published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences

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This dissertation outlines a comprehensive study about Zambezia Agricultural Development Project Phase 2 (ZADP 2). It examines its impact and its relationship to the targeted communities. The study analyses development in the targeted areas and presents an outline of the activities, its conceptual basis, its approaches and its goals. It explores the impact of poverty alleviation and livelihoods between households and their strategies to overcome the food insecurity through on-farm and off-farm income generation. ZADP 2 applied several strategies to help the communities in their struggle against poverty and vulnerability. It was assumed that rural people do not improve their surplus because of the backward technology they use in their farming. To resolve this problem ZADP 2 realized that improved seeds would enable rural people to deal with improved agriculture through an increase in agricultural output, which would increase the quality of life of many. This led to the introduction of improved seeds, which were multiplied on the peasants' farms. It also introduced livestock restocking component. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) is an approach put in place in order to involve the targeted communities to actively participate in development process aimed at them. It is recognized in this dissertation that Participatory Rural Appraisal and problem-solving are crucial to successful outcomes, and that, as a result, PRA approach is a fundamental instrument in motivating the targeted people to be fully involved in prioritising their problems and needs. This dissertation also remarks that PRA can succeed if development practitioners are committed to local problem-solving by not overturning real local needs and not disregarding the local knowledge. Several African and international development models were reviewed in order to see how the applied development has been undertaken and how it can be applied in Mozambique. This dissertation shows that the assumptions held during the ZADP's implementation that all stakeholders involved such as facilitators, livestock promoters, the government and the smallholders would guarantee the sustainability of the project were merely an assumption. It moves on to show that in order to contribute to poverty alleviation, the ZADP 2 should be long-term rather than short-term. / Thesis (M.Dev.Studies)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

This study raises important questions about the motivation that is driving companies to adopt social responsibly programmes, and why they should engage in the field of social development in the first place. Many would argue that the role of business is to make profit and that their only responsibility is to act within the law, while others urge the need for business to get more socially involved and become more accountable in terms of their actions. Particular in developing countries, where governments are often dysfunctional and ineffective, private sector hold the key to resources that does not exist elsewhere, and should contribute to improve those societies. As a result of increased awareness of the role of business in society, which has been triggered through numerous corporate scandals throughout the past decades, the term corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained great attention. Today, most big companies invest a notable amount of money in CSR programmes of various kinds, however, it is not always clear why they do this. Is it because they really care and want to make a change, or is it because they want to gain or maintain a good public reputation? CSR has long been accused for what has been called “green-washing”, in the sense that it is only an attempt to conceal any forms of unethical and irresponsible behaviour. Nevertheless, there has also been a growing perception that business should play a greater role in the social aspects of society, and by carefully selecting their programmes, this can lead to win-win situations for all the stakeholders involved. This study aims to examine these issues by addressing the need for more sustainable and transparent stakeholder relationships between the companies and the beneficiary organisations. This attempt is achieved through the selection of case studies, as well as examinations of a wide range of literature existing in the field. / Thesis (M.Dev.Studies)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

This thesis explores the relationship between funding practices and the non-profit sector through a case study of one community-based organization, called Ma Mawi wi Chi Itata Centre, located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The thesis traces implications of the shift to project funding models and outcomes-based management for the communitybased organizations (CBOs). The research draws on Foucault’s governmentality analytic to illuminate how funding practices relate to neoliberal discourses and traces the tensions and resistances that are created by funding policy interventions at the point of practice. I argue tensions arise between: competition and collaboration; textual accountability and community need; reporting, learning, and teaching; different problem solving approaches; and individualism and community building practices. CBOs are intimately wrapped up in the project of governing. They are not either, a symbol of citizen engagement or a symptom of a decimated state; rather they are both, part and parcel of a system in which we are both governed and govern. / Graduate

This dissertation analyzes competition for foundation grants in the nonprofit sector. First, I examine how inter-organization competition and foundation activity in local grants markets affect organization behavior through institutional pressure on (1) firm fundraising expenses, (2) program expense ratios, and (3) revenue diversification. Second, I explore the impacts of nonprofit program expense ratios and fundraising expenses on foundation grantmaking. This analysis focuses on the relative "prices" of donations to competing nonprofit organizations, represented by these expense ratios, and the impact prices have on foundation grant decisions relative to the impact that nonprofit marketing has. Finally, I examine whether greater competition in grants markets increases the importance of program expense ratios and firm marketing behavior for grant selection. Overall, this dissertation contributes to our understanding of organization behavior and foundation influence in grant-seeking markets and competition's role in the distribution of charitable grants.

There has during a rapid growth of third sector organizations (TSOs) in the third world during the 1990s. Such growth has occurred during a period of severe cutbacks in state investment as well as rapid globalization of trade. Social activists have often organized TSOs in these countries as an alternative to private and public organizations. However the question of how leaders and managers of these TSOs sustain their activities remains important. Their dilemma of help is the focus of this study. / Through a study of strategy formation in three third sector organizations in the third world, this study focuses on how TSOs can be sustainable yet effective change agents. It develops a typology of TSOs with particular attention to type of third sector activity (operating, support, community), type of organizational form (Grassroots initiatives, Grassroots Organizations, Grassroots Federations, Development Support Organizations and International Development Support Organizations) and dominant strategy approach (domain, distinctiveness, and design). This study argues that attention to these three aspects needs to be complemented by exploring the processes through which strategies form in these organizations. / Accordingly the strategy process in three TSOs in South India was examined, in particular the origin of the strategy, tactics of consensus, and interests of participants. Examining the strategy process in TSOs revealed that strategies originated in intent or event, promoters' consensus-tactics were conceived or improvised and participant's interests were fixed or shifting. / These findings on strategy process show varied origins, interests and consensus tactics in TSOs. They also seem to be associated with particular capacities in these organizations to perform their chosen activities, as well as with changes in mission. The study concludes with a discussion of the significance of these findings and a call for bridging the literatures on good management and effective social change, for further researching capacity building in TSOs, and encouraging initiatives for cross sector learning.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2007. / "Graduate Program in Communication, Information and Library Studies." Includes bibliographical references (p. 177-183).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toronto, 2005.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 248-275).