the understanding of poverty by poverty-alleviation project participants

134 Pages·2009·0.38 MB·English

THE UNDERSTANDING OF POVERTY BY POVERTY-ALLEVIATION
PROJECT PARTICIPANTS

by

NATHANIEL PHUTI KGADIMA

Submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of

MASTERS OF ARTS IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (MENTAL HEALTH)

at the

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR WF VAN DELFT

2009
i

DECLARATION

I declare that:

THE UNDERSTANDING OF POVERTY BY THE POVERTY-ALLEVIATION
PROJECT PARTICIPANTS

is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated
and acknowledged by means of complete references.

………………………… …………………..
Signature Date
N.P. Kgadima
ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The following special individuals are acknowledged for their contributions throughout
the study:

1. My supervisor, Prof. WF van Delft, for his patience throughout this study. Dankie
Prof.
2. My family, for their understanding and patience every time I could not be with them
because of my academic commitments.
3. Mrs. Sherifa Khan, Ms. Deliwe Menyuko, and Ms. Puseletso Pitseng, for being the
best classmates that I could ever ask for.
4. The research participants, for making this piece what it is.
5. My bosses and colleagues at Kalafong Hospital (Department of Social Work) for
standing in for me every time I was away to focus on my studies.
6. My former colleague, Mrs. Effie Molefe, for always believing that I’m good.
Somehow I believed her. Thank you MaMolefe.
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DEDICATIONS

This piece of work is dedicated to my late grandmother, MAPHUTI EVELYN
KGADIMA, who always believed in me. Thank you gogo- for everything. May your
soul rest in peace
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

CIDA : Canadian International Development Agency
CSO : Civil Society Organisation
CSS : Central Statistics Surveys
DQA : Developmental Quality Assurances
ODP : Organizational Development Plan
OECD : Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
HSRC : Human Science Research Council
IFAD : International Fund for Agricultural Development
NDA : National Development Agency
NGO : Non-Governmental Organisation
OHS : October Household Surveys
PLSD : Project for Statistics on Living Standards and Development
PPA : Participatory Poverty Assessment
SALDRU : South African Labour and Development Research Unit
SPII : Studies in Poverty and Inequality Institute
SPRC : Social Policy Research Centre
UN : United Nations
UNCRC : United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
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SUMMARY

The war on poverty is South Africa’s priority and challenge. Many poverty alleviation
programmes have been established in South Africa in an effort to overcome poverty.
However, poverty alleviation projects have had little impact on the poverty profile of the
country. Poverty continues to be pervasive, intractable, and inexcusable.

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the personal definition of poverty as
constructed by the poor themselves. In this study the researcher’s main argument was that
sustainable poverty reduction calls for effective strategies based on clear and consistent
concepts and approaches. Different ways of understanding poverty lead to different ways
of dealing with it. A common and clear understanding of poverty helps build a common
agenda with development partners, linking specific causes of poverty in each setting with
sustainable policies and action.

A qualitative study was conducted with fifteen (15) poverty-alleviation projects
participants from three (3) different projects. Data was collected with the use of an
interview guide. The participants’ responses revealed that poverty, like beauty, is in the
eyes of the beholder. The participants attached varying and interesting meanings to
explaining the concept of poverty. The study also shed some light on the current state of
the poverty-alleviation projects.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
CHAPTER 1: GENERAL ORIENTATION 1

Introduction 1

1.1 Problem Statement 2

1.2 Goal and Objectives 7
1.2.1 Goal 7
1.2.2 Objectives 7

1.3 Research Methodology 7

1.4 Data Collection Method/Research Instrument 7

1.5 Sampling 8

1.6 Data Presentation 10

1.7 Terminology 10

1.8 Structure of the report 11

CHAPTER 2: THEORERICAL DISCUSSION 12

Introduction 12
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2.1 Understanding poverty: Entering the debate 12

2.2 The Need for Define Poverty 14

2.3 Major Perspectives on Poverty 17
2.3.1 The basic needs perspectives 18
2.3.2 Income Perspective 20

2.4 Who are the poor? 21

2.5 Poverty in South Africa 23
2.5.1 The South African poor 23
2.5.2 The South African Poverty Line: The Debate 29
2.5.3 The proposed poverty line by Statistics South Africa and the National
Treasury (2007) 32

2.6 Poverty Alleviation Projects 33
2.6.1 An Overview 33
2.6.2 Design of a successful development programme 36
2.6.2.1 Type of programme or project 37
2.6.2.2 Beneficiaries 37
2.6.2.3 Gender Issues 37
2.6.2.4 Participation Techniques 38
2.6.2.5 Cost/Benefit Factors 38
2.6.2.6 Organizations and institutions 38
2.6.2.7 Economic and political conditions 39
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2.6.2.8 Replicability and sustainability 39
2.6.3 Poverty-alleviation projects and gender 39

Conclusion 42

CHAPTER 3: PROJECTS ANALYSIS 43

Introduction 43

3.1 Legislation regulating Welfare Organizations in South Africa 43
3.1.1 Objectives of the Non-Profit Organizations Act 45
3.1.2 Accounting records and reports 46

3.2 Monitoring and Evaluation 46
3.2.1 DQA Process and Procedure 48
3.2.1.1 Preparation 48
3.2.1.2 Assessment 49
3.2.1.3 Mentoring 50
3.2.1.4 DQA Review 51
3.2.1.5 Principles of DQA 51

3.3 Responses to the questions by the poverty-alleviation co-coordinators 53
3.3.1 Process of engagement with project coordinator 53
3.3.2 Discussion of projects 54
3.3.2.1 Project A 54
3.3.2.2 Project B 57
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3.3.2.3 Project C 58

3.4 Evaluation and Conclusion 62

CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 65

Introduction 65
4.1 Type of research design 65

4.2 Sampling Procedure 66

4.3 Method of data collection 67

4.4 Research Instrument 68

4.5 The Interview Process 69
4.5.1 Recording Interview Data 69
4.5.2 Types of Questions 71
4.5.3 Length and Timing of interviews 72

4.6 The Ethical Issues 73
4.6.1 Informed Consent 74
4.6.2 Anonymity and Confidentiality 76
4.6.3 The integrity of the researcher 77

CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION OF RESEARCH RESULTS 79

Introduction 79