This study focuses in women who participates in Pangea networks program for empoweringwomen. The aim of the study is to understand the participants experience of empowermentand the influence of empowerment on their self-esteem. To study the purpose of the study,qualitative methods have been used based on semi-structured interviews with sevenrespondents, as well as observations of the organization's approaches and empowermentstrategies. Thematic analysis has been used to analyse the collected data, hence three mainthemes were found that the study focuses on. The study shows that respondents experienceincreased knowledge in terms of their rights as individuals, as well as knowledge in businessskills, nutrition, bookkeeping, women and leadership, personal development, basic andreproductive health. The study also shows that empowering women through increasedknowledge in many essential areas as well as offering financial assistances is one of manyways to strengthen and support women, this seem to have a positive impact botheconomically, through improved life situations as well as personally and emotionally throughincreased self-esteem.

This thesis presents an ethnographic study of a small local non-government organisation (NGO) negotiating its way through the complex, multi-layered, postconflict, post-emergency environment of Timor-Leste. This is an environment that remains dominated by the aid industry, an industry that initially came to restore order and provide humanitarian support in the violent aftermath of the 1999 independence vote and stayed on to build a new Timor, in many ways created in its own image. In this environment a small local NGO struggled to maintain not only its vision and mission, but to fit within a new set of externally imposed conditions and regulations in order to serve its communities' needs. / Using ethnographic data gathered in the field over eleven months, this study paints a picture of a post-emergency environment on the ground and in the daily life of a local NGO within that environment. Combining ethnographic and interview data from local and international aid and development practitioners, the study also identifies the internal and external challenges faced by the local NGO in navigating its way through this environment. The internal challenges faced are largely in response to externally imposed conditions, and include the adaptation to new language and communication technologies, new styles of leadership and organisation management, new financial accountability processes and procedures. All of these challenges are coupled with the lack of experienced and skilled staff. The external issues relate to interactions and relationships the local NGO has with the aid industry, and the issues arising out of these engagements including ideological differences, donor dependency, unequal relations, and externally imposed directives. / While acknowledging that these are very real challenges, this thesis argues that it is the underlying factors behind the presenting challenges that are the real barriers to the effective participation of a local NGO in the post-conflict, post-emergency environment. Using post-development writings and Foucauldian theories as a theoretical framework, this thesis explores how thought, ideology and action are governed and controlled by the subtle mechanisms of liberal governance, (particularly in their redefinition), and local language is appropriated and reconceptualised as a tool of governance. It is the inability to understand or detect these subtle mechanisms of governance that often limits the degree to which an NGO can be said to act self-determinedly, or in full awareness of the situation, as they navigate a path through this foreign and often baffling post-emergency environment. / This research adds to the emerging academic body of research on NGOs in postconflict, post-emergency environments. On a practical level it provides aid and development organisations and aid practitioners with a detailed 'insider's' view of the operations of a local NGO and the impacts on a small organisation of externally imposed conditions, regulations and hidden agendas. Finally, it provides field workers intending to conduct research in post-conflict, post-emergency environments with an introduction to the issues and problems associated with this type of research.

The thesis is divided into three parts. The first two parts are theoretical and describe development of nonprofit sector in Czech Republic and USA. The second part is practical and in this part I created financial analysis of four chosen NGO's (two Czech and two American, both created by celebrity of political figure). On basis of my analysis I compare them and examine their effectiveness, prosperity and legitimacy of their existence.

This thesis is about a Non Government Organisation (NGO) whose main focus is on professional and home care services. The ``Alice{\crqq}, which is part of the Czech Red Cross in České Budějovice, has been supplying these services since 1994. The aim of this thesis is to analyse the historical development of ``Alice{\crqq}, looking closely at the quality of the service it offers. The next aim is to ``compare clients{\crqq} requirements against the potential the organization and to suggest certain improvements that can be made in the services, which would lead to higher quality and greater efficiency.

A lot of handicapped people need help while meeting their everyday needs provided by another person. Not only their family members, any close people, specialists and non-profit organisations can provide them with needful help but also an assistance dog that can become a companion and a friend as well. Those for disabled people specially trained dogs may be helpful with such a handicapped person to cope better with his/her daily life. At present, there are four organisations in the Czech Republic which are engaged in the training of assistance dogs. Generally those organisations are non-government and no-profit institutions. It is this Work{\crq}s objective to show and present the conditions regarding social consultancy for handicapped people in relation to the assistance dogs and to make out a project design for a Counselling and Training Centre of Assistance Dogs whereas the design would appropriately complete the already existing net of training centres of assistance dogs and social services for disabled people. A research was performed which served as a basis to draw up the project design of Counselling and Training Centre of Assistance Dogs and it resulted from that the handicapped people who possess an assistance dog had all available information how to procure a dog and how to finance the dog{\crq}s training; they were provided with advice and they are satisfied with the present training centres services. The disabled people who don{\crq}t possess an assistance dog are short of information about such a possibility and they don{\crq}t actually know who to address to in case if they are interested in an assistance dog. Further, it resulted from the research that more than a half of the enquired organisations, which provide social services, don{\crq}t supply their clients with any information about the assistance dogs and related topics. Based on those results I worked out a proposal of the Counselling and Training Centre of Assistance Dogs which could enhance the existing net of services in relation to the assistance dogs. This Centre will deal with special social consultancy, training of assistance dogs and an enlightening activity. The research results also demonstrate that it is necessary in terms of such a Centre to co-operate with organisations which provide social services to handicapped people and to do the enlightening activity with general public.

The study focuses on and explores the Southern African Development Community’s activities to determine whether the intended objectives have been accomplished as stated in its purpose statement. The study argues that the achievement of the Southern Africa Development Community’s purpose statement is important with regard to the implementation of developmental initiatives. This is because the SADC objectives are measured in the operationalisation and implementation of policies and the operationalisation of key activities. The Southern African region is rich in natural resources but lacks the political will and capacity for the institutionalisation of key processes to, among others, alleviate poverty and HIV/AIDS and address human security matters. This study revealed that SADC did not achieve all its intended objectives. Several challenges, such as the full convertibility of regional currencies among member states still need to be addressed. One of the major challenges impacting negatively on the implementation and completion of SADC’s projects are the capacity, skills and expertise to drive key business processes. This study has found that in spite of complexities and challenges to implement SADC’s policies and programmes as stated in its purpose statement, there is a need to align the member states’ priorities with SADC’s objectives to maximise impact and overall successful execution thereof. Coupled with this challenge is another crucial challenge relating to the SADC structure, mechanisms and methodologies that are used for achieving SADC’s objectives. The study revealed that the structures, mechanisms and methodologies are inadequate to successfully implement and evaluate SADC’s projects. Consequently, this study proposes some reforms in SADC’s Regional Indicative Strategic Plan that should be considered and integrated into the national plans, budgets and priorities of all SADC member states. Critically, it is important to ensure the alignment and buy-in of member states with regard to the development and implementation of SADC’s projects and programmes in the Southern African region. Firstly, the study proposes that partnerships with research institutions should be explored to strengthen the limited capacity of SADC’s Secretariat. Benchmarking and best practices with other international government organisations such as the African Union and the United Nations will provide a platform to improve the current activities of SADC to be more focused towards the desired outcomes. Secondly, v SADC’s activities that are linked to its objectives should be intensified through the mobilisation of resources and expertise that are geared to all key result areas to improve regional integration and ultimately the achievement of SADC’s objectives as stated in its purpose statement. / Public Administration & Management / M.P.A.

Syftet med studien har varit att förstå hur företrädare för idéburna organisationer med social inriktning inom äldreomsorg ser på sin egen, organisationens och civilsamhällets roll som serviceproducent av offentligt finansierad välfärd. För att uppnå syftet har semistrukturerade intervjuer genomförts med sex företrädare på ledande nivå inom idéburna organisationer med skiftande storlek och geografisk spridning. Lundquists förbindelseteori har delvis använts som en teoretisk utgångspunkt i analysen. De har i Lundquists termer gett uttryck för ett aktörskap som vi har försökt förstå genom att sätta det i relation till de strukturer företrädarna verkar inom och är beroende av. Resultatet från intervjuerna visar generellt på att de två lagrum som styr villkoren för driften av äldreomsorg på entreprenad och i egen regi, lagen om valfrihetsysten respektive lagen om offentlig upphandling ger kommunerna stora friheter i tillämpningen. Det gör att förutsättningar att bedriva äldreomsorg varierar stort vilket skapar osäkerhet och kan hämma de idéburna att ta en större roll. Organisationerna anpassar sig på olika sätt till förutsättningarna. De större aktörerna använder sina resurser för att skapa sig ett handlingsutrymme. Det görs genom att eftersträva en större kontroll av hela vård- och omsorgskedjan tack vare en mer omfattande administration och fler servicefunktioner inom den egna verksamheten. Möjligheten att involvera frivilliga inom äldreomsorgen ger dock i det närmaste ett obefintligt tillskott, speciellt i termer av någon ekonomisk vinning. Riksorganisationen för idéburen vård och omsorg, Famna, har en central roll och är en samlande kraft för de flesta av de intervjuade organisationerna när det gäller påverkan och opinionsbildning på nationell nivå, inte minst genom sina remissvar till olika departement. De har även en viktig uppgift i att ta fram utbildningar till medlemmarna och driva gemensamma nationella utvecklingsprojekt. En sammanfattande slutsats är att villkoren för organisationerna är komplex och beror främst på de lokala förutsättningarna där de ekonomiska ramarna sätter tydliga gränser för möjligheten att ta en större roll som utförare av äldreomsorg. / The purpose of this study has been to understand how representatives of non-government organisations active in the care for the elderly view their own, the organisation’s and civil society’s role as service providers of publicly funded care. To achieve this objective, semi-structured interviews have been performed with six representatives in leading roles within non-government organisations of varying size and locations. Lundquist’s theory of stakeholders and structures have in part been used as a starting point for the analysis. This has, in Lundquist’s terms, given voice to a stakeholdership which we have tried to understand by relating it to the structures within which the representatives work and are dependent on. The result of the interviews give a general picture of one of the two laws that control the conditions for the management of municipal as well as outsourced care for the elderly; the law of freedom of choice and the law of public procurement, which give the councils great scope for adaptation. This means the prerequisites for managing care for the elderly vary greatly which creates uncertainty and may hamper the non-government organisations to take on a bigger role. Organisations adapt in different ways to these prerequisites. The bigger stakeholders use their resources to create space to work. This is done by striving for a stronger control of the entire chain of care thanks to a more extensive administration and more service functions without their own management. The possibility of involving volunteers in the care for the elderly, however, gives a practically non-existent addition, especially in terms of financial gain. The national organisation for non-government care, Famna, holds a central role and is a uniting force for most of the organisations interviewed when it comes to advocacy and opinion forming on the national level, not least through its comment letters to different departments. They also have an important role in creating training programmes for their members and run joint national development projects. To summarise, our conclusion is that the conditions for the organisations are complex and depend primarily on the local prerequities where the financial framework sets clear boundaries to the possibility of taking on a more extensive role as providers of care for the elderly.

The study focuses on and explores the Southern African Development Community’s activities to determine whether the intended objectives have been accomplished as stated in its purpose statement. The study argues that the achievement of the Southern Africa Development Community’s purpose statement is important with regard to the implementation of developmental initiatives. This is because the SADC objectives are measured in the operationalisation and implementation of policies and the operationalisation of key activities. The Southern African region is rich in natural resources but lacks the political will and capacity for the institutionalisation of key processes to, among others, alleviate poverty and HIV/AIDS and address human security matters. This study revealed that SADC did not achieve all its intended objectives. Several challenges, such as the full convertibility of regional currencies among member states still need to be addressed. One of the major challenges impacting negatively on the implementation and completion of SADC’s projects are the capacity, skills and expertise to drive key business processes. This study has found that in spite of complexities and challenges to implement SADC’s policies and programmes as stated in its purpose statement, there is a need to align the member states’ priorities with SADC’s objectives to maximise impact and overall successful execution thereof. Coupled with this challenge is another crucial challenge relating to the SADC structure, mechanisms and methodologies that are used for achieving SADC’s objectives. The study revealed that the structures, mechanisms and methodologies are inadequate to successfully implement and evaluate SADC’s projects. Consequently, this study proposes some reforms in SADC’s Regional Indicative Strategic Plan that should be considered and integrated into the national plans, budgets and priorities of all SADC member states. Critically, it is important to ensure the alignment and buy-in of member states with regard to the development and implementation of SADC’s projects and programmes in the Southern African region. Firstly, the study proposes that partnerships with research institutions should be explored to strengthen the limited capacity of SADC’s Secretariat. Benchmarking and best practices with other international government organisations such as the African Union and the United Nations will provide a platform to improve the current activities of SADC to be more focused towards the desired outcomes. Secondly, v SADC’s activities that are linked to its objectives should be intensified through the mobilisation of resources and expertise that are geared to all key result areas to improve regional integration and ultimately the achievement of SADC’s objectives as stated in its purpose statement. / Public Administration and Management / M.P.A.

This report has investigated the ethical issues associated with mining or processing of materials that make them considered as controversial. For each material, the main areas of use and the top producing countries are analysed, followed by social and/or environmental issues as well as potential problems in the future. In total, 13 materials are discussed, of which most are minerals. The overall issues, that are recurring throughout the report and are important to be aware of are: child labor, low safety standards, mining activity resulting in deforestation or harming biodiversity, mining processes that affect communities (e.g. because of large water consumption) and the risks associated with widespread illegal mining. The report also provides research about organisations and initiatives that aim to affect the problems, and gives a brief view over tools that can be used to increase awareness of these issues.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The primary intent of this study was to seek solutions to the practical problems experienced by practitioners in their management of child abuse cases. A fundamental problem regarding the current management of child abuse is that there is no guarantee that a child entering the child protective system will be dealt with in terms of a set procedure and/or protected against further abuse. To address this problem in the Western Cape, the Intervention Research (IR) methodology (Rothman & Thomas, 1994) was used to develop a Protocol for the Multi- Disciplinary Management of Child Abuse and Neglect. The protocol was designed for agencies that intervene in instances of child abuse. It establishes criteria and procedures for interdisciplinary co-ordination and effective case management, delineates the professional roles and responsibilities and provides step-by-step intervention procedures. The Intervention Research Design and Development methodology provided a useful framework to apply social science research methods to child protective practice and policy reform. IR focuses on the design of practice guidelines for intervention and policy reform. It can be conducted in a diversity of practice settings and therefore enhances collaborative efforts and inter-agency exchange among practitioners and among practitioners and universities. The study evolved through six phases involving inter-as well as intra-disciplinary activities. These activities were guided by systematic and deliberate research procedures, techniques and instruments. The research phases included: problem analysis; information gathering and synthesis; the development and design of the protocol; testing the protocol through a process of workshops and finally, the launch and dissemination of the protocol. A core element of the study was the active participation and collaboration of a broad range of key stakeholders, including: victims of child abuse, their families, service providers, and policy makers. The methods and instruments used were therefore designed to enhance participation and included interviews, workshops and observation of court processes. The bottom-up approach and collaborative design enhanced the level of contextual relevance, ownership and the commitment of stakeholders. As a demonstration of this commitment, the protocol has been endorsed by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health and Social Services of the Western Cape. The Department of Social Services has committed financial support to the project and is pilot testing it in three districts. The study cautions that protocols alone cannot eradicate and solve all the problems in the child protective field and asserts that there is an urgent and critical need to develop and to implement a National Strategy on Child Abuse. Such a National strategy should include legislation that supports and enforces all aspects of a national policy on child abuse. At minimum, national policy should ensure consistent political will and leadership. This means that broad statements about the obligations of politicians and state officials is not enough. These should be followed by specific accountability and measuring mechanisms for enforcement. State policy should also provide guidelines for standardized and appropriate working conditions, recruitment and training of staff. Furthermore, it should provide for a broad array of effective and accessible services to all children and families and the co-ordination of such services. Finally, legislation should include specific obligations regarding the appropriation of adequate and flexible funding to see that commitments made to children are realised.