In view of the high levels of poverty in most under-developed and developing countries, poverty reduction has become an international phenomenon. South Africa (SA) is a country faced with the challenge of poverty as a result of the high rates of unemployment fifteen (15) years after the introduction of the new democratic dispensation. Poverty reduction has been placed at the centre of global development objectives to improve people‟s lives through expanding their choices, their freedom, and their dignity. Numerous countries have developed poverty-reduction strategies, which are over-arching macro-strategies implemented by different social and economic sectors in collaboration with the private sector. South Africa, however, does not have an over-arching poverty reduction strategy, which is the key national governmental priority, although many poverty-reduction programmes exist. The existing poverty reduction initiatives in South Africa, such as Income Generating Projects (IGPs), are either established by Government or the Civil Society structures with the aim to assist in changing the standard of living of poor people so that they can at least meet their basic needs, such as food, shelter and clothing. This study focuses on the IGPs that operate in Atteridgeville, Tshwane, with the view to explore and describe the experiences of individuals who participate in these IGPs. A qualitative research approach was selected for the study and three IGPs were selected from the Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) that affiliate to the Phelindaba Forum. This Forum coordinates social development activities in Atteridgeville, Saulsville and Mshengoville. The findings of the study indicated that although IGPs are established to benefit participants financially, there are other factors that motivate people to join and remain in the projects, such as moral support amongst members. Furthermore, some NGOs claim to facilitate IGPs, but in some instances, these IGPs are left to operate on their own without much needed assistance. The recommendation for future studies is that participants need to be engaged with in order to get a true reflection of how the IGPs operate. The assistance and support of NGOs are crucial for the sustainability of such projects. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science (Mental Health))

The study aimed at investigating the role played by ABET programmes in the development of rural black women in the Omusati Region. The study was to determine whether the ABET programmes that are provided in the area are offering relevant education that helps the women of the area in their development. The research findings indicated that the ABET programmes offered are not providing the relevant skills needed to develop the women participants. The programmes that are offered concentrate on literacy and numeracy, and it seem not to be very effective in making a difference to the women's lives. Women needs skills that can help them generate income to improve their living conditions. The study, in summary, established that the programmes offered by the ABET centres would be more effective if skills training is included to uplift and improve the lives of the participants on a social, economical as well as educational level. / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Tech. (Human Resource Development)

The study aimed at investigating the role played by ABET programmes in the development of rural black women in the Omusati Region. The study was to determine whether the ABET programmes that are provided in the area are offering relevant education that helps the women of the area in their development. The research findings indicated that the ABET programmes offered are not providing the relevant skills needed to develop the women participants. The programmes that are offered concentrate on literacy and numeracy, and it seem not to be very effective in making a difference to the women's lives. Women needs skills that can help them generate income to improve their living conditions. The study, in summary, established that the programmes offered by the ABET centres would be more effective if skills training is included to uplift and improve the lives of the participants on a social, economical as well as educational level. / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Tech. (Human Resource Development)

Les Aires Protégées Marines et Côtières (APMC), comme outil de gestion des usages, ont été mises en place pour faire face à l’érosion de la biodiversité. Depuis quelques décennies, la participation des différents acteurs concernés par la création et la gestion des APMC est largement encouragée afin que ces projets de conservation perdurent dans le temps et produisent les résultats escomptés. Cette thèse porte sur l’étude des APMC localisées dans le sud-ouest du golfe de Californie, espace où se concentrent divers enjeux (conservation, pêche et tourisme). C’est l’approche qualitative, croisée avec des documents du gouvernement, qui a été choisie pour mener cette thèse concernant la gouvernance des APMC. L’analyse de la gouvernance nécessite l’identification des parties-prenantes, leurs interactions et leurs relations avec I’APMC ainsi que l’étude des représentations des acteurs relatives à cet espace. Ces aires protégées, dont la création a été soutenue et initiée par des acteurs locaux, sont gérés par un organisme déconcentré de l’Etat, la Commission Nationale des Aires Naturelles Protégées (CONANP). Néanmoins, concernant les processus décisionnels et la gestion de ces aires protégées, la frontière entre le rôle de la CONANP et celui des organisations non gouvernementales environnementales (ONGE) est parfois floue. Ces acteurs interagissent à l’interface de différentes échelles géographiques (du local au global). La mise en place de processus participatifs incluant la population locale est encouragée par la CONANP ainsi que par des ONGE. Cependant, ces initiatives ont parfois laissé en marge une partie de la population locale. / Marine and Coastal Protected Areas (MCPAs), as an activity-based management tool, were established aiming to face biodiversity loss. Over the past few decades, the participation of different stakeholders involved in the creation and the management of MCPAs is widely encouraged, in order that these conservation projects may last over time and produce the expected results. This research work focuses on MCPAs localized in the southern Gulf of California, an area where various issues (conservation, fishing and tourism) are concentrated. The qualitative approach, as regards governmental documents, has been selected to carry out this thesis related to MCPAs governance. MCPAs governance needs to identify stakeholders, their interactions and their relations with the MCPA, as well as the study of stakeholder representations linked to this area. These protected areas, the creation of which has been supported and initiated by local actors, are managed by a decentralized government agency, the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP). However, concerning the decisional processes and the management of protected areas, the frontier between the role of the CONANP and these forms of environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) is sometimes fuzzy. These actors interact at different geographical scales (from local to global). The implementation of participative processes that involve local populations is supported by the CONANP and environmental NGOs. Nevertheless, these initiatives have not always taken into account the entire local population. / Las Áreas Protegidas Marinas y Costeras (APMC), como herramienta de manejo de los usos, fueron establecidas para hacer frente a la erosión de la biodiversidad. Desde hace algunas décadas, la participación de los distintos actores interesados por la creación y el manejo de las APMC es ampliamente promovida para que los proyectos de conservación perduren en el tiempo y produzcan los resultados esperados. Esta tesis se focaliza en las APMC localizadas en el suroeste del Golfo de California, espacio donde se concentran diferentes desafíos (conservación, pesca y turismo). El método cualitativo, contrastado con documentos del gobierno, fue elegido para realizar esta tesis acerca de la gobernanza de las APMC. El análisis de la gobernanza necesita la identificación de las partes interesadas, de sus interacciones y de sus relaciones con el APMC, así como del estudio de las representaciones de los actores en cuanto a ese espacio. Estas áreas protegidas, cuya creación fue sostenida e iniciada por actores locales, son manejadas por un organismo desconcentrado del Estado, la Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP). Sin embargo, en cuanto a la toma de decisiones y los procesos de manejo de las áreas protegidas, los límites entre el papel de la CONANP y el de las organizaciones no gubernamentales (ONG) ambientales son algunas veces ambiguos. Esos actores interactúan en el interfaz entre diferentes escalas geográficas (del local al global). El establecimiento de procesos participativos que incluyen a la población local es fomentado tanto por la CONANP como por las ONG ambientales. No obstante, esas iniciativas, a veces han marginalizado una parte de la población local.

Since the turn of the millennium, Zimbabwe has witnessed a raft of socio-economic and political problems characterised by hyper-inflation; shortage of basic commodities; dwindling fiscal reserves; ballooning domestic and foreign debt; falling standard of living and high levels of migration. The devastating effects of the Aids pandemic have not helped the situation. With estimates indicating that there are more than million orphaned children, social security programmes have been overstretched resulting in the State failing to adequately provide for the needs of these orphans in the country. It is against this background that the study sought to explore the community level initiatives that communities are taking to meet the needs of orphans through community based programmes. The goal of the study was to explore the contribution of social entrepreneurship in meeting the needs of orphans in the Mberengwa district, Zimbabwe. The study was conducted using a qualitative research approach. The study was exploratory and the type of research was applied. The collective case study design was utilised. A total of twenty participants took part in the study; including six children who were benefiting from the income generating projects, four key informants who work closely with the projects as well as ten villagers who were involved in the day to day running of the projects. The participants were selected from two villages that have the projects benefiting orphans. The participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data was collected from the children and key informants by way of interviews and from the villagers through focus group discussions. The findings show that the government of Zimbabwe lacks capacity to meet the needs of orphans due to the socio-economic and political challenges and as a result, communities in Mberengwa district have taken the initiative to care for the orphans in their area through income generating projects. The income generating projects are social entrepreneurial ventures in that they aim at generating profits which are channelled towards meeting the needs of the orphans. Through the income generating projects, the orphans in Mberengwa district are able to access their needs which include food, education, clothing, shelter, birth registration and protection from abuse. Findings also indicated that in the Mberengwa district, orphan care is viewed as a community, rather than individual responsibility. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the communities in Mberengwa have inherent strengths which make it possible for them to work together in achieving common objectives. Consequently, their social ties and close social relations enable them to work together to deal with problems confronting them collectively. vi projects benefiting orphans. The participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data was collected from the children and key informants by way of interviews and from the villagers through focus group discussions. The findings show that the government of Zimbabwe lacks capacity to meet the needs of orphans due to the socio-economic and political challenges and as a result, communities in Mberengwa district have taken the initiative to care for the orphans in their area through income generating projects. The income generating projects are social entrepreneurial ventures in that they aim at generating profits which are channelled towards meeting the needs of the orphans. Through the income generating projects, the orphans in Mberengwa district are able to access their needs which include food, education, clothing, shelter, birth registration and protection from abuse. Findings also indicated that in the Mberengwa district, orphan care is viewed as a community, rather than individual responsibility. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the communities in Mberengwa have inherent strengths which make it possible for them to work together in achieving common objectives. Consequently, their social ties and close social relations enable them to work together to deal with problems confronting them collectively. It was concluded that income generating projects based on social entrepreneurial principles are a critical poverty alleviation and social protection mechanism for orphans in the Mberengwa communities as they lead to meeting their needs and furthermore, alleviate social problems in the community. In order to respond to the gap created by the government’s lack of capacity to care for the orphans, social entrepreneurship through income generating projects can be utilised to achieve social protection and poverty alleviation goals more so in the country’s quest to meet the Millennium Development Goals. Recommendations include the need to review the legal and policy framework governing the care and protection of orphans in the country to include community-based programmes. Furthermore, it is recommended to strengthen traditional orphan care structures in facilitating income generating projects based on social entrepreneurial principles as they have the propensity to help meet the needs of orphans at the community level. / Dissertation (MSW)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Institute for Rural Development / MRDV

No description available.

An exploratory descriptive design was used to examine income-generating self-help groups in the rural area of Moutse, Mpumalanga, South Africa in terms of viability and ability to empower women economically. Income-generating self-help groups of women in Moutse have grown over the years with the initiative of the extension officers of the Department of Agriculture. These groups are also used by the women to enhance personal growth and family support. The success of the income-generating groups relates to abstract needs, such as the individual member's motivation, self-esteem gained through participation in decisionmaking processes and the implementation of projects. Skills are acquired in the process of participation in which abstract and concrete needs are addressed. The failures of the groups are as a result of lack of funding, unavailability of resources, lack of appropriate support and training, lack of co-operation and some unhealthy competition among groups in the area which results in the groups not being economically viable. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science)

Les femmes, élément central de la vie économique et sociale, jouent un rôle important dans la société sénégalaise. Dans cette thèse nous avons voulu mettre en valeur le dynamisme et l'héroïsme quotidien des femmes sénégalaises, de la région de Diourbel en particulier. Ce dynamisme est étudié à travers leurs activités quotidiennes, la recherche d’autonomie économique, et leurs associations. Diourbel était le centre du bassin arachidier dont les contours se sont modifiés avec le développement de l’arachide et les mutations du milieu. Ces dernières ne manquent pas de conséquences sur la vie des populations, des femmes en particulier qui doivent trouver des moyens pour s'adapter et faire face au départ des hommes et à l'accroissement des charges familiales. En partant des difficultés multidimensionnelles du vieux bassin arachidier, étudiées à travers la mauvaise articulation des politiques agricoles coloniales et nationales, qui ont participé à la crise agricole qui a été aggravée par la combinaison de facteurs anthropiques et physiques, nous avons rappelé le rôle actif des femmes dans la sphère familiale, d’abord et rendu visibles les activités collectives ou individuelles qu’elles ont déployées. Ensuite, les associations féminines se caractérisent par leur diversité dans leurs formes, leurs objectifs, leurs moyens et leur tissu relationnel. Devant les mutations observées, elles sont devenues incontournables et sont perçues comme des réponses féminines. Devant tous ces changements, les femmes du Baol ont leur mot à dire et leur force à apporter pour que l'édifice familial et social reste debout. Face aux efforts déployés par les femmes, des perspectives s'ouvrent. / Women play an important role in Senegalese society occupying a central position in the economic and social life of the nation. In this thesis we will highlight the dynamism and the heroic levels of energy that Senegalese women invest in their daily tasks. Our observations will focus on the region of Diourbel. Their dynamism will be assessed throughout their daily activities, including their efforts to reach an economic self-sufficiency and their work within organizations. Diourbel used to be the center of the groundnut (peanut) basin. The borders of this region changed with shifts in the techniques of peanut farming and modifications in the environment. The latter has had effects on the living conditions of the inhabitants, particularly on women who had to find ways to adapt to such challenges as men migrating and increases in the cost of running a household. We highlight the active role women play within the family, demonstrating their collective and individual activities. These details are presented within the context of such multidimensional issues facing the old groundnut basin, as the incoherence of the colonial and national agricultural policies which have been aggravated by the combination of anthropogenic and physical factors. In addition the women´s associations are characterized by their variety, objectives, methods and internal relationships. The analysis will show them to be an inevitable feminine response to the observed social, economic and environmental changes. Women of Baol play a substantial role and exert significant influence on the process of maintaining both the social and familiar structures of their communities. As women carry out these efforts, our analysis will reveal how these efforts generate new perspectives.

An exploratory descriptive design was used to examine income-generating self-help groups in the rural area of Moutse, Mpumalanga, South Africa in terms of viability and ability to empower women economically. Income-generating self-help groups of women in Moutse have grown over the years with the initiative of the extension officers of the Department of Agriculture. These groups are also used by the women to enhance personal growth and family support. The success of the income-generating groups relates to abstract needs, such as the individual member's motivation, self-esteem gained through participation in decisionmaking processes and the implementation of projects. Skills are acquired in the process of participation in which abstract and concrete needs are addressed. The failures of the groups are as a result of lack of funding, unavailability of resources, lack of appropriate support and training, lack of co-operation and some unhealthy competition among groups in the area which results in the groups not being economically viable. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science)