The limited role of women in small-scale fisheries in Mogadishu, Somalia; cultural norms, access to resources and educational attainment

Women made vital yet often overlooked contributions to Mogadishu's small-scale fisheries, particularly in post-harvest processing and trade. However, their participation remained constrained by socio-cultural norms, unequal access to productive resources, and limited educational attainment. This study examined the determinants of women's participation in small-scale fisheries in Mogadishu by drawing on Social Role Theory, Access Theory, and Human Capital Theory. Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 80 women and analyzed using probit and logit regression models, along with marginal effects. The findings showed that fisheries experience, supportive social expectations, access to fishing equipment, and participation in fisheries training significantly increased women's likelihood of participation. Cooperative membership and full household income contribution further strengthened these relationships. Overall, the results indicated that women's participation was shaped by intersecting cultural, resource-related, and skills-based factors rather than by individual attributes alone. The study provided context-specific empirical evidence from Mogadishu and highlighted the need for gender-responsive policies that improve access to resources, strengthen training opportunities, support women's cooperatives, and address restrictive norms in order to promote more inclusive fisheries governance in Somalia.