One of the central pillars of the new developmental agenda of the 1990s is a vibrant and plural civil society. It has been argued that civil society is not only crucial to safeguarding democracy but to extending democratic space. The absence of democratic accountability has often been cited in explaining poor levels of development in Africa. Given the resource weakness within civil society organisations in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa many multilateral and bilateral donors have intervened to support and manufacture civil society. While these interventions have been going on little work has gone into theorising the forms of civil society that would broaden democratic space. Donors have largely intervened to implement civil society building programmes that are to their liking. This research paper reviews recent literature. It evaluates the claims and the practice of donor agencies. The paper also identifies key areas of donor interest, the deployment of funding in pursuance of those interests and how these interests are shaping civil society engagement. The paper argues that the structure of funding is acting to exclude certain organisations that may hold the key to ensuring democratic accountability. It also reviews the emerging literature on the ideological changes that have attended the new developmental agenda of the late 1990s and their links with the civil society building process. / Thesis(M.Dev.Studies)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

The role of agriculture in rural development is widely documented in literature. Many analysts regard agriculture, specifically small-scale agriculture, as the cornerstone for viable and sustainable economic growth. Furthermore, the agricultural sector is seen as an effective instrument for poverty reduction, particularly in rural communities of developing countries where a large amount of poor people are concentrated. Indeed, analysts now agree that developing the agricultural sector is perhaps one of the most effective ways to address high levels of poverty evident in the developing world, and call on the world leaders to commit themselves to direct more investment into this sector. Using the avocado industry in Giheta-Burundi, this dissertation argues that some emerging crops (such as avocados) present enormous opportunities to income generation for small-scale farmers with the potentiality of diversifying cash crop farming in Burundi, an area currently dominated by coffee, tea and cotton. This study further suggests that avocado farming presents the economic, market and health potentiality to contribute to a viable and sustainable rural economy in Giheta Burundi, thereby reducing levels of poverty in this area. The main research question is as follows: “To what extent does the production of avocados benefit the income and wellbeing of small-scale farming households in Giheta?” Accordingly, the main policy concern is that if avocados are playing a crucial role for income generation, wellbeing and diet of the small-scale farmers in Giheta, the avocado sector needs to be substantially supported by both the private and public sectors in order to increase the capacity of avocado production in this area and subsequently enable small-scale farmers to gain greater income from this sector. All of which will contribute significantly to reducing levels of poverty in Giheta. This dissertation is 42 266 words in length excluding references and appendices. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve as a natural area preserved from the more disruptive forms of economic activity, provides a multitude of benefits classified as either on-site use values or non-use values . This research addressed the problem of estimating the recreation use value of Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve. Two methodologies for valuing non-market benefits, the travel cost and contingent valuation methods are applied to evaluate the economic value of the reserve . The study reviews recent literature and highlights particular methodological issues characteristic of these techniques. The data from an on-site survey in the area permitted a description of visitors' socioeconomic characteristics and their trip patterns. Visitor attitudes, both to the recreational activities in Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve and to the proposals for the improvements of recreation provision were identified. Travel cost method results showed significant statistical relationships between number of trips, travel costs and socioeconomic variables. The consumer surplus value was estimated to be R95 800 in 1998. The contingent valuation method produced a true annual willingness-to-pay of R66 336 for entrance fees expressed by day visitors. The analysis of data from overnight visitors in the cottages revealed that 63 % of visitors were willing to pay up to R75 per person per night. Finally, the research emphasized the importance and the potential use of economic value in assisting the development of economically sustainable policies for the provision of recreation. Whilst Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve is under no immediate threat, having an indication of the economic value of recreational opportunities within the reserve will aid future planning and decision-making. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.

HIV / AIDS in the South African present context remains fraught with obstacles and challenges. The previous regime's willingness to turn a blind eye to the problem, combined with the present government's confused response has accelerated the disease and it's devastating impact to pandemic proportions. This has placed additional pressure on other sectors to respond. While civil society challenges government's delaying tactics and seeks to ease the plight of those living with HIV, the business sector is being called upon to act, in the interests of the stability of the national economy and it's own survival. Business is identified, locally and abroad, as the most relevant environment for intervention because of it's unique capacity to impact on both the workforce and the consumer market simultaneously. Business however exists for the purpose of making a profit. This is in itself an area of study that requires investigation: how does business meet the pressure to 'do the right thing' and protect its own best interests? This study will consider how some businesses have shifted the burden of AIDS, while others have prepared to meet the costs associated with implementing any interventions. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the impact of HIV / AIDS on the business sector with an assessment of the risk faced by business in the immediate and long-term. It further seeks to analyse business's current response in the context of international best practice standards. Case studies of Workplace HIV / AIDS Programmes are used to identify and analyse successful interventions that may be utilised in the South African context. While there are a few outstanding examples of workplace interventions being implemented in South Africa, there is some concern that too many companies are processing HIV / AIDS as a paper exercise without the commitment and care required for change. The impact of the disease on a physical level is compounded by stigmatization and fear. Issues of discrimination and intolerance permeate the environment in which employers are required to implement programmes that shift knowledge, attitudes and behaviour around HIV / AIDS. The secondary objective of this study is to test the emerging hypothesis that the face-to-face or one-on-one intervention is the most effective in successfully changing knowledge and attitudes about HIV / AIDS and can therefore influence a long-term change in behaviour. This study seeks to provide guidelines and recommendation for companies willing to implement HIV / AIDS workplace interventions by presenting an overview of the options available and indicating where best to invest limited resources. While the nature and scope of the study is by no means conclusive and remains open to ongoing social and medical research, it remains relevant in that it is placed in the context of timeless best practice. / Thesis (M.B.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

The aims of the study were to find out whether or not outsourcing essential to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. The second aim was to establish how can outsourcing improve the Department's cost structure. And the last one was to develop a viable business model for outsourcing services within the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. The main problem was that the Government opted for outsourcing as a move to save expenditure within the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. This Department has outsourced car and truck financial services, insurance and management to imperial Group. This venture estimated that it would save the Department and the Government approximately R1 Billion on operational costs. This system is currently operational, but already management in the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry have realized that such a venture with huge financial implications should have been based on carefully planned and executed research findings than mere hypothesis about saving. The study research method that will be used is a case study. All the data gathered in the study, is relevant on to the case being studied. Though conclusions allow for inferences to be made, the cases where such generalizations are made or applied to must be similar in all respect. The study's sample consists of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and the Imperial Group. The two organizations were chosen because the outsourcing strategy could serve as a yardstick to measure similar agreements in the future. The specific area of focus is the agreement on car rental between the two organizations. The documents analyzed include the: • Department of Water Affairs and Forestry Outsourcing Strategy and Outsourcing the Billing Process (January, 2001). • Department of Water Affairs and Forestry Outsourcing Strategy and Outsourcing the Billing Process (February, 2001). • Department of Water Affairs and Forestry Procedural Manual for Official Transport with Imperial Vehicles Outsourcing services for the public agencies is a tool that is being used to offload those non-core functions, such as transport for a period of time. According to theory it is more cost effective to outsource peripheral tasks because the alternative, this is, maintain the same service within the organization is expensive. The findings of this study show that service should be outsourced but it is expensive, the individual factors that lead to this conclusion are far beyond this scope of the study and therefore will not be discussed in great detail. [Refer to the abstract within the thesis for the outsourcing model] The outsourcing model above, developed in this study shows that the profile of task or process aligned with the first (left most) column will call for the outsourcing of the task to a supplier. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

Arid and semi-arid regions have increasingly become the subject of much research and debate by scientists. By their very nature, these regions characteristically exhibit extremes which complicate the implementation of effective management strategies that ensure sustainable productivity and economic output. Namibia is one such region where low and highly variable rainfall conditions and fluctuating productivity pose a challenge to managers of commercial livestock enterprises, / who seek to optimise economic benefits while controlling the negative effect on herd production and income of unpredictable and unfavourable climatic events. Various management approaches are proposed as a means of exploiting periods of abundant productivity and so optimising income from herd production, while controlling for the effects of drought conditions. To analyse the effects of these various offtake strategies, a rainfall-driven plant-herbivore simulation model is used. The model comprises components simul~tihg vegetation and herbivore dynamics. The vegetation component incorporates soil moisture and nutrient allocation to plant parts. The herbivore dynamics sub-model comprises age and sex classes, population dynamics and animal energy requirements which govern accumulated fat reserves. The model is adapted to account for climatic and vegetation attributes specific to Namibia. An economic component including a seasonal monthly price structure is developed, and a dynamic feedback governing management decisions is incorporated. The much debated issue of whether to maintain a constant stocking rate or to track climatic variation by employing a variable stocking level is investigated, with the performance of management strategies incorporating these approaches ranked according to various factors, including annual returns, associated risk and annual stock mortality. The economic consequences of the timing of offtake are investigated, with the simulation of management strategies that implement destocking in the face of anticipated drought conditions. A dynamic projection of expected income allows the impact of forecasting potential economic gains on decision-making to be analysed. Results indicate that the performance of management strategies is not as dependent on climatic and seasonal price variability as was originally expected, with the application of a constant stocking level proving to be the most favourable strategy in terms of economic gain and variability of income. Tracking climatic variation by adapting stocking levels does not provide the improvement in economic returns from a livestock production system that was anticipated, although this approach is successful in effecting a significant reduction in annual stock mortality. Further results show the sensitivity of income to the long-term average stocking level characterising the management strategies investigated, as well as to the elasticity of the underlying price structure. The results of this study indicate that the implementation of management strategies designed to track climatic variation does not offer significant economic advantages over the application of a constant stocking approach. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2001.

Saltwater marshes in the Bay of Fundy act as greenhouse gases sinks and reservoirs by fixing atmospheric carbon dioxide and storing it in carbon rich deposits. There are approximately 3,131.5 hectares of saltwater marsh in the Bay of Fundy, of which 958 ha are currently owned by the government or conservation organizations and 2,173.5 ha are owned by private landowners. A multiple bounded discrete choice contingent valuation survey was conducted to estimate landowners' willingness to accept compensation for selling their saltwater marshes to a conservation program. A multiple bounded model developed by Gregory Poe and Michael Welsh (1995) was used to analyze the responses. Mean willingness to accept compensation for one hectare of saltwater marsh was estimated to be $1,004.22, and aggregate willingness to accept compensation for the total of 2,173.5 ha of saltwater marsh owned by private landowners was approximately $2,180,000. Using these estimates and the rate of carbon dioxide-equivalent absorption of saltwater marshes, the opportunity cost of one tonne of carbon dioxide-equivalent sequestered by saltwater marshes in the Bay of Fundy was calculated to range between $16.70 and $19.95. Decision-makers can use this result for policy purposes concerning the achievement by Canada of its greenhouse gases emission reduction commitment under the Kyoto Protocol (1997).

No description available.

The primary purpose for this study was to investigate small businesses organizational support and interest in health promotion. The research question for this study was, "Are small businesses actively involved with the organizational support of health promotion programs?"A survey was distributed via mail to small businesses in the Lynchburg, Virginia area, with a follow up three weeks later because an appropriate number of surveys had not been returned. The results of this study have provided insight into the current status of worksite wellness programs of businesses with fewer than 250 employees.Small businesses do actively support healthy food and smoking policies at the worksite. Some small businesses provided activities to measure employee health risks. The main issue small businesses deal with are safety/accident prevention. Other health topics are not prevalent in small businesses. Small businesses that had a health promotion program in place offered more programs and awareness materials than those who did not and are actively involved in the organizational support of health promotion programs. / Fisher Institute for Wellness

Climatic and market uncertainty present major challenges to livestock producers in arid and semi-arid environments. Range managers require detailed information on biological and economic components of the system in order to formulate stocking strategies which maximise short-term financial risk and minimise long-term ecological risk. Computer-based simulation models may provide useful tools to assist in this decision process. This thesis outlines the development of a bioeconomic stocking model for the semi-arid savanna of Natal. Grazing trials were established at two sites (Llanwarne and Dordrecht) on Llanwarne Estates in the Magudu area of the semi-arid savanna or Lowveld of Natal. The Lowveld comprises a herbaceous layer dominated by Themeda triandra, Panicum maximum and P. coloratum and a woody layer characterised by Acacia species. The sites differed initially in range composition. Llanwarne was dominated by Themeda triandra, Panicum maximum and P. coloratum, while Dordrecht with a history of heavy stocking was dominated by Urochloa mosambicensis, Sporobolus nitens and S. iocladus. Three treatments were stocked with Brahman-cross cattle at each site to initially represent 'light'(0.17 LSU ha-'), 'intermediate' (0.23 LSU ha-') and 'heavy' (0.30 LSU ha-') stocking. Data collected at three-week intervals over seven seasons (November 1986 to June 1993 or 120 measuring periods) provided the basis for the development of a bioeconomic stocking model (LOWBEEF - LOWveid BioEconomic Efficiency Forecasting) which comprised two biological sub-models (GRASS and BEEF), based on step-wise multiple linear regression models, and an integrated economic component (ECON) . The GRASS model predicted the amount of residual herbage at the end of summer (kg ha-') and the forage deficit period (days) over which forage supplementation would be required to maintain animal mass. Residual herbage mass at the end of summer (kg ha-') was significantly related (P < 0.01) to cumulative summer grazing days (LSU gd ha-'), rainfall (mm) (measured 1 July to 30 June) and range condition (indexed as the sum of the proportions of T. triandra, P. maximum and P. coloratum). The forage deficit period (days) over which herbage mass declined below a grazing cut-off of 1695 kg ha-' was significantly related (P < 0.01) to residual herbage mass at the end of summer. The BEEF model predicted the livemass gain over summer (kg ha¯¹) which was significantly related (P< 0.01) to rainfall (mm) stocking rate (LSU ha¯¹) but interestingly not to condition. The economic component (ECON) reflected the difference between gross income (R ha¯¹) and total costs, which were based on fixed and variable cost structures (using 1993 Rands), including demand-related winter costs, to reflect net returns to land management (R ha¯¹). A conceptual model of range dynamics based on three discrete states, was to developed to summarise the effects of rainfall and stocking rate in semi-arid savanna. State 1, characterised by iocladus and S. nitens, was associated with heavy stocking. Movement towards State 2, characterised by T. triandra and P. maximum, was associated with periods of above-average rainfall. Drought conditions, which comprised a major system disturbance led to stability at State 3, dominated by U. mosambicensis. Post-drought recovery was influenced by predrought composition and stocking levels where tuft numbers, basal cover and seedbank were significantly reduced by increased stocking within a sward dominated by species of low stature such as Aristida congesta subsp Urochloa mosambicensis, Sporobolus nitens, Sporobolus iocladus and Tragus racemosa. It was suggested that extensive soil loss may lead to stabilisation across an irreversible threshold at a forth state characterised by shallow species such as Tragus racemosa Aristida congesta subsp. congesta. Sensitivity of optimum economic stocking rate net return to price and interest rate fluctuations, and wage and feed cost increases were examined for various rainfall and range condition scenarios. Net return and optimum economic stocking rate increased as rainfall and range condition increased through the effect of increased residual herbage mass at the end summer, decreased forage deficit periods and reduced supplementary feed costs. Net return was highly responsive to changes beef price where an increase in beef price led to an increase in optimum economic stocking rate and net return. The effect of reduced prices may be compounded by dry where supply-driven decreases in price may occur. This suggested that for dry seasons the optimum stocking rate was the lightest within the range of economic stocking rates. Although an increase in interest rates would increase variable costs and lead to reduced returns, the influence of interest rates on enterprises will vary in relation to farm debt loads. Increased labour costs would result in a corresponding decline in net return although optimum economic stocking rate would remain unaffected. Increased supplementary feed cost had little influence on net return relative to the effect of demand-driven increases in feed costs as rainfall decreased . The distribution of net returns for stocking strategies of 0.20, 0.30 and 0.40 LSU ha¯¹ and climate-dependent stocking (where stocking levels were varied in relation to rainfall and hence forage availability) and range condition scores of 10, 50, 80 and a dynamic range model were examined for a 60 year rainfall sequence (1931- 1991). While a range score of 10 would see residual herbage mass decline to below a grazing cut-off of 1695 kg ha¯¹ before the end of summer, a range score of 80 suggested that, irrespective of stocking strategy within the range investigated, herbage would not become limiting. This suggested that irrespective of stocking strategy a range score of 10, established across an irreversible soil loss threshold, would reflect accumulated losses over the 60 year period. In contrast, a range score of 80 would lead to positive accumulated returns. A dynamic range model (where range composition was related to previous seasons rainfall) and a climate-dependent stocking strategy, suggested that herbage would not become limiting by the end of summer and forage deficit periods would be restricted to an average of 88 days per year. Such an approach would yield a higher accumulated cash surplus than fixed stocking strategies. Incorporation of stochastic rainfall effects allowed the development of cumulative probability distributions based on 800-year simulations to evaluate the risk associated with various stocking strategies. Range condition played a major role in determining the risk of financial loss where decreased range condition was associated with enhanced risk. An increase in stocking rate resulted in increased variability in returns. Although the risk of forage deficits and financial losses may be reduced with lighter stocking, this may be at the cost of reduced returns during wetter seasons. Increased stocking may increase the probability of higher returns during wetter seasons although this may at the cost of increased risk of forage deficits and highly negative returns during dry seasons. Importantly, ecological risk may increase as stocking is increased. A flexible or climate-dependent strategy, where stock numbers are adjusted according to previous seasons rainfall, combine financial benefits of each approach and reduce financial risk. Although errors may carry hig h ecological costs where, for example, the effect of an above-average rainfall season would be to increase stock numbers into a subsequent dry season, the probability of incurring such error was low. Current livestock production systems in the semi-arid savanna of Natal based on breeding stock may not be appropriate in a highly variable environment where low rainfall may require extended periods of supplementary feeding or force the sale of breeding stock. A change in emphasis from current systems to a mixed breeding system, where the level of breeding stock would be set at the optimum economic stocking rate for drier seasons, may decrease both financial and ecological risk. Growing stock may either be retained or purchased during wetter seasons to reach the optimum economic stocking rate for such seasons. Although growing stock may display a greater tolerance to restricted intake (during dry seasons) than would breeding stock, additional growing may be rapidly sold in response to declining rainfall with no influence on the breeding system. Integration of wildlife into current cattle systems may be an important means of reducing financial risk associated with variable rainfall and profitability and ecological risk associated with woody plant encroachment. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1994.