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. iii 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 iv 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 v 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. vi 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 vii 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 viii 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 ix 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
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