UN Global processes: what do we lose if they disappeared. The case of small-scale fisheries.

The current political economy is increasingly shifting toward protectionism and domestically centered policies, weakening the commitment to global processes such as those facilitated through the United Nations.

However, there are challenges—particularly those related to the oceans—that cannot be identified or solved in isolation. Some are clear-cut: certain fish stocks migrate across Exclusive Economic Zones and into the High Seas, making collaborative management essential. Others are less visible: the indivisibility of ocean systems and the lack of representation in decision-making processes continue to marginalize small-scale fishers—the ocean’s oldest users—who now face unprecedented challenges, including increased competition from other Blue Economy sectors, the impacts of climate change, and accelerating biodiversity loss.

In this seminar, Nicole will share her insights on what it could mean if global processes were to disappear. Drawing on her extensive professional experience within the United Nations system—where she has observed, participated in, and co-led international processes—she will reflect on her involvement with the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication, the only dedicated international policy instrument for small-scale fisheries, which she has helped shape and promote for over a decade.