MASIFUNDISE DEVELOPMENT TRUST

  
Since 2002, Masifundise has worked alongside South Africa’s small-scale fishing communities to advance social and environmental justice. Its vision is of a society where fishers enjoy dignified livelihoods, secure access to marine and inland resources, and full recognition of their human rights. Over the past two decades, Masifundise has been engaging in advancing recognition of rural fishing communities through policy changes - from the adoption of the Small-Scale Fisheries Policy in 2012 to the Inland Fisheries Policy in 2021 - and organization building, and it supported the establishment of Coastal Links South Africa, a national movement of coastal and inland fishers.

Masifundise’s mission is to empower members of fishing communities to be agents of change, and it supports such mission through capacity building, participatory action research and advocacy.

With the support of the Claude Leon Foundation, Masifundise implements the Advancing Justice and Livelihoods for Small-Scale Fishers project. The initiative empowers fisher leaders - especially women and youth - to strengthen the fisher movement, document human rights violations, and influence policy reform. Through storytelling, advocacy, and legal empowerment, the project amplifies fisher voices and champions sustainable, climate-resilient livelihoods rooted in food sovereignty and justice.