Description: Interviews with experts on women's economic empowerment and the blue economy in the Indian Ocean Rim were conducted. Although women have played an important economic role in the Indian Ocean for generations, they face a multitude of barriers to full economic inclusion in the Indian Ocean's Blue Economy. This qualitative dataset focuses on the Blue Economy as a vehicle for women’s economic empowerment.

The initial target interviews were 10 but 8 interviews were conducted. The realisation rate is therefore 80%. Abstract: The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) committed itself to a framework of gender equality through advancing women’s economic empowerment through the Blue Economy, and as such, Women’s Economic Empowerment and Blue Economy are cross-cutting issues across IORA’s Priority Areas (IORA, 2016, IORA 2018b). The vehicle through which to facilitate women’s economic empowerment in IORA is through the key sectors of the Blue Economy, as well as IORA’s key priority areas. To this effect, the notions of both the Blue Economy and Women’s Economic Empowerment are cross-cutting issues that inform IORA’s 2017 – 2021 Action Plan. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has supported this research to provide IORA member states with technical assistance on the topic “Strengthening women’s economic empowerment in the Blue Economy, specifically in the Indian Ocean”. Specifically, the primary objective was to provide an outcome report that provides technical support on realising the cross-cutting themes of the Blue Economy and Women’s Economic Empowerment as per IORA’s Action Plan 2017 – 2021.

This project required a three-pronged approach, drawing on policy analysis; qualitative key informant elite interviews; and quantitative analysis of existing databases, such as the World Bank’s Gender Data Portal to mine and analyse relevant data that speak to factors that impact on women’s economic empowerment within the space of the Blue Economy.

Although women have played an important economic role in the Indian Ocean for generations, they face a multitude of barriers to full economic inclusion in the Indian Ocean’s Blue Economy. This qualitative dataset focuses on the Blue Economy as a vehicle for women’s economic empowerment. While the quantitative data will allow one to construct a baseline of women’s inclusion and participation in the Blue Economy, there is a need to engage with those “silent” or “invisible” challenges and opportunities that impact on women’s economic empowerment in the Indian Ocean’s Blue Economy. We used interviews to supplement the qualitative metasynthesis,policy analysis and quantitative analysis. isolate key themes that impact (whether positively or negatively) on women’s economic empowerment in the Indian Ocean’s Blue Economy.

Digital audio recording

Telephone interview

Countries that are members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association.

A non-probability sampling approach was used in this study due to the exploratory nature of the qualitative aspect of the study, specifically purposive sampling. This approach was further necessitated by the fact that the sampling universe is largely unknown and poorly documented. Consequently, the respondent selection criteria were pre-determined. This involved a pragmatic assessment of stakeholders whose knowledge and experience could provide important insights into addressing the study questions. Purposive sampling is informed by strategic choices and is synonymous with qualitative research. The sample was selected based on a list of experts identified by both the research team and the IORA Secretariat. Eight experts were interviewed, unpacking the dynamics of women’s economic empowerment in the Indian Ocean’s Blue Economy. These interviews were conducted via Skype or telephone. Other interviewees also responded to interview questions via email.