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A descriptive case study approach and 34 indicators was used to examine the socio-economic impacts of whale watching tourism in the Laguna San Ignacio (LSI) World Heritage Site - located within the El Vizcaino Biosphere Reserve in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The framework measured both the socio-economic changes, and the economic viability of the local and regional operators. This approach led to a detailed understanding of the underlying, and often complex, inter-related factors that shaped the ecotourism development in LSI between 1994 and 2002. It identified strengths and weaknesses of current ecotourism development making it a valid tool for evaluating and improving these activities in any biosphere reserve. More specifically the objectives were to examine: 1. How existing ecotourism operations and their activities in the LSI have changed since 1994; 2. Whether these changes have made ecotourism a more viable socio-economic development alternative for the local communities; and 3. Which strategies may be useful in overcoming identified barriers to further socio-economic benefits both from existing and future ecotourism activities. The results strongly suggested that the benefits from ecotourism improved significantly between 1994 and 2002. Economically this was reflected in growth of visitor numbers (50%), employment (100%) and local and regional revenue approximately 70% (or 55% in real terms adjusting for inflation). Social benefits were seen in more cooperation among previous antagonistic stakeholders; a wider distribution of ecotourism benefits; some improvement in living standards and increasing local support for the Reserve. Politically, local stakeholders became more empowered through involvement in tourism related management activities. The viability of the local and regional operators also improved significantly as they became more sophisticated in their product offerings, enhanced their facilities and gained a market share of ecotourism relative to the foreign operators. These improvements were particular true for the operators that sold package tours. However, the analyses also revealed a number of barriers with the most important ones being: • Unresolved historic land use conflicts over rights to land with ecotourism possibilities; • Lack of activities diversification possibilities outside the tourism season; • Stagnating visitor numbers; • Uneven business skills among operators; • Poor marketing and promotional efforts; • Insufficient ecotourism infrastructure; • A proposed ecotourism tax; • Low profit margin of the ecotourism operators; and • Lack of funding for further investments To alleviate these threats and barriers 13 general strategies were identified. An elaboration of these resulted in 39 concrete operational strategies on how potentially to implement them. / Science, Faculty of / Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES), Institute for / Graduate

The purpose of this treatise is a development of a suitable model for a community radio station which would lead to operational effectiveness and ensure sustainability. The treatise has three phases namely a theoretical phase, a narration phase and an integration phase. Firstly, in the theoretical phase the research study investigates what the literature review reveals about community radio stations and business models. This treatise argues that a total dependency of community radio stations on donor funding leads to operational ineffectiveness which threatens their sustainability. The treatise also argues that a business model could be adapted for a community radio station by identifying the business issues which the literature review revealed, and use these to deconstruct a theoretical business model. Secondly, in the narrative phase the research study investigates the important business issues for a selected community radio station. The treatise argues the board and management of this selected community radio station revealed additional business issues of operations and gave different ratings to business issues which are important in their operations. Thirdly, in the integration phase, the theoretical model deconstructed in the theoretical phase, was revised by including additional business issues of operations revealed in the narrative phase. The research study concludes that this revised model is a suitable business model for a community radio station and can lead to operational effectiveness and ensure sustainability.

This study is an outcome and impact evaluation of Concern Worldwide (CW) community feeding program. Concern Worldwide conducted a community feeding program in Nyanga District in 2012. It was responding to the National Food Report (2011) issued by the government on the food shortages in Nyanga District. The feeding program supported Nyanga communities with nutritional supplements and food provisions to households. The goal of Concern Worldwide was to address the problems of hunger, household food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty which were affecting people in Nyanga. Four evaluation questions about program outcomes were used as a framework for the evaluation and included: How feasible are livelihood feeding schemes as methods of providing food safety net?; How are short-term emergency programmes converted into long term benefits for communities?; What are the interventions available in the program to ensure fulfilment of goals and community empowerment?; What lessons can be derived from the projects that can be used in future by Concern Worldwide and other NGOs involved in emergency and other developmental projects? For the purposes of the study three data sources were consulted. These included program documents, CW officials and beneficiaries. Data collection methods used included face to face interviews and both closed and open ended questionnaires. The qualitative data was analysed through content analysis and presented graphically and descriptively. The findings showed that the community feeding program made some impact through food provisions and agriculture inputs to the beneficiaries which was highly regarded and appreciated. It also managed to provide training on drought resistant crop farming and management of harvests. Monitoring and evaluation of the feeding program was identified as a critical tool in creating efficiency and accountability of the program. Although training was provided to all the beneficiaries, not all were directly involved in the daily routine activities of the program a goal that is not achievable in the context of community feeding program.

Climate change is now real. Both scholars and scientists agree that the earth‟s climate is changing and therefore argue that developing countries of Africa and Asia, which are considered to be especially vulnerable because of their overdependence on climate sensitive resources and low adaptive capacity, should focus on adaptation programmes to build the capacity of affected communities to adapt to and cope with the effects of climatic change. But climate change adaptation programmes do not happen in a vacuum. Among other things they require proper institutional frameworks to succeed. The study therefore analyzed climatic events affecting Salima district in Malawi, the causes and effects of these climatic events, the nature and role of various institutions in climate change adaptation programmes in the district and the institutional coordination of players at different levels. The study findings reveal that the major climatic events affecting Salima district are droughts, floods, dry spells and hailstorms. Various institutions supporting and implementing climate change adaptation programmes and their roles are also highlighted. The study findings further reveals that weak coordination between institutions at all levels (national, district and community) is one of the challenges affecting effective implementation of climate change programmes. The study recommendations have therefore emphasized the need to review and strengthen climate change management structures at all levels.

NGOs continue to play a central role in the delivery of services in South Africa. Many of the gaps left by government in small and vulnerable communities are filled by community and nation-based organisations aimed at providing specific needs for communities. Education-based NGOs, more specifically, play the role of satisfying education and skills-related needs. This treatise is founded on the theoretical assumption that society functions just like a human body with all its different parts, or elements, interdependent: the one cannot function without the other. Central to this study is the understanding that when analysing and evaluating one area or element of society, it is vital to consider the impact of that area or element on other areas or elements of society. Such is the case with IKamva Youth, an NGO situated in Khayelitsha, a township on the outskirts of Cape Town. Although the organisation is independent and exists on its own terms, it is affected and influenced by the community and context within which it exists. Khayelitsha is considered a previously disadvantaged area, characterised by socio-economic challenges such as high levels of crime, poor quality of education, lack of sanitation, illness and disease and unemployment. IKamva Youth, situated in such a community, was founded with the purpose of addressing such issues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent to which the organisation has been effective in doing so. Paying specific attention to the community of Khayelitsha and the challenges it faces, the effectiveness of the organisation was evaluated according the overall purpose of NGOs and this organisation’s own vision, mission, purpose and objectives. This evaluation was done using the organisation’s different programs which are tasked with the responsibility of carrying out the purpose of the organisation. These programs were outlined and explained and used as the units of measuring the extent to which the organisation has been effective. In order to obtain an in-depth knowledge of these programs, the organisation was first located within its broader context after which these various programs were evaluated for effectiveness using responses from sampled participants. A questionnaire and in-depth interviews were compiled as measuring instruments for this evaluation. Data collected by means of the instruments formed the central point of reference that crafted the conclusion that in the midst of a number of socio-economic challenges, IKamva Youth has been effective in carrying out its purpose as an NGO and fulfilling its own vision and mission.

This study sought to assess community participation in the rendering of services in the Capricorn District Municipality. The concept of community participation is central in underpinning successful development programmes. However, this is usually undermined in communities where cultural factors and political factors influence decision making. The study was premised on the review of literature and documents as the Researcher believed that more research on the subject matter has been done extensively. Personal interviews were done with officials within the Public Participation units in both the Capricorn District Municipality and its Local Municipalities so as to gain insight as to how implementation of public participation processes is done in the CDM‟s area of jurisdiction. Literature was reviewed in terms of the legislative requirements with regard to the implementation of public participation methods in the Local Government sector. Various documents were reviewed so as to understand what other scholars have written about the subject matter. Personal interviews were done with officials within the Public Participation units in both the Capricorn District Municipality and Its Local Municipalities so as to gain insight as to how implementation of public participation processes is done. An assessment of how Capricorn District Municipality implements public participation methods was done in line with what the legislation provides for as well as what the scholars said about public participation. Gaps in the implementation of such were also identified, wherein recommendations were made on how best Capricorn District Municipality can improve on the public participation processes so as to comply with the legislative requirements.

This study evaluates the potential for community-based ecotourism as conservation and development strategy in Kome village, which is an unprotected area. The study adopts the ecotourism concept to illustrate how communitybased ecotourism can be a tool for conservation and development in poor rural communities. Adopting the intensive case study design, the study investigates the major challenges for community-based ecotourism in Kome village. Findings reveal that Kome community derives low socio-economic benefits including limited earnings, low employment, poor benefits sharing and lack of entrepreneurships. Kome has a potential to offer better community-based ecotourism products due to diverse tourist attractions ranging from historical, cultural activities to natural scenery. The study suggests and recommends formation of a partnership between the Kome community, private, public sector and the NGOs as a strategy for development. The study concludes that ecotourism can be an appropriate option for conservation and development for Kome village.

This study deals with the problem of seeking logical strategies for establishing educational programs on community planning in various categories of poor countries. Its thesis is that education for community planning in poor countries, to be effective, must relate to the development process at all levels of government and to the educational system. Two assumptions have been made: (1) Each of the poor countries must evolve its own program of manpower education, in which community planning education is but a part, in the light of its social and economic goals; and (2) Education for community planning in a poor country must interlock with its social and economic planning process. Two steps have been employed to prove or disprove this thesis. Initially, a set of logical strategies for establishing an educational system in poor countries has been formulated. Three levels of development have been considered and an appropriate set of strategies have been designed for each. Then this construct has been tested through two case studies. The case studies cover Ghana and Indonesia. In Ghana, an attempt is being made to produce local planning assistants. On the other hand, a professional program with a focus on regional planning has been established in Indonesia. Both programs are pioneering efforts. Both programs have been initiated under United Nations technical assistance. Both programs have been aided by a North American university; Ghana by the University of British Columbia and Indonesia by Harvard University. Considering the level of development of both countries, this study finds both programs as too ambitious and therefore too premature. Based on this study's set of logical strategies, Ghana and Indonesia should have concentrated on the education of planning assistants. In the meantime, the positions of professional planners should be filled by expatriate personnel. At the same time, selected nationals should be sent abroad for professional education. With a firm foundation of a planning assistants course, its extension towards professional education could proceed in a logical manner as the country's level of development improves. To poor countries contemplating to establish planning educational systems, this study offers a set of guidelines. These guidelines consist of two parts. The first part provides a framework for approaching the formulation of an educational program on a comprehensive basis. The second part relates how the comprehensive approach may be realized. These guideline, hopefully, will be refined as others would conduct further studies on the experiences of the rest of the countries which have inaugurated planning educational programs. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

An increasing desire on the part of the public to have more control over the environment in which they live is raising demands for a more decentralized decision-making structure. These demands mean a change in the power structure. Information has become the source of power and control. If citizens are to be involved equally in decisions, it means they must have freer access to the reception and distribution of information - especially in the mass media. Television as a medium has the capacity to deeply involve people and to transmit a large volume of information. In Canada, the content of broadcast television is controlled by the government agency, the CBC, and private broadcasters. Financial interests (advertisers and stockholders) can exert strong influence on programme content. A scarcity of broadcast channels and very expensive and complicated equipment restrict access to broadcast television. Cable television offers a solution. It has a potential capacity of eighty-two channels; it does not require as sophisticated equipment; and the Canadian Radio-Television Commission requires the cable system operator to provide a community channel. Free access by citizens to a cable channel for expression and information is the basis of community television. Several cases, in which media access and citizen influence over decisions were improved, were examined. The Fogo Island project exhibited the power of film to help a community to formulate its goals and define solutions to its problems. The Drumheller project used video-tape, instead of film, to the same ends. In both these projects the citizens controlled the content of the "programmes". The Barrie experiment used two electronic media (television and telephone) for dialogue. The content of the programme was determined by a community committee. The Richmond project used electronic dialogue but the content was greatly influenced by a technical panel. The experiment in the West End was designed to spur discussion of the future of that area, to interest some residents in the use of video and cable television for expression of their attitudes about West End life and some directions for development. On a small scale the experiment was successful; the extension over a longer period of time will determine its final outcome. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate