Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-118). / The Breaking New Ground Plan and its implementation in the pilot project known as the N2 Gateway is an important step in the conceptualization and delivery of social housing in South Africa. The National Department of Housing in BNG promotes the building of communities and not just the construction of houses as was allegedly the case in the previously built state housing. In practice, however, the N2 Gateway Project does not adequately adhere to the Breaking New Ground Strategy and is fraught with implementation problems. Whilst the N2 Gateway houses may in some cases be of a better quality, they are being built far away from economic opportunities and lack the specified social amenities and community facilities. The N2 Gateway project has been rushed, been plagued by poor planning and has failed to deliver within its time-frames. The failure to properly implement the N2 Gateway Project necessitates an analysis of the project and if necessary a review of the BNG housing policy.

“The rise of social protection in form of social safety nets is attributed to the forceful return of poverty onto the international development agenda credited to World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)” (Chisinga, 2007:3). The basis of the discussion of social protection as a new model for development derives from the vision of the initiative as a path to sustainable economic development due to its holistic approach to poverty eradication and capability deprivation (Taylor, 2008)."In Africa, where pre-existing welfare regimes are often absent or comparatively very weak, the origins of cash transfer schemes stem from the search for alternatives to food and input transfers to tackle hunger"(Slater,2011:256). In the sub-Saharan region, for example, countries such as South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Namibia and Malawi have similarly embraced the trend by adopting social grants and cash transfers as a solution to poverty and capability deprivation. Malawi, portrays a vivid image of a country with little resources for 17 million inhabitants, leaving more than half of the population below the poverty line (Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MDGS) III report (2017). The goal of the Malawi Social Cash Transfer Program (SCTP) is to reduce poverty, hunger and increase school enrolment among the poorest 10% of households. Targeting the correct 10% is key to the success of the program. The World Bank Group, Malawi Poverty Assessment (2016), calls into question the likelihood of precisely targeting the chronically poor people in such initiatives. On the other hand, Houssou et al., 2007 and Slater, 2011 insist on the need to evaluate the foresee-ability of contextual intervention programs, especially if a country does not have the capacity for widespread social grants as targeting becomes a matter of concern. The idea is that social cash transfers will be successful in reducing poverty if the right individuals are targeted. Considering the high poverty rate in Malawi and the gaps between the lower poverty deciles and the income profile are marginal (Ellis, 2008), how accurate is the decentralized targeting process? Based on this rationale, this exploratory research explored and highlights the complexities in targeting of beneficiaries in the program which, as a result has contributed to the derailment of the program. Findings show that the Government of Malawi (GoM) has overlooked the necessary control mechanisms to achieve effective targeting. As such, the study identifies anomalies in the targeting process that play a significant role in affecting the achievement of the goal of the program. Thus, SCTP falls short of combating poverty in a multi-dimensional manner.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-100). / Recent studies have shown that Official Development Assistance (ODA) is able to contribute to poverty reduction through the Public Expenditure Management (PEM) system. The International Financial Institutions (IFIs) have also been channelling ODA in the form of budget support under the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs). While implementing PRSPs, Zambia, a poor country, showed remarkable improvement in the economic and social sectors. Whether it was ODA channelled for pro-poor expenditure or economic growth that was responsible for these improvements or both could only be ascertained by empirical research. To study this research problem, this undertaking used a quantitative research design. Data on Zambia's requests for ODA were collected from the Zambian national budget and official Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the period 1990 to 2008. Statistics on ODA received were obtained from the OECD.stat database, in order to find out the extent to which ODA receipts were a part of Zambia's public expenditure. Public expenditure was then correlated with the IMR, and numerically compared with the HDI and poverty headcount. The research produced a number of key findings. For nine of the fifteen years examined, Zambia received an average of 260.57 per cent of all ODA it requested. There was evidence that the association between pro-poor expenditure and IMR was strong. The HDI and poverty head count improved but the study was inconclusive on whether this was as a result of increased pro-poor expenditure or not. The PEM system was argued to be a vital factor for ODA to reach the poor. Overall, there was strong indication that ODA contributed to poverty reduction through pro-poor public expenditure in Zambia. It was therefore recommended that both donors and the Zambian government ensure that all ODA was targeted at primary and secondary education, primary health care, rural roads, and agricultural extension services.

2019 marked 10 years since the beginning of the Boko Haram insurgency. While violent conflicts hardly ever have straightforward explanations, the narrative on the insurgency has been reductionist – largely addressing the role of religion and to some extent, other socio-economic indicators. Moreover, most of the literature on the drivers, impact and counter terrorism response has disproportionately focused on Nigeria. Consequently, data reflecting the regional spill-over of the insurgency has been very minimal. Finally, very little is known about the development response to the conflict in all affected countries in the Lake Chad Basin, including Nigeria. In an attempt to fill these gaps, this research sought to understand the nexus between conflict and development in all four riparian countries of Lake Chad, i.e. Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger. It built on data from secondary sources and empirical evidence from extensive fieldwork, to examine the complexity of economic, social, cultural, political and environmental drivers of the conflict in all affected countries. It also took stock of the socio-economic impact of the conflict and critically assessed development interventions aimed at addressing fragility and building resilience to violent conflict in the affected countries and the Lake Chad Basin at large. The study found that apart from oft-cited religious indoctrination, the drivers of the Boko Haram insurgency in all four affected countries are best explained in terms of huge infrastructural deficits, poverty, unemployment, climate change, weak state capacity and governance-related constraints. It concluded that there is a very strong correlation between underdevelopment and conflict in the Basin. Against this background, while counter terrorism and de-radicalisation measures are necessary to prevent Boko Haram from establishing a foothold in the Lake Chad Basin, addressing the drivers and building resilience to conflict in the Basin requires the promotion of infrastructural and socio-economic development, poverty reduction, good governance, sustainable livelihoods and climate change adaptation. This thesis elaborates on these and broadens the literature on the Boko Haram insurgency, by departing from a Nigerian narrative to a regional perspective. / Thesis (PhD (Development Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Anthropology and Archaeology / PhD (Development Studies) / Unrestricted

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 64-72). / South Africa has been experiencing steady economic growth since 1994, but is increasingly battling with development issues such as persisting poverty and growing socio-economic inequality. This apparent contradiction is part of the complex South African development landscape in which development aid has gradually shifted from being transitional to a stable factor in development processes. Possible limitations and potential of development aid are set out by the dominating schools of thought; mainstream, neo-liberal, and radical left. The main aim of this thesis was to evaluate if and how development aid contributes to poverty alleviation in South Africa according to the theoretical and historical arguments of these schools of thought.

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-85). / The aim of this study was to investigate cases of sustainable low income settlements from across the developing world in order to draw conclusions and recommendations for the South African context. Sustainable construction, which falls under the ambit of sustainable development, formed the theoretical basis of this study. In the developing world, where one of the most pressing issues is a dire housing shortage due to ever increasing urbanisation, and where the construction industry often impacts negatively on people and the natural environment, the need to make sustainable interventions in the built environment remains urgent for the survival of human beings.

This thesis examines practices of the Informal Settlements Network (ISN), part of the South African Slum Dwellers International (SA SDI) Alliance, as initiators of civic participation in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. The SA SDI Alliance is made up of four organisations namely the Community Organization Resource Centre (CORC), Utshani Fund, the Informal Settlement Network (ISN) and the Federation of the Urban Poor (FEDUP). Through the thesis, I aim to provide an understanding of the nature of civic participation and the formation of "responsible" citizens amongst the urban poor in Khayelitsha, South Africa (Brown, 2015, p. 133). Critical in developing this understanding are the tools of the SA SDI Alliance through which the urban poor of Khayelitsha, Cape Town are allowed to participate in civic affairs. Drawing on theories of neoliberal governmentality the study traces how civic participation facilitated by the SA SDI Alliance manifests nationally through policy and at the provincial and local government level. The ultimate objective of the thesis centres on how participation under neoliberalism affects the lives of people in urban settlements through the activities of self-help organisations such as ISN. Using semi-structured interviews and shadowing three community mediators, the study unpacks the life trajectories and lived experiences of community mediators who are members of ISN. Whilst, describing these community mediators' lived experiences, the thesis examines the tension points relating to how ISN members navigate personal, community and institutions of participations that we do not see in the public discourse. The closer examination of these tension points enhances our understanding of the theoretical discourse surrounding the challenges and contradictions that participants face under neoliberalism. These challenges include the interface with fluid community dynamics. Furthermore, the thesis provides insights into the mutability of roles assumed by the community mediators and how it practically manifests on the ground.

This thesis examines the inclusion of climate change in Malawian social policy, and the discourse and government documents surrounding it. In Malawi, social protection predates climate change policies – in both policy in practice – however, they have risen up the Governments agenda at the same time. This is unsurprising given the severity and frequency with which the country is impacted by climatic shocks. Moreover, vulnerability and instability in the country leave Malawian disproportionately susceptible to the impact of natural disasters and environmental irregularities. In the wake of a natural disaster, most commonly drought and flooding, there is a significant spike in mentions of both climate change and social protection in Parliamentary discourse. Similarly, Government documents exhibit a wellestablished connection between these two – mention of disaster risk reduction is frequently coupled with a call for social protection to minimize the effects of natural disasters. In many ways, the most recent and current social protection policy is the logical evolution of this. In 2018, the Government of Malawi released the Malawi National Social Support Programme II (MNSSP II) which focused significantly on shock-sensitive social protection to address and minimize the impact of climate change in the country. Previous social protection initiatives in the country have garnered very little political support, and the Government has exhibited a hesitation to provide financial and technical support to these programs.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-93). / The author discusses postdevelopment theory by exploring unintentional effects of development practices in Cape Town's craft scene. A heterodox research design is adopted, drawing on Pierre Bourdieu's ideas on cultural production, notions of authenticity, representation and the modern/traditional dichotomy as well as thoughts on the making of a New South African identity. This is applied to the dynamics of Cape Town's craft scene in the pursuit of answering four research questions: (i) What role does the township play in the image of post-apartheid South Africa? (ii) How does development discourse contribute to the re-imagining of post-apartheid South Africa through 'township craft'? (iii) Is development discourse conducive to maintaining and creating tensions between centres and peripheries in the New South Africa? (iv) To what extent can a heterodox research design contribute to the postdevelopment debate? Through the socio-semiotic analysis of qualitative data obtained from interviews with fourteen stakeholders in Cape Town's craft scene as well as observations made at sites, where 'township craft' is presented and/or produced, the author is able to give three main insights in relation to the stated questions: (i) The image of the township, represented through cultural commodities, plays a crucial role as a place of creativity and positive change in the making of a post-apartheid identity. (ii) Development discourse manifests itself in the making of a New South African identity through material culture in the form of 'township craft' and its conceptual as well as spatial contexts. (iii) The use of development discourse in the making and marketing of 'township craft' in combination with supposedly 'common knowledge' about the art/craft divide has the potential to create and maintain patterns of inequality between producers and sellers of 'township craft'. A recommendation is made to explore further possibilities of heterodox research designs for studies using a postdevelopment theoretical framework.

A political ecology approach was taken in explaining the context of resource use. Political ecology seeks to understand politics about nature. Where access and regulation practices are political tenets within the commons issue understudy in Lower Silvermine Wetland. Hence they are resources held in commons within the Lower Silvermine Wetland. Where there are multiple users with different claims and interest. The ability to derive benefits from resources known as access is essential as it helps in understanding the perceptions and relation of users to the wetland. Within the two concepts of political ecology and access, it sought to locate and situate access into the Lower Silvermine Wetland by focusing on users use, regulation by authorities and nature. Nature users derive benefits from the Lower Silvermine Wetland. This is shown by the way they relate, use, and perceive the wetland. User access is pivotal to the study as it shows what the Lower Silvermine Wetland means to different users. Therefore nature means different things to different users, and this determines the way they use the wetland. The other part of the study becomes significant because as much there is access into the Lower Silvermine Wetland, regulatory measures are in place to prohibit users from doing other forms of activities into the Wetland Lower Silvermine Wetland. This is controlled through permissible and non-permissible operations that have been put in place by authorities that regulate and control the commons area understudy. It is of concern that some regulatory measures have caused deprivation of access, and some have been weak that an enhancement in regulation should be considered. Access into the Lower Silvermine Wetland has led to a lot of misunderstanding between users and authorities. These misunderstandings are a result of use, regulation, and maintenance. It is important to note that everyone has the right to access wetlands, according to the South African Constitution. This is important to the study as every user has the right to access nature without restriction as long they don’t break the control measures. This will lead to conserving plant and animal diversity also to ensure access is derived without any safety or security threat. At the same time if regulation and control is followed it will lead to a good user nature relationship. Hence ensuring that authorities understand each other and maintain the Lower Silvermine Wetland. Therefore the study becomes pertinent in establishing implications of regulatory practices in the Lower Silvermine Wetland.