In an attempt to increase opportunity and quality of life for people living in poverty,governments and non-government organisations (NGOs) sell and donate products to developing countries. Typically, these are essential household items such as cook stoves, water filters and solar lighting. However, to date there has been limited research into the uptake and long term effectiveness of these products and few methods or tools are available to guide the product development process. This has resulted in a number of well documented product failures as a result of poor design choices. To overcome this problem and provide guidance to future or existing designers and NGOs this research investigated the factors required for long lasting and effective product design. This was carried out through the use of a literature review, the analysis of 64 products, a survey, interviews with product designers, and a case study with a Social Enterprise in Myanmar (Burma). The information gathered was analysed and used to create a framework consisting of various tools to guide designers and NGOs. Specifically, the research focused on the creation of a taxonomy of products designed for developing countries and an assessment method consisting of eight critical indicators for product success. These were presented as a website, set of cards and book which guides and assists designers during the process to ensure that future products are appropriate and to prevent current unacceptable levels of waste. Following the creation of the framework it was evaluated by students, practitioners and existing product users in Myanmar. The findings revealed that participants felt the assessment method and indicator cards were beneficial during the design process and assisted them in the development of more suitable and appropriate products.

The physical environment in schools is an important factor that benefits the educational quality and has an essential role in the student's learning process. In the Philippines the physical environment is underdeveloped in the schools, since the main focus is on developing a basic foundation and on making sure that every child can go to school. This thesis studied the classrooms' physical environment in three selected schools in the Philippines. It presents improvements of the classroom’s physical environment. This study can be used as indicative guidelines when designing classrooms in the Philippines. This study is supported by the Minor Field Study scholarship, founded by SIDA.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Microinsurance services have been operating in Ghana for the last decade, but the question whether they have enhanced the welfare of low-income households, mostly in the informal sector, is largely unresearched. In particular the study asks: does microinsurance improve the welfare of households through asset retention, consumption smoothing and inequality reduction? This question has been examined through the use of the 2010 FINSCOPE survey which contains in-depth information on 3 642 households across the rural and urban settings of the country. In order to control for selection bias and endogeneity bias, Heckman sample selection, instrumental variable and treatment effect models were employed for the evaluation. The results of the assessment have been compiled into four empirical essays. The first essay investigates the impact of microinsurance on household asset accumulation. The findings show that microinsurance has a positive welfare impact in terms of household asset accumulation. This suggests that microinsurance prevents asset pawning and liquidation of essential household assets at ‘give away’ prices. By absorbing the risk of low-income households, insurance equips them to cope effectively with risk, empowers them to escape poverty and sustains the welfare gains achieved. The second essay examines the impact of microinsurance on consumption smoothing. It delves into the capacity of microinsurance to enable households to avoid costly risk-coping methods which are detrimental to health and well-being. The results reveal that insured households are less likely to reduce the daily intake of meals, which is an indication that microinsurance is a better option for managing consumption smoothing among low-income households. The third essay investigates the effect of microinsurance on households’ asset inequality. The findings indicate that the asset inequality of insured households is less than that of uninsured households. Insured female-headed households have much lower asset inequality than male-headed households, but uninsured female-headed households are worse off than both uninsured and insured male-headed households. The regional trend reveals that developmental gaps impede the capacity of microinsurance to bridge the asset inequality gap. The fourth essay asks: Does microcredit improve the well-being of low-income households in the absence of microinsurance? The findings show a weak influence of microcredit on household welfare. However households using microcredit in combination with microinsurance derive significant gains in terms of welfare improvement. Microcredit may be good, but its real benefits to the poor is best realised if the poverty trapping risks are covered with microinsurance. To this extent, combining microcredit with microinsurance will empower the poor to make a sustainable exit from poverty. The findings of this thesis have pertinent policy implications for the government, the development community and stakeholders in the insurance industry. Microinsurance is a good instrument for improving the welfare of households and thus this research recommends its integration into the poverty reduction strategy of Ghana and a greater insurance inclusion for the lower end of the market.

Thesis (MPA (Public Administration))--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / 105 leaves single sided printed, preliminary pages i-xii and numbered pages 1-92.Includes bibliography and list of tables and figures. / Scanned using a Hp Scanjet 8250 Scanner to pdf format (OCR). / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study assessed the performance of South Africa's Housing Policy in Ivory Park, an informal settlement in Midrand. The study used effectiveness, efficiency, equity, responsiveness and affordability, as criteria for assessment. Research was carried out using a literature review; and face-to-face interviews with officials from the Midrand Metropolitan Local Council, and the residents of Ivory Park who had already moved into the newly built houses. The study found that the performance of the policy in Ivory Park is mixed. From the point of view of effectiveness, the policy has had a positive impact on the lives of beneficiaries. The bigger picture of housing delivery, and the way the policy is being assessed by other spheres of government however, has reduced assessment of the policy to the numbers of housing built, and not taken sufficient consideration of the value of other elements of the policy. The greatest efficiency drawback has been the speed of implementation. The policy is moving at a relatively slow pace. The distribution of the resources of the policy has been equitable, in that the unemployed and households with irregular incomes have been reached by the housing policy. However, there have been difficulties in stimulating the local materials supply industries in the area, but efforts have gone into activating that part. The policy has been responsive, and beneficiaries are satisfied with the role played by the local authority, community organisations and contractors involved in housing delivery. Although the new houses built have not themselves adversely affected the cost of living of beneficiaries, the poverty level in the area, would continue to make services such as housing, unaffordable to households. The study recommends that in future, there be increased consultations with intended beneficiaries of a housing policy, in order to align the views of policymakers with those of beneficiaries. There is also a need to develop indicators that take into account all the objectives government pursues in the housing sector. The local authority should also track ownership of the built houses, to ensure that any change in ownership does not compromise the welfare of beneficiaries, and lead to the subsidisation of housing acquisitions of well-off households. Housing polices should have a more economic development slant, as the new services coming with housing would not have a greater impact in situations of persistent poverty. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het die Suid-Afrikaanse Behuisingsbeleid beoordeel in Ivory Park, 'n informele nedersetting in Midrand. Hierdie beoordeling het die volgende kriteria gebruik, te wete doeltreffendheid, doelmatigheid, eweredigheid, die respons van die inwoners en bekostigbaarheid deur die inwoners. Navorsing is uitgevoer deur middel van 'n literatuuroorsig en persoonlike onderhoude met Raadslede van die Midrandse Metropolitaanse Raad asook die inwoners van Ivory Park wat alreeds in hul nuutgeboude wonings ingetrek het. Die studie het gemengde bevindings ten opsigte van die beleid binne Ivory Park opgelewer. Vanuit 'n doelmatigheidsoogpunt gesien het die beleid 'n positiewe uitwerking op die lewens van die begunstigdes uitgeoefen. Binne die groter geheel van behuisingsvoorsiening, asook die manier waarop die beleid beoordeel word deur ander regeringsfere, blyk dit egter dat die beleid slegs beoordeel word op grond van die aantal wooneenhede gelewer sonder om die ander elemente van die behuisingsbeleid te verdiskonteer. Die implementeringspoed van die beleid was die grootste nadeel vanuit 'n doeltreffendheidsoogpunt gesien aangesien die beleid teen 'n relatiewe stadige pas beweeg. Die bronne van die beleid is eweredig versprei deurdat werkloses en huishoudings met ongereelde inkomste deur die beleid bevoordeel is. Probleme is ook ondervind met die stimulasie van plaaslike boumateriaal voorsieningsindustrieel binne die gebied, maar inisiatiewe is geloods om die gedeelte te aktiveer. Die respons van die gemeenskap, binne die konteks van behuisingsvoorsiening, dui ook op hul tevredenheid met die rol van die plaaslike owerheid, gemeenskapsorganisasies en die betrokke kontrakteurs. Alhoewel die nuwe behuising nie die lewenskoste van die begunstigdes nadelig beinvloed het nie, dra die hoe armoede vlak in die omgewing daartoe by dat behuising vir vele inwoners onbekostigbaar bly. Die studie beveel aan dat daar in die toekoms toenemend met die beoogde begunstigdes van die behuisingsbeleid gekonsulteer moet word ten einde die sienings van die beleidmakers en die begunstigdes in ooreenstemming te bring. Ontwikkelingsindikatore en regeringsdoelwitte moet ook in berekening gebring word binne die behuisingsektor. Die plaaslike owerheid moet ook die eienaarskap van die nuwe wooneenhede navolg om te verseker dat eienaarskap nie die welsyn van die begunstigdes negatief affekteer nie, of dat dit nie lei tot die subsidering van die meer gegoedes in die verkryging van wooneenhede nie. Die behuisingbeleid moet ook 'n groter ekonomiese onderbou he ten einde armoede te bekamp.

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Smoking during pregnancy remains a significant public health issue despite knowledge about the adverse maternal and fetal health effects. This research had six purposes: identifying effective smoking cessation strategies for low income pregnant women; identifying characteristics of Kentucky women who smoke during pregnancy; estimating the role of smoking on birth outcomes in Kentucky; exploring the impact of tobacco reduction on birth outcomes; identifying the characteristics of women participating in the Giving Infants and Families Tobacco-free Starts (GIFTS) pilot program; and evaluating the impact of GIFTS on smoking status and birth outcomes. Seven randomized controlled trials targeting low income women with smoking cessation interventions identified social support and incentives as promising strategies. Only one study focused on women living in rural settings. Live birth certificate data from 2004-2008 revealed that 26% of Kentucky women reported smoking during pregnancy. Continuing to smoke approximately doubled the odds for low birth weight (LBW) [Estimated Odds Ratio 1.95 (95% Confidence Interval 1.87-2.03)] and no breastfeeding initiation (NBI) [1.93 (1.87-1.98)] versus no pre-pregnancy smoking. Continuers also had higher odds for preterm birth (PTB) [1.25 (1.20-1.29)] and neonatal intensive care unit admissions (NICU) [1.20 (1.14-1.26)]. Reducers and quitters had increased odds of LBW and NBI. The probability of quitting relative to the probability of continuing was increased for women aged less than 25, non-White, Hispanic, graduate degree, obese and "other" payor source for the delivery. The GIFTS program targeted pregnant women receiving local health department services who reported recent or current tobacco use. Significantly increased odds of participation were identified for women reporting 1-5 [2.05 (1.06-3.94) ], 6-10 [2.06 (1.10-3.83)] and ≥11 [2.17 (1.12-4.20)] cigarettes per day compared to those reporting no cigarettes. Women with one [1.55 (1.07-2.24)] or two [1.83 (1.21-2.76)] previous quit attempts also had increased odds for participation compared to those with no quit attempts. GIFTS participants were significantly less likely to have preterm infants (p=.0369) than a matched comparison group. No significant differences were found on tobacco cessation, tobacco reduction or cessation, LBW, NICU, or NBI. This research has implications for future cessation efforts as well as policy development.

Low-income women, including women who receive welfare, are some of the most misunderstood citizens in the U.S. Low-income women often live in extreme situations that are complicated by poverty and multiple issues related to human capital, social support, mental health, and substance use. These factors make low-income women unique in that they contribute not only to the women’s current situations, but to their potential for future self-sufficiency. The majority of previous studies have described these factors as barriers to self-sufficiency. This study explored these factors differently by examining the extent to which human capital is associated with mental health problems and substance use problems and whether those associations are moderated by social support among low-income women. By exploring human capital among low-income women, this study closes a gap in the literature. Previous literature has examined human capital as an outcome of life choices and circumstances. This study is unique in that human capital is conceptualized as a combination of strengths that are employed in unique ways and that help determine whether life outcomes among low-income women will be related. This study examined secondary data collected from 11,495 low-income women who participated in the University of Kentucky’s Targeted Assessment Program (TAP) between July 2005 and July 2011 and is informed by theoretical literature on human capital, social support, and relationships, as well as empirical literature on study factors related to problems experienced by low-income women (i.e., mental health problems, substance use problems, and social support). Study hypotheses were developed to examine the relationships between human capital and mental health and substance use among low-income women and whether social support moderates those relationships. Results indicate that while some human capital factors are indicative of fewer mental health and substance use problems, perceived social support was a significant indicator of each of the mental health and substance use factors. Perceived social support was not found to moderate relationships between predictor and outcome variables.

<p>In this report, housing development and perticipation of communities are examined. Although houses have been build in certain areas of Khayelitsha , there is a slow delivery and there is a lack of public involvement in housing programme to decide about the future of the community. In order for any development to be sustainable it must be driven by affected people with a sense of ownership being engendered to them. This holistic approach for housing development is in line up with the current government policy on the matter.</p>

This thesis studies the social history of the poor in Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe, between 1960 and 2005. This is accomplished by focusing on the housing and unemployment crises they faced and the manifest reluctance of authorities to either provide enough housing or to accept mushrooming informal housing and economic activities in response to these acute shortages. I attempt to highlight the fragility of the poor’s claim to the right to permanent urban residency emphasizing inadequate state funding and poverty and continuities in some discourses from colonial to the post colonial era as factors responsible for spreading and sustaining the discrimination against low income earners in the city. These included authorities’ perceptions that all Africans belonged to rural areas, have access to land, and that low income Africans were immoral and unclean. While these perceptions tended to be fuelled by the racial divide between whites and blacks during the colonial period, class and gender dynamics among Africans crisscrossed that racial divide. After independence, while these perceptions were still alive, central government policy ambitions and failures were instrumental in influencing the welfare and fate of the urban masses and their relations with the former middle class Africans and nationalist leaders who assumed power in 1980. It becomes clear that there was a misunderstanding by authorities on how most of the rural land was not able to support some families because of infertility or lack of resources to successfully till the land by most some families. The overall conclusion is that poor people’s rights to permanent residency were elusive up to 2005 and their living and survival space has been continuing to shrink in the city.

The present study tested a model addressing whether interpersonal Openness and interpersonal and intrapersonal Coping Resources mediated the relationship between interpersonal Victimization and the Psychological Symptoms women experience as a result of these traumas. Victimization indicators (physical violence, sexual assault, psychological abuse, and revictimization), Coping indicators (optimism, self-esteem, private self-consciousness, social network and therapy), Openness indicators (self-silencing, communal orientation, trust, self-monitoring, and network orientation), and Psychological Symptoms indicators (global distress, dissociation, and suicidal ideation) were examined separately for African American (n = 245), Euro-American (n = 185), and Mexican American (n = 202) women. Structural Equation Modeling revealed that for African American and Euro-American women, Openness partially mediated the victimization-distress relationship. The model for Mexican Americans was the most complex with Openness and intrapersonal Coping fully mediating the psychological effects of victimization. Approximately 50% of the variance in psychological symptoms resulting from victimization was predicted by this model for African American and Euro-American women; over 80% of the variance was predicted for Mexican Americans. Thus, the importance of Openness to relationships in alleviating the psychological sequelae following interpersonal victimization was underscored by the results. Similarities and differences between these models are discussed. Implications of the results for future research and intervention are addressed.