Thesis (MPAM.) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Deepening participatory governance in budgetary monitoring and evaluation in a local municipality is crucial to improve transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. Participatory governance warrants the provision of meaningful, purposeful and empowering opportunities and spaces for the engagement of residents in the affairs of a municipality. Despite being advocated as an effective mechanism for promoting good governance, particularly when implemented in budgetary monitoring and evaluation, participatory governance remains a neglected area of emphasis in local municipalities. This qualitative case study investigated the effectiveness of participatory governance in budgetary monitoring and evaluation in an information age in the case of Fetakgomo-Tubatse local municipality. The objectives were to assess the ward committee members' and municipal officials' understanding of participatory governance and its importance in the context of municipal governance; examine the scope of budgetary monitoring and evaluation as implemented in the municipality, the associated benefits and barriers to implementing participatory governance in budgetary monitoring and evaluation processes, and develop insights into the effectiveness and use of ICTs in information dissemination and accessibility in relation to the outcomes and impact of budgetary monitoring and evaluation. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews and open-ended qualitative questionnaires were used to collect primary data from municipal officials (N=8) and ward committee members (N=10). Non-probability sampling techniques (i.e., purposive and snowball sampling) were used to select the participants. Tesch’s eight-step descriptive data analysis technique was utilised to analyse the textual qualitative data gathered. This research report provides the main findings and conclusions based on the objectives that the study aimed to achieve. Recommendations are made to strengthen the effectiveness of participatory governance in budgetary monitoring and evaluation in an information age in the case of the Fetakgomo-Tubatse local municipality and opportunities for future research.

[pt] Rótulos e bulas de agrotóxicos e afins são importantes instrumentos de comunicação entre as empresas que colocam esses produtos no mercado, os profissionais de saúde, os agricultores e os consumidores de produtos finais da cadeia agroalimentar. No sentido de minimizar possíveis riscos à saúde humana e ao meio ambiente, o emprego desses produtos deve ser realizado de forma adequada e segundo regulamentação em vigor. Com esse propósito, a Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa) aprovou em meados de 2019 um novo marco regulatório para agrotóxicos, que incluiu a Resolução da Diretoria Colegiada - RDC número 296, de 29 de julho de 2019, dispondo sobre as informações toxicológicas para rótulos e bulas de agrotóxicos, afins e preservativos de madeira. Nesse contexto, o objetivo da dissertação é propor um conjunto de indicadores e métricas para monitorar e avaliar a regulamentação sobre rotulagem e bulas de agrotóxicos, afins e preservativos de madeira no Brasil, durante sua implementação. A pesquisa pode ser classificada como aplicada, metodológica e descritiva. Durante a fase aplicada propriamente dita, adotou-se a abordagem metodológica de construção de indicadores propostos pelo Ministério do Planejamento, Orçamento e Gestão, com incorporação de métodos multicritério de apoio à decisão, combinados com lógica fuzzy. Destacam-se como resultados: (i) o modelo lógico para proposição de indicadores para o monitoramento e avaliação da implementação da regulamentação em foco; (ii) a ferramenta fuzzy multicritério para seleção e hierarquização dos indicadores inicialmente propostos; e (iii) um conjunto consistente de indicadores hierarquizados por categoria de requisitos legais da RDC número 296/2019, a serem selecionados posteriormente pela Anvisa. / [en] Pesticide labeling and packaging leaflets are essential communication instruments between pesticide companies, health professionals, farmers, and consumers of final products in the agri-food chain. To minimize possible risks to human health and the environment, the use of these products must be carried out appropriately. With this purpose, the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) approved in mid-2019 a new regulatory framework for pesticides and wood preservatives, which included the Resolution of the Collegiate Board - RDC No. 296, of July 29, 2019, concerning toxicological information for labeling and packaging leaflets of these products. In this context, this dissertation aims to propose a set of indicators and respective metrics for monitoring and evaluating (ME) the regulation on pesticide and wood preservative labeling and packaging leaflets in Brazil during its implementation. This research can be classified as applied, methodological and descriptive. During the applied phase, the methodological approach proposed by the Ministry of Planning, Budget, and Management for building indicators was adopted, incorporating multicriteria methods of decision support combined with fuzzy logic. The main results are highlighted as follows: (i) a logic model to frame evaluation questions concerning the focused regulation; (ii) a fuzzy multicriteria tool for the ranking indicators associated with the evaluation questions; and (iii) a set of indicators ranked by category of legal requirements of RDC No. 296/2019 to be subsequently chosen by the Regulatory Agency.

Underserved youth (e.g., from families facing inadequate housing, food insecurity, financial instability) are disproportionately exposed to traumatic experiences (e.g., family discord or violence, neglect, poverty, racism), which can lead to several negative life-long consequences (e.g., affective and somatic disturbances, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation). Community organizations that target underserved youth may be ideally situated to offset the negative consequences of trauma through leveraging a trauma-sensitive sport model for youth programming. A trauma-sensitive sport model involves a blend of positive youth development approaches (i.e., creating safe environments for youth to experience positive relationships, autonomy, and opportunities to build skills), trauma-sensitive approaches (e.g., considering the potential effects of trauma on youth’s participation and development, and prioritising their needs for safety, voice, empowerment, choice, and collaboration), and program designs that leverage and re-design sporting activities to help youth navigate trauma symptoms, build a social support system, and develop various resilience-related skills (e.g., emotional regulation, decision-making). Little research has examined the implementation and effectiveness of a trauma-sensitive sport model for youth programming in a community setting. Use of this model can contribute to greater capacities of youth sport leaders to promote underserved youth’s healthy participation and development. This dissertation was conducted in partnership with BGC Canada, a national non-profit community organization that serves disadvantaged communities. From 2016-2021, a trauma-sensitive sport model for youth programming was implemented in this organization through the Bounce Back League (BBL) initiative. The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the knowledge-to-action processes involved in translating this model in a community program setting. The knowledge-to-action cycle (KTAC; Graham et al., 2006) was used to conceptually guide the studies carried out in this dissertation, in outlining key phases for consideration in translating a trauma-sensitive sport model. While most of these phases are described in this dissertation, the empirical articles focused on assessing four phases of this cycle, which included: (a) assess barriers and facilitators to knowledge use, (b) select, tailor, and implement interventions, (c) monitor knowledge use, and (d) evaluate outcomes. Intrinsic case study methodologies were used to understand community-based knowledge translation processes and outcomes within the case of the BBL initiative. A community-based participatory research approach was used to engage in equitable collaboration between researchers and community members for the development of this initiative. Utilisation-focused evaluation principles were used to work with community members to determine what to evaluate, how to evaluate, and how results would be used. Grounded in a pragmatic paradigm, a mixed methods research design was used to collect data through the initiative, which included individual and group interviews with leaders, leader-reported logbooks, leaders self-reported questionnaires, leaders' assessments of youth's participation, communications on an online messaging platform (Slack), and researchers' observations of training opportunities and leaders' practices. The purpose of Article 1 was to outline the overarching process of integrating a trauma-sensitive sport model within the BBL program, from 2016-2021. Several stages of program development were described, including: (a) collaboratively planning the program; (b) piloting the program to three clubs; (c) adapting the program using pilot insights; (d) expanding the adapted program to ten clubs; and (e) creating opportunities to maintain, sustain, and scale-out practices throughout grant duration and beyond. Lessons learned regarding the leadership team’s experiences in terms of developing, adapting, and integrating a trauma-sensitive sport model for youth programming in this community context were shared. The purpose of Article 2 was to explore factors involved in the implementation of a trauma-sensitive sport model for youth programming in BBL. This article paralleled the KTAC phase of assess barriers and facilitators to knowledge use. A mixed-methods evaluation of the pilot phase of BBL was conducted. Three clubs participated in training, implementation, and evaluation of BBL. The data were collected through interviews, logbooks, and assessments. The quantitative data were interpreted using descriptive statistics and comparative t-tests; the qualitative data were interpreted using thematic and content analyses. The RE-AIM framework was used to categorise the various processes and outcomes involved in program implementation. The results showed that programs reached a large number of youth but struggled to retain youth from season to season. The leaders perceived that the intentional structure of the program, opportunities to practice self-regulation, relationship focus, and life skill focus, were all linked to positive participation in youth members. Components of leaders' training and program delivery were noted as successful, but the sustained benefits of these successes were challenged by leader turnover and funding limitations. In line with the KTAC phases, insights were generated on what works and what does not in facilitating this type of programming in a community setting for underserved youth and helped inform future adaptations to the program as it was rolled out (discussed in Article 1). The purpose of Article 3 was to explore leaders' learning experiences from participating in an initial training workshop and prior to their implementation of programming. This article paralleled the select, tailor, and implement interventions phase and the evaluate outcomes phase of the KTAC model. The value-creation framework was used to explore learning experiences based on the interactions and values that leaders discussed. Participants were leaders who attended initial training workshops. A mixed-methods approach was used to collect data through observations, interviews, and self-reported questionnaires. The quantitative data were interpreted using descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Tests; the qualitative data were interpreted using thematic analysis. The results showed that the leaders: (a) valued having a variety of learning opportunities that were relevant to their roles and contexts, (b) appreciated the diverse focus on foundational and practical content, and (c) shared an interest to learn how to support trauma-exposed youth and facilitate better programming. Implications were discussed for the improvement of training opportunities to better meet leaders' needs within a community organization and support leaders' intentions to apply knowledge into action. Article 4 builds on the previous study, where the purpose was to explore leaders' learning experiences as they implemented programming and while they participated in continuing training and development activities. This article also paralleled the select, tailor, and implement interventions phase and the evaluate outcomes phase of the KTAC model. The participants were leaders who were involved in implementing BBL at their clubs. A mixed-methods approach was used to collect data through interviews, observations, surveys, and communications on an online messaging platform (Slack). The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, data charting, and non-parametric analyses; the qualitative data were interpreted using thematic analysis. The results indicated that the leaders learned through various interactions throughout their practice (e.g., implementing programs at their homes sites, receiving mentoring, conversations with peers), and discussed gains in applied value (e.g., program facilitation strategies, youth-support skills), realised value (e.g., youth's receptivity and behaviour change), and transformative value (e.g., transfer of leaders' skills, influence on club culture). Implications were discussed for the improvement of training opportunities to promote ongoing social learning and maintenance of program practices. The purpose of Article 5 was to explore the fidelity and quality of leaders' application of a trauma-sensitive sport model to programming. This article paralleled the monitor knowledge use phase of the KTAC model. The promising practices criteria were used as an evaluation framework to categorise dimensions of quality relevant to program effectiveness. Leaders from 11 BBL programs participated. A mixed-methods approach was used to collect data through observations, interviews, and logbooks. The quantitative data were interpreted using descriptive statistics; the qualitative data were interpreted using thematic analysis. The results showed that: (a) all programs showed evidence of supportive adult and youth relationships, (b) programs led by trained leaders maintained program fidelity and implemented more features to a stronger extent than untrained leaders, (c) trained leaders may have compromised mastery orientation opportunities in favour of other program components. Implications were discussed related to what may facilitate or constrain program fidelity and quality in this setting, and how training and development opportunities can mitigate challenges in leaders' capacities. This dissertation offered an evaluation of the knowledge-to-action processes involved in integrating a trauma-sensitive sport model into BGC Canada. The results of this dissertation provided insights of how BGC Canada leaders learned and facilitated a trauma-sensitive sport model for youth programming, the differences training and development may contribute to the quality of their program practices, and how involvement in this initiative resulted in changes in leaders' behaviours, skills, and identities, as well as positive youth developmental outcomes. Practical implications were shared on how BGC Canada and similar community organizations can enhance their partnership and facilitate these interventions. As well, the value of taking a systems-based approach to planning future interventions with a trauma-sensitive sport model was also discussed to maximise multi-level impacts. Academic implications were shared on how future research can also take a systems-based approach to evaluating knowledge translation processes in youth sport interventions.

[pt] O objetivo da dissertação é propor um conjunto de indicadores e métricas para o monitoramento e avaliação da regulamentação sobre rotulagem de alimentos alergênicos no Brasil, após sua implementação. No contexto institucional no qual a pesquisa se insere, considera-se que esse esforço propiciará ao órgão regulador, bem como aos diversos atores envolvidos na implementação da regulamentação em foco, o ferramental adequado para o monitoramento e a avaliação pretendida. A pesquisa pode ser considerada aplicada, descritiva e metodológica. Quanto aos meios de investigação, foi usado o método de construção de indicadores proposto pelo Ministério do Planejamento, Orçamento e Gestão, integrado a dois métodos de apoio à decisão: método analítico hierárquico (AHP) para definição dos pesos dos critérios classificatórios e a técnica TOPSIS para hierarquização dos indicadores propostos por categoria de requisitos da regulamentação, a partir dos graus atribuídos pelos especialistas. Destacam-se como resultados: a ferramenta de seleção e classificação de indicadores; e um conjunto consistente de indicadores de MA, visando à melhoria contínua do processo da regulamentação em foco e a comunicação do desempenho do órgão regulador neste campo da segurança de alimentos. / [en] The objective of this dissertation is to propose a set of indicators and respective metrics for monitoring and evaluating (ME) the food allergenic labeling regulation in Brazil, after its implementation. Within the institutional context in which the research is situated, it is assumed that this effort will provide the regulatory agency as well as the various actors involved in the implementation of the focused regulation, the proper tools for monitoring and evaluating its regulatory results. This research can be considered applied, methodological and descriptive. During the applied phase, a method proposed by the Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management was used for defining an initial list of indicators, and then two multi-criteria decision methods were employed: analytical hierarchical process (AHP) for the definition of weights for classification criteria; and the TOPSIS technique for final ranking of selected indicators by category of legal requirements. The main results are highlighted as follows: a tool for selection and classification of ME indicators; and a consistent set of indicators proposed for monitoring and evaluating the food allergenic labeling regulation from the perspective of continuous improvement of the whole process; and an effective communication of the regulatory body in the field of food safety.

This study explores participatory development methods which may be engaged with a smaller community interest group to create an environment conducive to free and effective participation towards empowering more participants in rural communities. The study was conducted in Makhuduthamaga Municipal area in Sekhukhune District of Limpopo Province. The data was collected through participants observation during application of Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques , community groups, documents reviews, and groups and individual interviews. The study looked into participation procedures and pattern during Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques, groups' institutionalisation and internal participation environment. The study also conducted comparative analysis between community interest groups and organisational linkage structures, in order to establish how free and conducive the groups' internal environments are between the cases. The study found that: interest groups are more common, accessible and empowering in rural communities than organisational linkage structures. People participate and attain self-esteem and selfreliance, making them participate and develop a sense of responsibility and ownership. The findings will therefore inform development agents in government departments and NGOs about the elements to consider in the implementation of development programmes, and to make appropriate choice of partic ipatory models for effective partic ipation and empowerment. The stud y's theoretical contribution is in sustenance participation theory, which argues that for people to effectively participate in their development, they should be made to participate by being given responsibilities which may motivate them to participate in finding solutions, own the outcomes, and participate toward sustaining them. / Development Studies / D.Phil. (Development Studies)

This study investigated the challenges faced by implementers of VCT campaigns for higher education distance learning students. Qualitative and explorative approaches, using a case study, were employed as the research methodology. It has been concluded that the administrative planning procedures of VCT campaigns were not properly followed, which resulted in the following difficulties: defining the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, using limited resources, and the inability to reach all the students, in order to get them to actively participate in the campaigns. Lack of coordination of HIV and AIDS activities and the absence of monitoring and evaluation also impacted negatively on the success of VCT campaigns. This study recommends that VCT campaigns have a proper task team constituting of experts in VCT campaign operations, in order to strategically plan and coordinate all the campaigns' activities. The implementers should also monitor and evaluate these activities on a regular basis. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

The study aims to evaluate the Entrepreneurial Seed Fund Programme (ESFP) of the Cape Winelands District Municipality (CWDM). This Programme aims to provide seed funding to emerging and established businesses in order to start and/or grow their businesses. The Programme provides funding through a grant-in-kind by procuring the goods and equipment that the business needs. The businesses qualifying for the funding are not solely focusing on profit-making; they are addressing social issues through business activities in their communities. The population of the study includes five successful and unsuccessful beneficiaries and a questionnaire was designed in order to determine the contributing factors to the success or failure of the business and if the objectives of the Programme was realised. In conclusion, the ESFP can be regarded as a sustainable programme which contributed to job creation and social upliftment. The ESFP should be strengthened with a small business incubation programme in order to enhance its sustainability. / Public Administration & Management / M. Tech. (Public Management)

As the church focuses on people’s spiritual development, there is growing realisation that the church should be holistic in its approach and participate in resolving urban poverty issues through the implementation of community development projects. This study looks at the way in which traditional theories of community development concentrated on stimulating economic growth and ignored the social aspects involved. It suggests that despite the massive injection of donor funds to some communities, the situation of the poor has deteriorated over the years and sustainability of projects has been minimal. The study finds that projects implemented by the Church of the Nazarene in Orlando East, while improving the lives of the community, are not in line with community development principles and the sustainable livelihoods approach primarily because the community was not involved in the assessment of needs or designing of interventions, and the community members were only the implementers. The evaluation of these projects through this study suggests an alternative developmental paradigm that has been used with success in other similar circumstances – the sustainable livelihood approach (SLA). The SLA contends that urban communities should become planners, initiators and executors of community development interventions so that transformation can occur. The study recommends that urban communities such as that in Orlando East have to change their behaviour and attitudes, be willing to accept change, and take ownership of their own projects. The facilitators, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government have to be willing to unlearn their traditional ways, to listen, and to accept that they are not the only experts in community development as they attempt to embrace indigenous knowledge systems. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T14:17:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniela Santos Reis.pdf: 1007856 bytes, checksum: 8e1e20fa847658b686f246fd5d566440 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-04-28 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The investigation of this research is based on specific fields of Social Assistance Policy, the one that assists homeless population in the city of São Paulo. Inside it, we will evaluate the different moments of the Information Systems maturation that are following them. Our main focus will be the process of monitoring and evaluation given by the Homeless Management Information Systems - HMIS, since its implementation in the city. The invisibility by the public institutions is strongly present in the official census at the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics which never included the homeless population, saying that it never existed an appropriate methodology to evaluate, characterize and know the means of survival of the homeless population. This way, we put ourselves in the perspective of a meaningful understanding, use and information sense for a Social Assistance Policy enphasizing all the information about the homeless population in the city of São Paulo. The way performed to deepen the object of this research was based on a methodological and theoretical reference, whose main target is the Homeless Management Information System as part of the process of management and monitoring of the Social Assistance Policy / A investigação desta pesquisa situa-se num dos campos específicos de abrangência da Política de Assistência Social, o do atendimento à população de rua, na cidade de São Paulo. Dentro dela, avaliaremos os diferentes momentos de amadurecimento dos sistemas de informação que os vêm acompanhando. Nosso foco principal será o processo de monitoramento e avaliação proporcionados pelo Sistema de Informação da Situação de Rua SISRUA, desde sua implantação no município. A invisibilidade pelas instituições públicas está fortemente presente nos censos oficiais do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística que nunca incluiu a população de rua, alegando inexistência de metodologia apropriada para dimensionar, caracterizar e conhecer as formas de sobrevivência da população de rua. É nesse sentido que colocamo-nos na perspectiva da compreensão do significado, uso e sentido da informação para a Política de Assistência Social, dando ênfase ao trato das informações sobre a população de rua na cidade de São Paulo. O percurso realizado para aprofundar o objeto desta pesquisa assentou-se em um referencial teórico metodológico, cujos eixos norteadores são população de rua e sistemas de informação como parte do processo da gestão e do monitoramento da Política de Assistência Social

The present study aimed to explore the culture specificity of student self-regulation and its supporting motivational attitudes. Specifically, it enquired about similarities and differences between Chilean and English 8 to 9 year-old students in terms of their expression of self-regulatory behaviours, the psychological factors underlying these behaviours, and the functionality of these behaviours for task performance. It also compared student adoption of achievement motivational attitudes as well as the functionality of these attitudes for investment of effort and self-regulatory activity between cultures. Finally, the role of classroom cultures for self-regulation was studied. In particular, it examined the effects of classrooms and the quality of teacher talk (teacher-to-student communicative interactions/demands), such as teacher ‘regulatory talk’ and ‘socio-motivational talk’, on student self-regulation. A quantitative approach to the analysis of qualitative data (i.e. videos of student behaviour engaged in 11 to 13 experimental tasks, semi-structured interviews, videoed literacy lessons) was adopted. Eight classrooms situated in different schools from Chile and England were part of the study. In total, 8 teachers and 49 students – one teacher and six to seven students per classroom – took active part in the study. Qualitative data was primarily analysed using observational scales (for student behaviour), thematic analysis (for interview data), as well as socio-cultural discourse analysis (for videoed lessons). Statistical techniques, such as Mann Whitney U test, Factor Analysis, Multinomial logistic regressions, and Multilevel regressions were then applied on numerical transformations of the data. Overall, results suggest that self-regulation and achievement motivational attitudes vary to important extents according to culture. Most interestingly, these varied between cultures not so much in terms of the degree to which children used or adopted them, but rather in terms of their functionality. Some key findings supporting this conclusion were: i) Strong similarities between English and Chilean children’s levels of self-regulatory behaviours; ii) substantial differences across country samples in relation to the psychological factors underlying the expression of specific self-regulatory behaviours; iii) the finding of evaluative actions being self-regulatory in England but not in Chile; iv) a higher variety of self-regulatory behaviours being predictive of task performance in England than in Chile; v) the fact that learned self-regulatory behaviours accounted for effects of effective metacognitive control on task performance in England but not Chile; vi) some important differences in the achievement motivational attitudes expressed by Chilean and English students; and vii) culture-specific functionalities of various achievement motivational attitudes with respect to student effort and self-regulatory behaviours. Moreover, results suggest that some aspects of children’s self-regulation and motivational attitudes develop as tools to adapt to classroom cultures, specifically to the learning interactions/demands socially afforded by teacher talk. Among key findings supporting this conclusion were: i) effects of classrooms on children’s cognitive, social, and motivational self-regulation behavioural strategies, and ii) clear effects of teacher ‘regulatory talk’ (e.g., teacher ‘self-regulatory talk’ predicting more planning and asking for clarifications in students) and ‘socio-motivational talk’ (e.g., teacher ‘talk against self-efficacy’ predicting higher dependency-oriented help-seeking in students) on those behaviours with respect to which classrooms were found to matter. Thus a theory about the culturally adaptive functionality (CAF) of self-regulation and motivational attitudes supporting self-regulation is developed throughout the thesis.