She4Sea - Employability and entrepreneurial development of women in water-based blue economy sectors

The She4Sea project’s objectives responded to the urgent need to address persistent gender imbalances in the maritime sector, which remains traditionally male-dominated. Women often face barriers ...

The She4Sea project’s objectives responded to the urgent need to address persistent gender imbalances in the maritime sector, which remains traditionally male-dominated. Women often face barriers to entering and advancing in maritime careers, partly due to limited access to targeted training and a lack of recognition for essential soft skills. Leadership, entrepreneurship, and sustainability literacy are increasingly critical for success in today’s evolving blue economy, yet these competencies are often overlooked in traditional training. By focusing on these soft skills, the project aimed to equip women with the tools needed to confidently pursue and thrive in maritime professions. Raising awareness among stakeholders and educators was essential to foster systemic change, ensuring that gender equality and skill development become priorities within the industry. Providing accessible, self-guided training and career planning tools directly addressed the need for flexible learning paths that accommodate diverse backgrounds and support women’s empowerment in a competitive labour market.

The project began with extensive research to understand current gaps in women’s participation in the maritime sector. This included both secondary research and primary data collection through surveys, interviews, and focus groups. Based on this, a competence framework was developed, outlining the soft skills women need to enter or grow in maritime careers. A digital profiling tool was also created to help women assess their skills and career readiness. Training material was co-designed by experts and partners from different countries, focusing on leadership, entrepreneurship, and sustainability. These materials were tested through pilot sessions involving real learners and trainers. Two handbooks—one for learners and one for trainers—were developed to support continued learning. Awareness raising was central to the project and carried out through national events, an international workshop, and direct engagement with stakeholders. Dissemination activities were ongoing, with all partners sharing results through their networks, social media, and targeted outreach.

Central results included a research-based Competence Framework and Compendium, identifying the soft skills—leadership, entrepreneurship, and sustainability—needed across water-based tourism, fisheries and aquaculture, and maritime transport. A multilingual online training platform (EN, EL, ES, BG) was developed, featuring professional profiles and an interactive skills-matching tool. Two detailed Handbooks—one for learners and one for trainers—were created to support accessible, self-paced and guided learning. More than 200 dissemination actions reached over 164,000 people, including multiplier events in Greece, Spain, and Bulgaria, and major international forums like Posidonia. These outputs increased visibility for gender issues in maritime professions and provided tangible tools for supporting women’s access, confidence, and career growth in a transforming, green-blue economy. Key supporting documents included the Report on Competence Needs, the Report on Gender Aspects, and the Best Practices Report, all of which informed the development of training materials and the project’s overall strategy.