FIshERIES AND HIV/AIDS IN AFRIca: INVESTING IN SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS PROJECT REPORT | 1970 Assessing Migration and Mobility Patterns, Access to Health Services and Vulnerabilities of Female Fish Traders in the Kafue Flats, Zambia December 2008 • Research Design Report Lungu, A. • Hüsken, S.M.C. Reducing poverty and hunger by improving fisheries and aquaculture www.worldfishcenter.org Assessing migration and mobility patterns, access to health services and vulnerabilities of female fish traders in the Kafue Flats, Zambia. Research Design Report Lungu, A. and Hüsken, S.M.C. December 2008 Fisheries and HIV/AIDS in Africa: Investing in Sustainable Solutions This report was produced under the Regional Programme “Fisheries and HIV/AIDS in Africa: Investing in Sustainable Solutions” by the WorldFish Center and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with financial assistance from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This publication should be cited as: Lungu, A. and Hüsken, S.M.C. (2008). Field study: Assessing migration and mobility patterns, access to health services and vulnerabilities of female fish traders in the Kafue Flats fishery, Zambia. Research Design Report. Regional Programme Fisheries and HIV/AIDS in Africa: Investing in Sustainable Solutions. The WorldFish Center. Project Report 1970. Authors’ affiliations: A. Lungu: The WorldFish Center Zambia. S.M.C. Hüsken: The WorldFish Center Zambia. Cover design: Vizual Solution © 2009 The WorldFish Center All rights reserved. This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part for educational or non-profit purposes without permission of, but with acknowledgment to the author(s) and The WorldFish Center. This publication may not be reproduced for profit or other commercial purposes without prior written permission from The WorldFish Center. To obtain permission, contact the Business Development and Communications Division at [email protected] Table of Contents Table of contents ............................................................................................................................ 1 1. Project summary ........................................................................................................................ 2 2. Description of the study area .................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Background of the Kafue Flats .................................................................................................. 2 2.2 The economy and fishing activities in the Kafue Flats ................................................. 2 2.3 HIV susceptibility and vulnerability among fisher folk ................................................. 3 3. Research design .......................................................................................................................... 4 3.1 Technical focus .......................................................................................................................... 4 3.2 Site selection criteria ................................................................................................................ 4 4. Research Methodology .............................................................................................................. 6 4.1 Rational for adopting a quantitative ‐ qualitative approach .................................................... 6 4.2 Sampling design ........................................................................................................................ 6 4.3 Research team and research time table ................................................................................... 7 5. Data analysis ............................................................................................................................... 9 5.1 Quantitative data analysis ........................................................................................................ 9 5.2 Qualitative data analysis ........................................................................................................... 9 6. Use of study findings ................................................................................................................ 10 Annex 1: Site selection criteria for the research ......................................................................... 11 Annex 2: Sample distribution in selected sites ..................................................................... ......12 Annex 3: Terms of reference for data collectors .............................................................. …………13 1 1. PROJECT SUMMARY The WorldFish Center in Lusaka is implementing a regional collaborative programme entitled “Fisheries and HIV&AIDS in Africa; investing in sustainable solutions”. The programme is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Under the Zambia component, the technical focus area “Options for reducing vulnerability along the fish marketing chain” focuses on the Kafue Flats fishery in Zambia. This study aims to identify vulnerability factors affecting fisher folk and fish traders in the Kafue Flats, especially those that make them susceptible and vulnerable to HIV&AIDS. The study will provide the analytical basis for pilot interventions to reduce specific vulnerability factors and enhance livelihoods for fisher folk and fish traders in the Kafue Flats fishery. This report describes the methodologies and approaches used for the study in the Kafue Flats fishery, and how the findings and analyses will be used for the further implementation and learning of the programme. 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA 2.1 Background of the Kafue Flats The Kafue Flats are located in the Southern part of Zambia along the Kafue River, which is one of the main tributaries of the Zambezi River flowing though Copperbelt, Central, Southern and Lusaka Provinces. Leaving the Copperbelt Province flowing south, the river enters low-lying savannah wetlands, covering a wide area of 6,500 square kilometres forming a floodplain called the Kafue Flats (WWF, 2004) 1. The natural ecosystem has been heavily influenced by cycles of floods and droughts, and the unique wetland landscape of grasslands, lagoons and reed beds supports a diversity of wildlife. The vast open floodplain of the Kafue River covers four districts of Southern Province, namely; Itezhi-tezhi, Namwala, Monze and Mazabuka, as well as part of Kafue district in Lusaka Province. The Kafue Flats have a total population of 801,796 people, with approximately 111,992 housing units. Mazabuka has the highest population of 203,219 people, followed by Monze with 163,578 people and Kafue with 150,217 people. Namwala and Itezhi-tezhi districts have the lowest populations with 82,810 and 43,111 respectively (CSO, 2003) 2. Transport and road infrastructure are very poor over much of the area, resulting in geographical isolation of people in many areas within the Kafue Flats, especially in terms of basic service provision including health and education. Many of the fishing camps in the Kafue Flats are officially classified by government departments as ‘hard-to-reach’ areas. The Kafue Flats area includes protected areas – a system of National Parks and Game Management Areas; there are three main National Parks in the Kafue Flats namely: Lochinvar, Blue Lagoon and the Kafue Flats National Park. Much of the current fishing activities in the area are concentrated within or just outside the Lochinvar National Park, bordering with Chunga lagoon (see Map 1: Kafue Flats) . The Department of Fisheries (DoF) regulates fishing activities in all fisheries in Zambia through legislation and activities implemented by staff at national, provincial and district levels. 2.2 The economy and fishing activities in the Kafue Flats The Kafue Flats are important to Zambia because of the valuable commercial and agricultural production activities taking place in the area. Part of Zambia’s electricity is generated from the dams along the Kafue River, and the river is also a major source of 1 World Wildlife Fund (WWF) 2004. Study report on the role of the Kafue Flats fishery in sustaining the socio- economic livelihoods of the local communities. Kafue River Basin Dialogue on Water, Food and Environment Project. WWF Zambia / University of Zambia (UNZA). 2 Zambia Central Statistical Office, Summary Report: 2000 Census of Population and Housing, Lusaka, Zambia, Nov 2003. 2 drinking water for both humans and animals. The vastness of the floodplains makes it an essential area for commercial farming and industrial production. Many industries are located in Mazabuka and Kafue districts. Traditionally, the majority of people of the Kafue Flats earn a living from nature through cattle herding, fishing and small-scale agriculture. In recent years, many have been employed in the sugar plantations in Mazabuka as seasonal cane cutters. The sugar plantations rely to a large extent on the regular flooding of the plains that also improves the quality of grass for grazing cattle. The current population movements into the area follow the increase in fishing and the improved markets for fish and fish products. When the rainy season starts, the tributaries that are dry in the dry season get water from their catchment areas and from the Kafue river with its rising levels resulting in flooding. This is the period marked by government