<p>The overall objectives of this thesis were to assess the theory and evaluate the development roles of MFIs in Uganda and Bangladesh. The study in particular focussed on MFIs impact on poverty reduction, empowering women, promoting health, as well as promoting children's education in Uganda and Bangladesh. The study preferred the selected countries because Bangladesh is internationally considered as the best practice for microfinance, whilst Uganda is assumed to be well-positioned in terms of microfinance as compared to other developing countries in Africa. The question that guided this empirical investigation was whether MFIs empower women, reduce poverrty, promote children's education as well as health among its beneficiaries in Uganda and whether Bangladesh has important lessons of experience for Uganda.</p>

Poverty in South Africa and Africa as a whole has become a major problem, hindering the development of the entire continent. The problem of poverty affects all the spheres of life. People affected by poverty do not enjoy life to such an extent that they can feel counted among the blessed in the country. They feel depressed about their situation and strive to find solutions for their problem. One of the major causes of poverty in South Africa and in Africa as a whole is inequality and injustice. That is, the poor become poorer while the rich become richer. Poverty as one of the major problems we have inside and outside the church, needs serious attention. Chapter 2 consist of the following principles: Firstly, God is revealed as a God who treats both rich and poor equally and demands every person to have an open eye and heart for poor and needy. Secondly, the church must follow the attitude of Jesus, feeling empathy for people in need and acting in love and compassion towards them. Thirdly, the leaders of the church, especially the deacons, must defend and help the poor and lead the congregation to obey God in loving to people in need. Fourthly, the members of the church must be involved in the needs of the poor amongst them and take responsibility for widows and orphans. Fifth, the church must act as a community of love under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and address the need of the poor. Sixth, the poor must be thankful for the love of others and satisfied with the help they receive from the church. The principles were identified after studying the Scriptural portions in the Old Testament (Leviticus 19: 9 and 10; Deuteronomy 15:4; Proverbs 22:9; Proverbs 6: 9-11 , Jeremiah 22: 1 6; Ezekiel 16:49, Ezekiel 22:29) and the New Testament (Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 9:14-17; Acts 2:42-47; and James 2:14-17). Chapter 3 consists of a literature study, with an emphasis on Sociology. Different stakeholders are involved in alleviating poverty, although not yet on a satisfactory standard. There is still a need for the stakeholders and the church to be more actively involved in alleviating poverty. Orphans, widows and street children are not cared for enough or at all in some instances. Chapter 4 provides some practical theoretical perspectives to try and change this situation. The principles stated in this chapter should be seriously considered. In this case God's love towards the needy and the poor is very important. Chapter 5 is the practical theoretical theological perspective on alleviating poverty in the churches in the Synod Midlands. Chapter 6 offers some conclusive guidelines. If the guidelines in this chapter can be taken in to consideration and taken seriously, they can ensure a better way to alleviate poverty inside and outside the church. / Thesis (M.Th. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Thesis (M.A. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Microfinance is perceived to be one of the poverty alleviation mechanisms in poor countries today. This study was set out to find out what impact microfinance has on the livelihoods of women in Kakondo sub-county, Rakai district in Uganda. The reason why the focus was put on women was to find out whether these women can manage to sustain their livelihoods on a long term perspective through the process of acquiring microfinance credit. In order to find out what impact microfinance has, a group of women from the same borrowing group (all BRAC microfinance borrowers) were interviewed. As speculated, the results from the study showed that microfinance credit does really play a key role in helping the poor cope with poverty however, as microcredit on its own does not alleviate poverty, which also brings us to the fact that these women can improve their livelihoods however sustainability on a long term perspective is doubtful.

<p>The overall objectives of this thesis were to assess the theory and evaluate the development roles of MFIs in Uganda and Bangladesh. The study in particular focussed on MFIs impact on poverty reduction, empowering women, promoting health, as well as promoting children's education in Uganda and Bangladesh. The study preferred the selected countries because Bangladesh is internationally considered as the best practice for microfinance, whilst Uganda is assumed to be well-positioned in terms of microfinance as compared to other developing countries in Africa. The question that guided this empirical investigation was whether MFIs empower women, reduce poverrty, promote children's education as well as health among its beneficiaries in Uganda and whether Bangladesh has important lessons of experience for Uganda.</p>

Poultry-based PAPs are important to improve the livelihoods of rural communities. The environments in which they operate determine their ability to succeed in terms of self-reliance and income generation capabilities. A positive adequate and supportive extension service enables the PAPs to contribute to food security and job creation. However, in South Africa despite the government, and NGOs huge investment in the PAPs, high mortalities of the poultry, and ineffectiveness in reducing food and nutrition insecurity, remain major concerns because most of them collapse soon after cessation of donor or government funding. Information on why most of the PAPs fail is still inadequate. Thus, the main objective of current study was to characterize poultry-based PAPs in order to suggest intervention strategies to strengthen their performance. The specific objectives were to: (a) identify the constraints to the successful implementation of poultry-based PAPs; (b) determine the coping strategies applied in poultry-based PAPs; and (c) suggest interventions for improved performance of the poultry-based PAPs. This case study was undertaken in Bushbuckridge Municipality of Ehlanzeni District in Mpumalanga Province. A mixture of qualitative and quantitative research methods and techniques were applied in the two-phased study. Purposive sampling was used to select ordinary members and chairpersons of PAPs as well as some government officials who served as respondents. In phase 1 of the study face-to-face interviews were conducted using open-ended questions with 10 Chairpersons, 20 ordinary members and 5 government officials involved with poultry-based PAPs. Qualitative data were analyzed using Atlas ti7.0.81. Thereafter, the qualitative results of phase 1 were consolidated to produce a questionnaire administered to (n=16) focus group participants of the same categories of respondents. The Statistical Pacl<age for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 was used to analyse data and to compute the means of ranks assigned to perceptions relating constraints, coping strategies and intervention strategies in terms of institutional, production, marketing and sustainability. The results of phase 2 revealed that most of the 116 respondents (57 %) were members of poultry-based PAPs in the northern region of Bushbuckridge local Municipality. Females constituted more than half (58 %) of the respondents. The respondents were mainly 51-60 years old (39 %), closely followed by those aged 36-50 years (37 %). Only (13 %) of the respondents were 35 years old. With respect to the highest level of education attained, (45 %) of the respondents had completed prima1y schooling. An almost similar proportion (44 %) had secondary school education but had not matriculated. The remainder had never attended school. The respondents experience in PAPs was greatly variable. Slightly more th'an half of them (54 %) had been members of their projects for 5-10 years. Approximately, (25 %) had been involved in the PAPs for 10-15 years, with the rest ranging from 1-5 years (3 %) and also at least 15 years (17 %). It was revealed that the top ranked constraints facing poultry-based PAPs in Bushbuckridge were: Lack of regulation of poultry feed, lack of government start-up capital/subsidy, inadequate training, especially with respect to financial management and inadequate markets. Buying chicken feed in small quantities from middlemen, use of substandard day-old chicks, purchasing water from people having boreholes, and selling produce to the local community at reduced prices were the top ranked coping strategies that PAPs relied on. The top ranked intervention strategies proposed to deal with the challenges faced by PAPs were: develop a funding strategy, regulate prices of chicken feed, upgrade available infrastructure, develop marketing outlet points, and offer tailor-made training th?t includes financial management and record keeping. It is recommended that in order to ensure sustainability feasibility studies should be conducted prior to implementation of the poultry-based PAPs. This would eliminate the possibility of running 'hand to mouth' PAPs. The need for introducing appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems was also evident. Key words: Intervention, project, poverty alleviation, poultry and successful PAP

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2015 / This study paper examined community development as a strategy to alleviate poverty in Nkandla by examining the community development programmes in place and their effectiveness in alleviating poverty. According to the 1996 population census, some 135 000 people live in the Nkandla District. Out of these, 57% are females and 61% of households are headed by women. Over 14% of the population is under the age of five, and 46% of the population is aged 14 years and under. An evaluative study was undertaken to research the effectiveness (which is the outcome, importance, meaning and efficiency), the relationship between the “input” and “output”, and the two considerations being utilised in poverty alleviation programmes, as part of community development strategy to alleviate poverty in the area. According to the Millennium Goals Report (2005:6), overcoming poverty and hunger is possible because the causes of poverty have been analyzed intensively by the World Bank and by other organisations but poverty still persists. The poverty programmes to determine the nature and the extent of poverty in Nkandla, the copying mechanisms of the locals, the eradication processes which are implemented, and the level of participation by community members, the effectiveness of community poverty in Nkandla were all evaluated in this study. The sample for this research consisted of 50 respondents who were either direct or indirect beneficiaries of community development programmes in the Nkandla Municipality. Data were gathered via face to face interviews and the semi- structured questionnaires were administered to respondents.

Submitted in the fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts (Community Work), University of Zululand in the Department of Social Work, 2010. / The flagship program is a developmental approach aimed at facilitating economic, educational and training opportunities for rural women and children under the age of 15 in order to break the cycle of vulnerability and poverty in South Africa. In Msinga alone, the Integrated Development Plan document (2001:2) indicates that at least 85% of Msinga population is unemployed thereby trapped in poverty. For them to earn a proper living, they depend on subsistence farming which at times successful due to lack of adequate resources like water, gardening equipment and accessible roads, and more. This is supported by Cloud (1985:7) who argues that even those women who have access such resources, it is of a particular concern to the kind of access they have to such resources for carrying out their activities, and the command they have over the benefits thereafter. Therefore, the study was based on assessing the impact of Mashunka Flagship project as an approach to poverty alleviation, under the Msinga Local Municipality funded by the Department of Social Development. The Evaluative research method was used and the interview questionnaires were used to gather information from the sample twenty respondents that were used. Relevant literature was reviewed to gather more information from experts who have done the research before on the topic and the recommendation were made based on the findings of the study. The findings have revealed that the women and children have benefited from the program in many ways, including the community at large, in terms of electricity, access road and water. They received funding from various donors both private and public. All women in the project were trained on various skills. Children are attending early childhood development in the nearby and they eat everyday form the scheme. The findings also revealed the importance of intersectoral collaboration and training of the project members as the important tools towards the sustenance of the project and comprehensive service delivery.

Understanding the role that tourism play in poverty alleviation globally has been a research focus of many studies in different countries. For an extended period the trickle down method of wealth distribution, where it was believed that riches find its way down the value chain to the poor in terms of taxes spent on welfare, infrastructure, grants etc., was globally accepted. In recent years though, focus on tourism as tool for increasing economic growth and poverty alleviation has been placed at the centre. It is true that in many cases tourism made a difference in the lives of the poor but it is also true that in many instances this is not the case. This dissertation analysed the perceived contribution made by tourism to poverty alleviation in Mozambique in general, and Praia de Bilene and Macanetta peninsula in particular. These are pre-eminently tourist destinations and ideally suited for a study of this nature. The primary goal of this dissertation was to determine the contribution of tourism to poverty alleviation in Mozambique by assessing Praia Bilene and Macanetta peninsula. The first objective was to describe and understand the link between tourism and poverty. It was found that the traditional definition of poverty no longer applies to most situations. That it is better to view poverty as a lack of access instead of money, access to natural resources, bureaucratic processes, capital markets and entrepreneurship. The review analysed different research methods, looking in depth at the livelihood analysis, ST~EP and MPI. The three pathways namely direct, indirect and induced levels on how tourism affects the poor were also explored. The most challenging area has to be the quantifying of tourism impacts on communities and local livelihoods. Concluding that the measurement of tourism impacts on poverty alleviation is an intricate debate and not easily accomplished. The second objective was to analyse the current status of the tourism industry in Mozambique. With 48% of sub-Sahara living in poverty, the picture in Mozambique is even drearier, with 54% living under the poverty line and 81% living under the $2 poverty line in the country (OPHI, 2013:1), confirming that it is one of the world’s poorest countries. Mozambique’s profile was analysed on its poverty status, tourism development, growth and the tourism impacts on the local communities of Bilene and Macanetta. It was found that several tourism opportunities are scooped up by foreigners and that this causes a major leakage of resources from regions where poverty alleviation by tourism is attempted. At a 7% GDP growth rate Mozambique is making very good progress, but due to being so poor and behind it is not reducing the poverty fast enough. The third objective was to determine the perceptions of two Mozambique communities on tourism impacts and the impact of tourism on their poverty status by incorporating the multi-dimensional poverty index. A perception analysis was done by means of a structured questionnaire presented to random residents from all walks of life at the two specific locations mentioned. The correlation between MPI and perceptions of the impacts of tourism shown that resident’s perceptions of tourism do not influence their deprivation scores negative or positive. It was however determined in an open question that an overwhelming 4 out of 5 people felt that tourism did contribute to poverty alleviation. The perceptions and reality therefore differ. The last objective was to draw conclusions and make recommendations with regard to the contribution of tourism to poverty alleviation in selected Mozambican communities. Conclusions were drawn as to the effectiveness of tourism as a strategic method in the onslaught against poverty in the selected communities. Amongst these conclusions was the fact that poverty seems to be an increasingly complex phenomenon. Due to the difficulty in defining poverty, a wide variety of research methods need to be used to assess the situation. No single approach to impact valuation of tourism on poverty can present all the answers. Concluding in this analysis into poverty and tourism’s relationship it was determined that not only did the factual data show that tourism did not alleviate poverty at these locations but that the population, in stark contrast to empirical proof, determined in their own mind that they perceived a definite improvement due to tourism. Thus residents do not necessarily receive personal benefits from tourism but they are positive towards the tourism industry. This should be utilised by creating opportunities for higher levels of participation in the industry as well as generating more tangible, positive affects for the local population in Mozambique. / MA (Tourism Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014