GENDER INVOLVEMENT AND WELLBEING IN SMALL  PELAGIC DRIED FISH VALUE CHAINS IN SRI LANKA 

Men and women are engaged with different activities in dried fish value chains. Their level of  involvement and wellbeing perused differ across region, value chain, node of the value chain, and intersectionality. Thus, this study was designed to examine the level of involvement of men and women in small pelagic dried fish value chains, to evaluate the contribution of small pelagic dried fish value chains for the wellbeing of men and women, to assess the factors effect on the  involvement and wellbeing of men and women and to suggest strategies to uplift the involvement and wellbeing of men and women in the dried fish value chains as a specific  objectives. The study was conducted in Negombo, Kalpitiya, and Trincomalee- the areas with highest small-pelagic dried fish production. Qualitative data collection techniques were adopted including in depth interviews (n=45); five from each node of the value chain in each area) and  key informant discussions (n= 6) with an equal gender representation. Data were analyzed descriptively and using Atlas.ti software. Three-dimensional wellbeing framework with material, relational, and subjective wellbeing was used for wellbeing analysis.  Results show that the dried fish production is labor intensive industry with a diverse involvement of men and women in different scale. In Negombo, women are the key players in dried fish production and trading process. In contrast, women in Trincomalee and Kalpitiya are  underrepresented in these sectors. The well-being of these women is influenced by their Muslim cultural background, which emerges as a primary factor contributing to their limited  involvement. Although processing activities involve both genders, men prevail in these tasks. In trading, both men and women undertake sorting, grading, weighing, and packing; however, men are particularly responsible for loading and unloading. Women’s labor, on the other hand, has been discriminated against by paying a lower daily salary.   The wellbeing domain foregrounds that material wellbeing that is linked to income, assets, education, skill level, ownership, access to resources, and food security emerges as the most valued dimensions for men and women. Subjective wellbeing is associated with life  satisfaction, happiness, aspirations, leisure, and spirituality, whereas relational wellbeing is  influenced by family relationships, community networks, and interactions with traders and  coworkers. Despite the fact that the traditional roles of men and women in the dried fish industry is liable  to change with time, their contributions to overall growth of the dried fish industry in the region  continue to be significant. The level of involvement depends on ethnicity, family background, social support, equipment, and labor hours required. As per the wellbeing analysis, it was found that the material wellbeing is mostly valued by men and women than relational and subjective  aspects. A combination of tactics centered on sustainability, market access, and quality  improvement can be used to uplift Sri Lankan dried fish processors and traders.