SSF Hub Resource Library Guidelines

The SSF Hub is a multilingual, interactive online space that includes a Resource Library where users can access freely available tools and resources related to small-scale fisheries. The purpose of the SSF Hub is to support the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). As such, resources on the SSF Hub focus on small-scale fisheries and/or support the implementation of the SSF Guidelines. 

The SSF Hub seeks to include resources from a wide range of geographies and in a variety of languages. Resources relate to a broad array of topics relevant to small-scale fisheries and include a wide variety of resource types—a resource can be a case study, tools or toolkit, guide or manual, online course, video, podcast or audio recording, graphic or an e-poster, webpage, or report. 

Rather than publish resources, the SSF Hub links to existing resources on external websites, creating a one-stop place to search and find information on small-scale fisheries. The Resource Library is dependent on the contributions of SSF Hub users. Below you will find more information on the criteria that SSF Hub administrators use to determine if a resource would be a good fit for the Resource Library. We encourage you to suggest resources using the Contact Form on the SSF Hub or by emailing resources@ssfhub.org. 

How was the Resource Library developed?

The SSF Hub was co-created through a participatory and consultative process with partner organizations that work in small-scale fisheries including fisher organizations, conservation groups, and expert advisors. During the SSF Hub website development process, surveys were distributed to better understand the interests and types of resources that would be most useful to those living in and working with small-scale fisheries. Partners then created initial guiding principles (shown below) for the Resource Library. These surveys and the guiding principles were used to develop the current version of the Resource Library. However, the Resource Library will continue to be updated based on feedback and the needs and interests of those living in and working with small-scale fisheries. 

What should I do if I am interested in suggesting a resource?

If you are interested in suggesting a resource, please review the Guiding Principles, Best Practices, and How to Suggest a Resource sections below. 

Guiding Principles

In order to determine which resources should be included on the SSF Hub, the following guiding principles were developed:

  • Resources must be related to small-scale fisheries. 
  • Resources can relate to inland and/or marine small-scale fisheries.
  • Resources should align with the vision and/or support the implementation of the SSF Guidelines. 
  • Resources must be publicly and freely available.
  • The SSF Hub is granted permission by the rightsholder to link the resources to the resource from the SSF Hub.
  • Resources should be accessible to and inclusive of different audiences.
  • Resources can and should reflect the diversity of SSF stakeholders, including different languages.
  • Resources can include materials designed for all levels of experience and expertise.
  • Resources should be practical, useful, relevant, and deployable by fishers and fishing communities. 
  • Resources should be from a credible source (through lived experience and/or supported by evidence or research).
  • Resources should be in a completed or shareable state.
  • When possible, the Resource Library should promote streamlining resources and reducing redundancies to increase ease of search and site navigability.

The resources and these guiding principles may be adapted over time to reflect the needs and preferences of participating audiences. 

Best Practices

In addition to meeting the Guiding Principles above, additional best practices have been developed to help determine if specific resources should be included on the SSF Hub and to ensure consistency across the Resource Library: 

  • While the SSF Hub seeks to include a wide range of resource types, to decrease redundancy and adhere to the Guiding Principles (see above) the SSF Hub Resource Library focuses on practical resources. As such the following types of resources are better shared on other parts of the site, such as Groups or Discussions:
    • Conference and workshop reports
    • Data summaries below a national scale
    • Journal articles that are not open access
    • Journal articles where the content cannot be directly applied
  • The SSF Hub links to resources that are hosted on external sites when available. If the SSF Hub needs to host the file, there are size requirements for the resources. 
  • In order to maintain the efficiency of the search function and Resource Library, videos with their own resource pages should be at least three minutes in length. Videos that do not meet this length requirement will be included on a playlist of videos with similar content and published on a different resource page, discussion, or group on the site. 
  • Resources that come in multiple volumes, chapters, installments, or are of the same series will be published together on one Resource Page. Example: WorldFish Aquaculture Training Videos. 

We also ask you to consider:

  • Is there a high demand for this type of information and/or is this resource highly relevant at this time? (Example: information regarding COVID-19). 
  • Does the resource fill a content or knowledge gap on the SSF Hub? Does this resource highlight / promote a sector of SSF that is typically marginalized or undervalued? 
  • “Practical applications” - can the resource be used by a community member right away? 
  • Does this resource adhere to the Community Guidelines? 

If the resource meets the above Guiding Principles and Best Practices, please follow the instructions in the How to Suggest a Resource section below. 

How to Suggest a Resource 

There are two ways to suggest a resource to the SSF Hub Resource Library. 

  • Fill out this Contact Form. 
    • Select “Suggest a Resource” from the “What do you need help with?” dropdown menu.
  • Email resources@ssfhub.org and provide the following content in the body of the email. 
    • Your name and contact information, the resource name, the resource URL / download link, and a brief description of the resource. 
    • Please also note if you are the author of the resource or if you are able to grant permission for the resource to be hosted on the SSF Hub. Otherwise, please provide the contact information for the resource owner, if known. 

After I suggest a resource, what comes next?

After the Suggest a Resource form has been submitted you can expect the following: 

  • The completed form will be sent to the SSF Hub administrators for review. 
  • The SSF Hub administrators will review the suggested resource and determine if it meets the Resource Library Guiding Principles and Best Practices. If you are the author of the resource, the SSF Hub administrators will assume that your submission of the suggestion form is also a granting of permission to publish and cross-post the resource on the SSF Hub. 
    • If the recommender is not the author, the SSF Hub administrators will attempt to contact the author to seek publication permissions before creating a resource page.
  • If the resource meets the inclusion criteria, a resource page will be created and published on the SSF Hub site. 
    • If you are the author of the resource, you will receive a follow up email from the SSF Hub asking you to review the resource page and approve the content, categories, subcategories, SSF Guideline sections, etc. 
    • After being published, edits can be made to the resource pages at any time by contacting resources@ssfhub.org. 
  • If the resource does not meet the Guiding Principles you may be contacted by the SSF Hub administrators to find other ways of sharing the resource/information on the SSF Hub.

The SSF Hub Administrators reserve the right to make all final decisions about which resources are published on the SSF Hub Resource Library. 

 

 

Thank you for contributing content to the SSF Hub Resource Library! 

Your participation is helping the SSF Hub Community grow and work towards strengthening small-scale fisheries. 

 

Last Updated - February 2021

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