Shipping” hosted by Focus Group Africa (FGA) WISTA on Monday 8th March 2021

§MTCC Africa virtual workshop on IMO Global sulphur limit 2020 on 30th and 31st March 2021.

§Virtual meeting on validation of dacum chart, occupational standards and curriculum for maritime transport and logistics held on 12th May 2021.

§Day of the seafarer 2021 webinar on 25th June 2021 themed “Fair future for seafarers.”

§Launch of Women in maritime of West and Central Africa (WIMOWCA) launch on 23rd July 2021.


AFRICAN DAY OF SEAS AND OCEANS IN 2020

WOMESA Kenya organized an event to Plant Mangrove trees at Majaoni site in Shanzu in celebration of Africa Day of Seas and Oceans on 27th July 2020. This was aimed at promoting conservation and sustainable exploitation of our seas and oceans.

CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENT:

As part of our corporate social investment, WOMESA Kenya sponsored an event to plant mangroves in 2020 and the members contributed towards menstrual hygiene day 2021 as detailed below:

Mangrove planting at Majaoni, Shanzu in Mombasa

DAY OF THE SEAFARER 2021

This year’s Day of the Seafarer’s theme was ‘Fair Future for Seafarers.’ A webinar was hosted by KMA where the contribution of seafarers to global trade was acknowledged and the challenges they face brought to light. Fliers of lady seafarers in WOMESA were circulated on various social media platforms bearing messages of hope and a bright future for seafarers.

WORLD MENSTRUAL DAY – CONCORDIA SECONDARY SCHOOL

Menstrual hygiene Day is an annual awareness day celebrated on May 28th to highlight importance of good menstrual hygiene management. This year, to promote menstrual hygiene, WOMESA organized the distribution of sanitary pads to Concordia High School on the 2nd of June 2021 led by the Chair Lady Ms. Fiona Mbandi.


This year’s Sea Sunday was held at Mission to Seamen on 4th July. Mission to Seamen hosted a church service and provided lunch and refreshments as they celebrated 100 years of caring for Seamen.

IPSTC COURSES

WOMESA has in the past few years received an invitation to participate in the Introduction to Maritime Security and Blue Economy Course organized by the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) Nairobi. This is done in collaboration with the Eastern Africa Standby Force Secretariat (EASFSEC) and the Government of Japan through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

In late 2020, Ms. Petronilla Lumire attended the training from 5th October to 9th October 2020. In 2021, WOMESA members Sarah Morintat attended the training from 25th January to 5th February 2021 and Jacquiline Omayio from 8th August 2021 to 13th August 2021 respectively.

This training showcases how the teachings bestow opportunities for women in the sector.

MEMBERS WHO HAVE DEPARTED

It is with great sadness that we report having lost two WOMESA members in the year 2020 – Ms. Edah Mwake Ngwatu Ger in March 2020 and Ms.

Langoni Kajembe in August, 2020 who were both very active members of the Association and participated in the various activities and in the sub committees.

May their souls Rest in Peace.

Impact of COVID-19 on cruise shipsBy Fatma Kisiwa

In 2020 March, the world saw for the first time, a total stoppage in the cruising industry. All cruise staff and visitors on board cruise

ships worldwide were forced to disembark due to an increase in cases of infections on board one of the cruise ships. This led to loss of job to cruise personnel among them women. The situation did not change until mid this year where cruising in the Mediterranean and some parts of Europe resumed with half the number of visitors and cruise staff being allowed onboard.

Currently, in the US, The CDC no – sail order has been lifted allowing test cruises to be conducted. Worldwide, rules and other health protocols are to be observed before boarding and when onboard all cruise vessels including, getting vaccinated before going on board, observing social distance and putting on masks in public places on board among others.

This has brought about a slow but welcome resume in operations affecting the return of most cruise personnel to their jobs as the crew pick up on the day to day activities. We pray for a quick resume and end to the pandemic as we hope for better days ahead as we keep appreciating the role of the seafarers as core part of the maritime fraternity.

Fiona Mbandi, WOMESA Chair making a speech during the Sea Sunday Service

SEA SUNDAY CELEBRATIONS

Upcoming 2021 Activities

1. A walk for women and mentorship program- October 2021

2. Courtesy Calls - Kenya Fisheries Services, ISCOS, NCTTA, KPA, Ministry of Gender- September to December 2021

3. World Maritime Day – September 2021

4. Marine Plastic Litter Awareness Campaign- September 2021


For feedback, comments and questions - write to [email protected]

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2020 & 2021 YEAR-TO-DATE AT A GLANCE

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