This investigation of social learning processes in the Chipembere gardening project was conducted in Rockvale village one in Sebakwe communal area in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe. In essence, the study sought to explore how the Chipembere gardening project as a community-based natural resource management initiative (CBNRM), was reflecting and supporting social learning processes of change. It also sought to enrich and deepen an organizational understanding of social learning and to generate ideas and draw recommendations that could be used to strengthen learning in other CBNRM projects. The research was undertaken as a qualitative case study with data generated through semi-structured interviews with individuals and groups. It also included an analysis of project documents and an extended period of participant observation on site and in the gardening activities. Data were indexed and coded for generating analytical memos that were used to extract and represent the scope of social learning interations within the developing project. The study found that within the Chipembere gardening project a wide range of learning interactions were significant in shaping the developing project. Furthermore, these interactions were earmarked as the major drivers of social learning processes within the project. The study concluded that the social learning interactions amongst the gardeners in the Chipembere community garden were instrumental in fostering change that enhanced community livelinhoods and wellbeing.

Literature and the cooperative movement in Malawi shows that the first cooperative was established in 1947. Since the economy of the country depends on agriculture, most cooperatives were strongly developed in the fields of agricultural production, and processing and marketing. The first coffee cooperative was registered in 1950, known as the Nchenachena Coffee Producers Cooperative Society. After Malawi 's independence in 1964, agricultural cooperatives were dissolved and government formed the Farmers Marketing Board (FMB) to take over all marketing activities of all crops, including coffee. The FMB was replaced by the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) in 1967. After the dissolution of agricultural cooperatives, government saw the need for crop development and established Smallholder Coffee Authority in 1971. The Smallholder Coffee Authority worked up to 1999 when it collapsed because of administrative and financial problems. Due to the failure of the Smallholder Coffee Authority, the government of Malawi reintroduced agricultural cooperatives in 1999. Mzuzu Coffee Planters ' Cooperative Union was formed in 2006 following the re-introduction of cooperatives. The union is mandated to promote sustainable production, processing and marketing of Arabica coffee on behalf of the farmers. Since its inception, the output of coffee for export from the Mzuzu Coffee Planters Cooperative Union has increased from 156 tonnes in 2006 to over 400 tonnes in 2009. The increase in coffee exports was not by mere chance but a number of factors contributed to this success. The main reasons for this success were: • Strong prior relationship between the growers and the buyers • The uniqueness of the cooperative business model • The unique taste and quality of coffee grown • The introduction of a different approach to farming coffee Currently there is high demand for organic coffee and this could be a niche market that is not only rewarded with premium prices but also creates environmental friendly business. The union considers Fair Trade market as an alternative approach to conventional trade, aiming at improving the livelihoods of smallholder producers by improving payments, giving them fair prices and providing continuity in trading relationships.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (PhD (Agricultural Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / PhD / unrestricted

Please read the abstract in the 00front part of this document / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MSc / Unrestricted

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Magister Technologiae: Civil Engineering and Survey, M.L Sultan Technikon, 2002. / The new South African Government that came into power in 1994 faced a daunting task of undoing the political injustices of the past. The government immediately introduced a Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) to address these injustices / M

The Land Reform projects are primarily challenged by post-settlement support. They mainly rely on government grants to survive and in some instances, projects have failed due to lack of sufficient post-settlement support. There are many government and private institutions and mandated and private businesses that offer post-settlement support to LRAD beneficiaries. Their impact can only be measured against improvements in the livelihoods of beneficiaries. While land reform has been in existence in SA, the main source of support evidently seems to have been the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) in the form of a government grants. The existence of other sources of post-settlement support cannot be ignored, but the extents to which these support mechanisms are combined have contributed to the improvement of sustainable livelihood of the beneficiaries, as measured through livelihood assets. The main aim of this study is to explore how the LRAD beneficiaries in the Witzenberg Municipality in the Western Cape employ their livelihood strategies. It explores the types of support received by the beneficiaries and how the support has been used. To determine the progress made through the post-settlement support received by the beneficiaries in an attempt to achieve rural livelihoods strategies, the study discusses the status of the farms during the inception and also the current status. Many studies done by role players and academics in the field of land reform mainly explore the monetary benefit and ignore or pay less attention to the livelihood in five capitals. The needs confronting beneficiaries in the form of livelihood strategies are presented in the form of capital; for example, physical, natural, human, social, economic and financial capitals. This paper seeks to establish an understanding of how beneficiaries of land reform achieve their livelihood, given the constraints of post-settlement support to land reform in South Africa.

Income generating projects represent one strategy adopted by the Department of Economic Development to alleviate poverty. The purpose of this study is to investigate the contribution of an income-generation project in Ngwanya Village, Dutywa in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A sample of fifteen respondents was drawn from one income-generating project funded by the Department of Economic Development. The sampling method used for this study was purposive sampling. Data for analysis and interpretation was gathered through semi-structured interviews. Relevant literature that focuses on income-generating projects for poverty alleviation has been reviewed. Following analysis of the data gathered and interpretation of the study, conclusions are arrived at and various recommendations made. The research findings indicate clearly that the strategies being used by the Department of Economic Development were not sufficiently effective to achieve the desired goals of poverty alleviation.

The current study aimed to evaluation of a Rural Development project in this case the (Kabelo Trust), by evaluating the factors that contributes to its sustainability even though 70% of the members did not undergo high school education. Qualitative research methods was employed in gathering accurate information from the project members about the strategies that they are employing in sustaining the project while many government funded project does not last for even a year. The involvement of the stakeholders like Setsoto Local Municipality, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, the role they played in the project was also explored. It was therefore suggested by the researcher that the main stakeholder which is the Department of Agriculture should assist the project in establishing market for products in other countries.

Women’s income-generating projects are regarded as a critical area in promoting sustainable livelihoods in the lives of the poor. This study centres on a cattle project in Sadomba village in Nyanga District, Zimbabwe. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role and contributions of income-generating projects with regard to women; the necessary conditions for a successful cattle production project; the major challenges in women’s income-generating projects, and how income-generating projects can be strengthened, all in relation to this cattle project.The study is underpinned by the sustainable livelihood approach and literature on micro-financing of women’s projects in various countries. The study is based on qualitative methodology using a case study design and methods of data collection included semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation. The data was analysed using thematic analysis and sub-themes that arose in the study and thereafter all the data was grouped by a process of coding. The results indicated that the Sadomba cattle project has benefited the project members in terms of income generation by the selling of cattle and milk, for agricultural purposes (draught power) and also income they obtained from hiring their cattle to other community members in rainy seasons. The income generated has assisted them to send their children to school and attain higher education.In addition, it promotes community engagement when they share paddocks and dip tanks. However, despite these benefits, they face a number of challenges such as long distances to the market, a lack of microcredit and the unavailability of exotic breeds. Therefore, there is need to integrate the conditions that are necessary for successful income generating projects to the Sadomba cattle project.

Masihlumisane (let’s grow together) is a community based project in a small rural community of Glenmore situated to the south of the Great Fish River Nature Reserve (GFRNR) and half way between Grahamstown and Peddie in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. This rural community was established as a resettlement center during pre-1994 South African government forced removals (Hallett, 1994). Glenmore is economically and socially impoverished as there are few businesses, little economic activity and minimal social tradition in the settlement (Murray, 1989). This village is characterised by an out migration of people of an economically active age, high unemployment amongst residents, dysfunctional families due to parents living elsewhere in order to earn a living, and a youthful population desperate to obtain skills and experiences that will benefit them when they leave Glenmore in the future.