Masters in Public Administration - MPA / 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 focused 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 poverty, promote children's education as well as health among its beneficiaries in Uganda and whether Bangladesh has important lessons of experience for Uganda. / South Africa

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / Water provision is currently a global issue in the light of current and potential future shortages in both industrialized and developing countries. Presently, water provision is a top agenda item in any national developmental program. The United Nations General Assembly, in December 2003, proclaimed the years 2005 to 2015 as the International Decade for Action ‘Water for Life’. This will also involve the reduction by half, the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water by 2015 whilst stopping unsustainable exploitation of water resources (ZNCU 2008). The ‘Water for Life’ decade is therefore expected to enhance efforts in fulfilling international commitments made on water and water-related issues by 2015. Water and sanitation is a part of goal seven of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and addresses environmental sustainability. Despite the fact that water provision is still a challenge in developing countries especially in the sub-Saharan-African region, ironically, a number of these countries are naturally endowed with vast resources of water. These water sources emanate mainly from lakes, rivers and streams which have not been appropriately exploited.To optimize water provision and water utilization, historically, different developmental approaches have been developed and debated. Amongst these is community participation, which enables people at the grassroots to determine the pace and nature of the development required. The thrust of community participation is that the citizenry should be involved in immediate choices and decisions that affect their lives. This is also the heart of sustainable development. In the context of water provision, community participation would therefore entail the people articulating their water needs and participating in the identification and implementation of water provision interventions. In the case of Chazanga however, community participation is a developmental initiative that is recognized and is expected to be embraced at the different levels of decision making at the grassroots in this particular case referring to water projects.The study through its objectives basically endeavours to: provide a critical review of the theoretical framework of Participatory Approaches for the topic under study; explore the effect or influence of community participation on water provision in peri-urban settlements such as Chazanga; assess the level of community participation in the WSUP water project in Chazanga community and; present the main findings, recommendations and conclusions of the study. In terms of research design, the investigation will use a case study that will be implemented through the qualitative method by collecting data through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and observations.In order to investigate the influence of community participation, the study has on the one hand provided an in-depth analysis of the water condition in the case study area. The findings show that water problems in Chazanga have been a source of concern before WSUP arrived in the settlement. On the other hand, the study provided evidence showing that the government of Zambia recognizes community participation as an important tool to address community problems from the social level. In this regard, the study discovered that there are strong structures of community participation at grassroots within Chazanga that converge frequently to discuss developments. However, there is interestingly a lack of appropriate feedback from the grassroots as community members representing the community on the Water Trust board have not informed government representatives of the development and presence of WSUP. This is as a result of the limited presence of government representatives at the grassroots level as their representation instead remains at higher levels in the community participation decentralized process.Recommendations of the study therefore suggest that the feedback process should be improved upon as well as taken advantage of, in order that government is better informed. This would as a result enhance more initiatives at community level, particularly in water provision. In addition, the study recommends an improvement on not only water supply but on sanitation issues which were discovered to be a critical issue. There is also a need to improve land allocation to make sure that boreholes are not too close to the water points. Other recommendations include the addressing of ethical issues in Chazanga which are a hindrance to community participation, as well as the immediate intervention in the improvement of livelihoods of the locals.

This is a study of how two small neighbourhoods, Mano and Mikura, recovered from the 1995 Kobe (Japan) earthquake, with a particular focus on the relationship between community vulnerability and capacity. Few studies have examined these interactions, even though vulnerability reduction is recognized to be a vital component of community recovery. Drawing from literature on disaster recovery, community development, vulnerability analysis, community capacity building and the Kobe earthquake, a community vulnerability and capacity model is elaborated from Blaikie et al.’s Pressure and Release Model (1994) to analyze the interactions. The Mano and Mikura cases are analyzed by applying this model and relating outcomes to the community’s improved safety and quality of community lives. Based on the experience of Mano, appropriate long-term community development practices as well as community capacity building efforts in the past can contribute to the reduction of overall community vulnerability in the post-disaster period, while it is recovering. On the other hand, the Mikura case suggests that even though the community experiences high physical and social vulnerability in the pre-disaster period, if the community is able to foster certain conditions, including active CBOs, adequate availability and accessibility to resources, and a collaborative working relationship with governments, the community can make progress on recovery. Although both Mano and Mikura communities achieved vulnerability reduction as well as capacity building, the long-term sustainability of the two communities remains uncertain, as issues and challenges, such as residual and newly emerging physical vulnerability, negative or slow population growth and aging, remained to create vulnerability to future disasters. The case studies reveal the interactions of community vulnerability and capacity to be highly complex and contingent on many contextual considerations. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Since there is limited research on the use of data dashboards in the evaluation field, this study explores the integration of a data dashboard in a knowledge network, the Centre for Research on Educational and Community Services (CRECS) as part of its program evaluation activities. The study used three phases of data collection and analysis. It investigates the process of designing a dashboard for a knowledge network and the different uses of a data dashboard in a program evaluation context through interviews and focus group discussions. Four members of the CRECS team participated in one focus group; two other members participated in individual interviews. Data were analyzed for thematic patterns. Results indicate that the process of designing a data dashboard consists of five steps that indicate the iterative process of design and the need for sufficient consultations with stakeholders. Moreover, the data dashboard has the potential to be used internally, within CRECS, and externally with other stakeholders. The data dashboard is also believed to be beneficial in program evaluation context as a monitoring tool, for evaluability assessment, and for evaluation capacity building. In addition, it can be used externally for accountability, reporting, and communication. The study sheds light on the potentials of data dashboards in organizations, yet prolonged and broader studies should take place to confirm these uses and their sustainability.

Much has been researched on how to manage and participate in teams, as well as on teamwork in transdisciplinary and early intervention groups. However, no single source adequately details the skills needed to facilitate such a unique group as that of the asset-based transdisciplinary team. A limitation in the theoretical body of knowledge regarding this subject matter spurred the purpose of this study to explore the facilitation skills conducive to asset-based transdisciplinary teams. A conceptual framework was created from the researcher’s perspective of the theoretical knowledge researched and acquired. Applying an interpretative epistemology, the instrumental case study was chosen as research design to explore groups of transdisciplinary team members. Two focus group interviews were conducted, transcribed, qualitatively analysed with the supplements of field notes and coded with the help of two independent coders. Theoretical assumptions were tested, interrelations shown, categories and themes short-listed and criticisms from the participants considered. It was found that skills alone do not suffice to equip members in their facilitation of asset-based transdisciplinary teams. Attitudes of involvement, flexibility, support, transparency and trust; approaches that are asset-based, narrative, holistic and family-centred and possessing knowledge of diversity, ethics, teamwork and discipline expertise were considered paramount to the competence of a facilitator. It is recommended that in future research of facilitation, attention be given not only to the skills acquired, but also to the knowledge, attitudes and approaches needed. Combination of categories, integrating skills, attitudes, approaches and knowledge should also be investigated. It is recommended that the role of the caregiver be given greater status among health professions and that the findings of this study be applied in the pre- and in-service training of prospective health professionals and facilitators. Asset-based theory was informed by emphasising the importance of facilitation skills, and acquiring appropriate attitudes, approaches and knowledge in order to ensure successful implantation of those skills. The inclusion of role release underscored the need to facilitate networking and encourage shared leadership and the narrative approach also presented itself as a possible addition to asset-based theory. Finally, as a development of the collaborative project in Early Childhood Intervention, interpretations from focus group interviews as well as research in literature were used for the Masters degree in Early Childhood Intervention (MECI) in the Educational Psychology elective module. / Dissertation (MEd (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

The need for an advanced research information literacy (ARIL) framework was motivated by challenges faced by several stakeholders at academic institutions to support postgraduate researchers in an academic context (e.g. supervisors, academic departments, academic libraries). This applies to the full postgraduate research trajectory stretching from master’s level to well-established researchers. Research must meet with institutional requirements, international standards and the expectations of industry and praxis. Information literacy skills are essential for successful conduct and reporting of research, as well as the dissemination of research results. What constitutes basic information literacy skills is well captured (although frequently revised) in standards of information literacy applied to various contexts, including the academic and workplace context. However, what constitutes ARIL remains a subject of research. This study therefore explored the concept from the subject literature before suggesting an ARIL framework that guided a case study with researchers on several levels of postgraduate research at a South African academic institution. Based on empirical findings, the conceptually inspired (based on a definition) ARIL framework was then reconsidered to recommend an ARIL framework for practical implementation that can also guide further research. Engineering researchers were selected for the empirical component as a group of researchers who need to meet the requirements of academic scholarship as well as industry. The study was guided by the following research question: How can an advanced research information literacy (ARIL) framework inform the development of programmes supporting the scholarly research process of engineers in a South African higher education environment? Six sub-research questions addressed various components of the research question: 1. What are the characteristics of introductory and advanced research information literacy programmes as reported in subject literature? 2. What are the documented information needs, information behaviour and information-related experiences of engineering researchers in academic institutions, as well as from industry? 3. What are the current self-reported ARIL skills of South African postgraduate engineering researchers? 4. How do information literacy skills, knowledge, and practices of engineers differ between master’s, doctoral, post-doctoral, established and expert researcher levels? 5. How can an ARIL framework assist to determine which skills need to be developed at various levels of the engineering research process? 6. Which guidelines and interventions are required to support the implementation of a comprehensive research information literacy framework for engineers? A mixed methods approach to a single case study was applied. Seven engineering departments from a South African institution with a leading faculty in engineering participated in the study. Data collection occurred between September and December 2015. A semi-structured, self-administered web-based questionnaire collected mostly quantitative data from 68 participants. Individual and focus group interviews collected mostly qualitative data. Twelve individual interviews were conducted, as well as three focus group interviews with 19 participants. A short, structured questionnaire collected demographic data from the interview and focus group participants. All participants gave written/electronically recorded informed consent for participation, as well as for the recording of interviews. Invitations were distributed to all master’s and doctoral students as well as staff in the department, through the department’s offices. Descriptive statistical analysis was applied to the quantitative data and thematic analysis to the qualitative data. Data collection was guided by typical phases in the full research lifecycle, including conceptualising a research topic, obtaining research funding, discovery of information, management and organisation of information, data collection/generation and analysis, data curation, creation of information formats, management of intellectual property rights, dissemination of findings and measurement of impact in a field of study. The thesis reports on findings for each. Three key themes are conspicuous: • Commitment to a culture of quality in postgraduate engineering research • Progression from dependent to independent and expert researchers • Preparation and positioning for impact in a specific field of study. The findings and recommendations from this study describe practices that could inform both theoretical and practical issues relevant to ARIL support for engineering researchers on all levels from master’s study to expert research. Keywords: Advanced research information literacy; Case study; Engineers; Engineering research; Information literacy skills; Postgraduate research; Research capacity building. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Information Science / DPhil / Unrestricted

COVID-19 has had significant impacts on society, both in lifestyle and commerce, especially in Central Florida where the economy is centralized around tourism. While local and state governmental agencies are distributing aid to meet the needs caused by high unemployment, the nonprofit sector mobilized to help fill the gap in assistance by providing resources and services. However prior research into the nonprofit sector finds that prolonged economic downturn may eventually affect the nonprofit force by reduced funding to programs as it did during the 2008 economic recessions. Hence, many nonprofit organizations may be at risk of insolvency in the coming months. Research into organizational survival and capacity-building strategies may solve these problems. Utilizing a sample of 26 nonprofit organizations in the Central Florida area and a web-based survey, this study explores how capacity-building strategies may be correlated with organizational survival. The findings indicate that capacity-building strategies focused on leadership capacity, management and operations capacity, and community engagement capacity may help to increase organizational survival during a pandemic.

Open educational resources (OER) have been heralded for their ability to provide educational equality amongst learners worldwide. While this possibility offers to transform the availability of educational materials with only very specific limitations (devices, bandwidth, and ability to engage), it is seriously noted that the production of OER is typically sourced from the same homogenous sources as traditionally published texts (e.g., white males at elite universities in the U.S.). Additionally, while there are emboldened strides towards equality (equal access to materials), there remains an educational gap providing educational equity (equal opportunity to succeed) in the design as well as the implementation of OER. This study meaningfully explored the lived experiences of diverse and multicultural practitioners who teach from OER to understand their perceptions relating to equity, the perpetuation of predominant values, and the insights that shed light on the weaknesses and opportunities OER provide as they continue to reach an ever-growing and more heterogeneous audience.

Yes / This empirical research explores local skill capacity gap in the petroleum industry in Ghana using a mixed method approach to study four public organisations. Matched samples of employees (226) were surveyed, while HR directors (9) were purposively sampled and interviewed. The findings suggest a wide local skill gap. Originality, this is one of the very few studies to explore the shortcomings of local skill capacity in public sector organisation. Research implications, more matched-sample studies are necessary to understand IOC’s local skill capacity further. Practically, the study is of significance to the policymakers. The main contribution of the research amongst others is to conceptualise the concept of HRM in Ghana’s context.

Global health initiatives from academic medical centers have rapidly proliferated over the last decade. This paper endeavors to describe our 5-year experience as an academic medical collaborative supporting healthcare delivery, medical training, and research at Hôpital Saint Damien-Nos Petits Frères et Soeurs, the only freestanding children's hospital in Haiti. Descriptions of the history and current activities of our academic medical collaborative, its partnership and communication structure, its evolution to fill the expressed needs of our host site, its funding mechanisms, and its challenges and opportunities for the future are included.