Smoking ovens progress
UNU-FTP has been working on a smoking ovens project in Sierra Leone and Liberia, together with the Icelandic MFA and relevant authorities in the two countries. The project started in 2018 and is planned to end in 2021. Work is progressing satisfactorily; though considerably smoother and faster in Sierra Leone than in Liberia.
In Sierra Leone work is more or less on schedule, with operation of a pilot 12-oven system in Tombo fishing village expected to take place in autumn, at the end of the raining season /start of the fishing season. One Sierra Leonean fellow has already graduated from the Six month training program in Iceland, specializing in quality management and set for assisting in the implementation effort of the project. Another fellow will arrive in Iceland this September for the same purpose. In country “training of trainers” courses are to be conducted in September this year.
In Liberia, on the other hand, only one trial oven has been constructed. One Liberian fellow has already graduated from the Six month training program in Iceland, specializing in quality management and set for assisting in the implementation effort of the project (i.e. if and when it takes off). Another fellow will arrive in Iceland this September for the same purpose. Schedule for in country “training of trainers” courses have not been set.
Objectives of the projectThe goal of the project is to introduce improved fish smoking techniques in coastal communities in Liberia and Sierra Leone. This involves the design and instalment of innovative fish smoking ovens and the commensurate building up of capacity /training in using them effectively. Synergies with the UNU-FTP Six Month Training Programme will be maximised by inviting fellows from the region to join the programme in Iceland. Expected outcomes include:
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