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This thesis is an interdisciplinary attempt to refine the understanding of social learning processes in relation to the management of protected areas. In this, it draws on theories ot integrated rural development, environmental governance, participatory decision-making and social capital and develops a multi-level framework. The framework is tested in empirical applications.

Household welfare effects of changes in rural livelihoods and their diversity is the central theme of this argument. Inter- and intra-livelihood diversification dynamics and effects on choice and intensity of participation in farm and nonfarm activities have been analysed using a three-period panel dataset on 464 households located in 8 villages of two distinct geoeconomic and agroecological zones of Ghana. This research is situated within the debate of whether or not the agriculture-led rural poverty reductionrenaissance is pragmatic in terms of both analytical and policy thinking of rural economic development. Almost every conclusion reached depends on isolation or proximity to "national capital, anti agro-productive potential of study area under rain- fed conditions. First of all, the notion of a shift from farm to nonfarm oriented rural livelihoods is rather a hyperbole. Quality of human capital, access to other productive assets, price and income risk sensitivity are the most important determinants of choice of, and returns to rural livelihood activities. Second, in high agro-potential zones, both farm and nonfarm oriented livelihood strategies produce similar welfare outcomes. Third, concerning diversification within agriculture, resource allocation to high-value crops enhances household food security in high agro- productive potential zones. Fourth, farm productivity is decreasing in pluriactivity, suggesting that returns to nonfarm labour supply must more than offset the value of productivity loss from agriculture if a household is to maintain a given level of welfare. Finally, neither farm nor nonfarm productivity was responsible for rural poverty exit in the 2000s; spatial location of household, living in a female headed household, human capital quality and rural - urban linkages through urban social network capital were the drivers of poverty exit. So, 'livelihood-led poverty reduction policy thinking' appears more pragmatic than a sectoral view of rural development policy and practice.

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2013 / The study was conducted to examine the impact of the implementation of the comprehensive rural development programme, President Zuma referred to it as the integrated rural develooment in is presidential inaugural speech in 2009. The researcher went to Muyexe village to conduct the research as well as to observe what took place. The researcher interviewed community members as well as community leadership who indicated how the community has been transformed to what it was, which they described a squalor living condition to what it is today, a community that meets the most basic needs required for sustainable livelihood. The people of Muyexe owe their changed fortunes to the government’s Comprehensive Rural Development Programme developed and coordinated by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. Sector departments and other development agencies were mobilised to work together towards a common goal to improve the lives of rural people. The intervention brought numerous changes to the community of Muyexe village. The lives of the community has been improved, through the intervention the community now have access to health care, early child hood development centre, community multi community centre, and so forth. The community spoke fondly of the reduction in crime and the killings of their cattle by wild animals; the reduction is caused by the establishment of the police station and the fencing around of the village. Despite what had been achieved by the intervention, Government should regard what happened as an initial intervention to focus on meeting people’s basic needs, especially food security. The next step should be the entrepreneurial stage and large scale infrastructure development.

Dans tous les continents et en particulier dans les pays d'Afrique subsaharienne, les organisations paysannes ont toujours été au centre des politiques de développement de l'agriculture. Nombreuses et diversifiées, les organisations paysannes du Cameroun font l'objet d'une attention particulière de la part des pouvoirs publics qui depuis près de quatre décennies mettent en place des programmes de développement dont l'objectif principal est d'appuyer la professionnalisation de l'agriculture, à travers une structuration organisée du milieu rural. Le présent travail de recherche analyse le rôle des organisations paysannes dans la professionnalisation de l'agriculture. Il aborde et clarifie les notions de professionnalisation de l'agriculture et d'organisations paysannes à travers une approche sociologique et met en évidence la logique des programmes dits de professionnalisation, de même que les dynamiques d'organisation de producteurs agricoles qui évoluent au Cameroun. L'étude s'appuie sur des données d'observation des dynamiques d'organisations paysannes au Cameroun de 1994 à 2012 ainsi que du suivi des initiatives des projets d'appui aux organisations paysannes et aux filières agricoles. Les données collectées portent également sur une enquête réalisée auprès de 70 organisations paysannes dans les régions de l'Ouest, du Nord-ouest, du Sud-ouest, du Littoral et du Sud du Cameroun. Ces enquêtes ont permis de réaliser des entretiens de groupe avec environ 350 paysans issus d'organisations paysannes, et en particulier d'avoir des discussions plus approfondies avec 20 responsables d'organisations paysannes sur leur parcours et la nature de leur leadership. Sur la base des résultats obtenus, il a pu être établi que la professionnalisation de l'agriculture s'inscrit dans la logique des nouvelles offres « d'innovation » proposées par les partenaires du développement, avec pour objectif de contribuer au développement d'une agriculture plus performante dans les pays d'Afrique subsaharienne." [...] Suite et fin du résumé dans la thèse. / In all continents and especially in the sub Saharan countries, farmers organizations have always been at the center of development policies in agriculture. These farmers' organizations in Cameroon though many in number and diversified, are subject to particular attention by public authorities, who close to four decades today are putting in place development programs with main objective, being the support to professionalization of agriculture through the organization and the structuring of the rural milieu. This research analyses the role of farmers' organizations in the professionalization of agriculture. It treats and clarifies the notion of agricultural professionalization and farmer organizations using a sociological approach and put into evidence the logic of programs with focus on professionalization. It also treats the dynamics of farmer organizations in agriculture in Cameroon. The study is based on data from the observation of farmer's organizations dynamics in Cameroon from the year 1994 to 2012, and also, the follow up of initiatives of support projects to farmer organizations and the agriculture sub-sectors. Data collected is also from a survey carried out in 70 farmer organizations in the West, North West, South West, Littoral and South regions of Cameroon. These surveys permitted group discussions with about 350 farmers from different farmer organizations, and enabled particularly more elaborate discussions with 20 leaders of farmer's organizations on their experience and nature of leadership. On the basis of results obtained, it was established that the professionalization of agriculture is inscribed in the new logic of the supply of innovations proposed by development partners, with the aim of contributing to a more competitive agriculture sector in sub Saharan Africa." Last and final summary in the thesis.

Thesis (M.Dev.) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / The intent of this research was to evaluate the participation in the IDP process by the people with disabilities at the Malemati Village in Limpopo Province: Lepelle-Nkumpi Municipality. This intent has been achieved. The question under investigation was whether people with disabilities in Malemati Village Limpopo: Lepelle-Nkumpi Municipality participate in the IDP process. The objective was thus to phantom this topic and come out with necessary findings and recommendation of the targeted population in the process under investigation had been provided. The study covered reading of both the primary and secondary sources, group focus interview of people with disabilities, interview of the assistant head men, ward committee member residing in Malemati, the mayor, the municipal manager and the IDP manager Data was collected in the manner as explained in the above paragraph following the quantitative approach. Necessary recommendations have been made in this regard.