Browsing by Department "Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice"
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- ItemOpen AccessA comparative analysis of housing policies of Namibia and South Africa(2018) Mathe, Audrin; Hirsch, AlanBoth Namibia and South Africa have had mixed success in their housing policies since the advent of democracy in both countries in the 1990s. This paper proceeds from the hypothesis that each country can learn useful lessons from each other in respect of housing policy. The primary purpose of this research was to describe and systematically compare the housing policies of Namibia and South Africa. The historical backgrounds of the countries, existing policies and the manner in which the policies are implemented were investigated. The research examined the housing policies of Namibia and South Africa in terms of their similarities and differences and to consider the impact and implications. Namibia and South Africa vary in their expenditure commitments to provide affordable homes. Their housing policy strategies also differ. Differences reflect different levels of prosperity and differences in governance and institutional arrangements. The study concluded that the policies of Namibia and South Africa are, in the main, similar in that both Namibia and South Africa have enacted legislation that govern matters related to housing – either as housing relates to financing and affordability or as a function of ownership. South Africa stands out, however, in that the right to adequate housing is a prescript of the constitution. In both the investigated countries, there is evidence that their policies are committed to a housing process built on the foundations of people’s participation and partnerships. But there are also differences with regard to implementation. In this study, it is brought to bear on both countries that the provision of housing was not all that successful. But good policies are a good start to a successful outcome of a process.
- ItemOpen AccessA phenomenological approach to profiling the life experiences of the Kayayoo in Ghana(2021) Dodd, Rose Aba; Govender, RajenThe Kayayei of Ghana have been studied over several decades though there still exists a gap in the literature based on their profiles. A contributing factor to that gap is the limited information around how many Kayayoo are across the country. Another is the varied demographic and biographic profiles of Kayayoo that provide a good extent of diversity but not depth. Current policy and program interventions are driven by the profiles of Kayayoo, as is presented in existing research. However, the existing profiles miss out on the richness and texture of the Kayayoo's life, which means that programs and policy interventions that use them are not as effective as they could be in reaching the Kayayoo's needs. This phenomenological study revealed that there is likely no need to continue trying to conduct a census of Kayayoo in other to understand their lives. Especially since the nature of their movements in migration remain nomadic. Instead, what is needed are interventions on their external environment that will strengthen their sense of choice and agency. This study's insights show that the meaning and connections the Kayayoo constructs of family, social network, and work are driven by their construction of self. It showed that the Kayayoo exercises more of their agency than may be evident. Their actions are engendered by what they perceive allows them to exercise this agency and choice. With this insight, what is needed is a mapping of the Kayayoo's external environment to identify their intersections with public policy and other services, and then design interventions on that environment to maximize the benefits of their actions when they make a choice to access it. The outcomes of policy and programs will undoubtedly be better and more impactful if designed based on this more in-depth understanding of the Kayayei from their point of view.
- ItemOpen AccessA retrospective comparative analysis of the maternal and child health MDGs in Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda: Beyond 2015(2019) Ntukanyagwe, Michelle M.; Levy, BrianThe timeline of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) elapsed in 2015, global indicators showed that Africa still accounts for almost half of all child deaths globally and has the world’s highest maternal mortality rates. By the year 2015, Africa as a continent was unable to meet the maternal and child health MDG targets. This study seeks to retrospectively compare, the progress made on the maternal and child health related Millennium Development Goals namely: MDG4- Reduce child mortality and MDG5- Improve Maternal Health, in Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. Indicators show that, only Rwanda was able to achieve the maternal and child health MDGs. Specifically, the study provides a contextual understanding of the policy interventions implemented by Rwanda, despite starting from a lower base in comparison to Burundi and Uganda due to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The study also sought to understand how broad governance indicators specifically, government effectiveness and control of corruption vary between the three countries: Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda as well as their impact on maternal and child health trends. The study illustrates how Rwanda’s governance is underpinned by a system that is strongly hinged on ideological clarity, good leadership, country ownership for effective policy execution and enforcement of accountability through home grown solutions like imihigo. The integration of imihigo within the health sector has, in addition to other innovative interventions, like the implementation of the Community Health Insurance Policy, deployment of over 60,000 community health workers, innovative use of ICT in health like rapid short message service (sms), drones among others. In contrasting the governance of the health sectors in Rwanda and Uganda, one of the striking differences is that in Rwanda, there are strong linkages between the local and central levels for policy implementation and evaluation, and between the health sector and finance ministry. These are indicative of strong intra-governmental accountability. Uganda on the other hand, despite having good laws and policies in place, still faces poor implementation and lack of strong accountability mechanisms, due to low levels of ownership. The contrast is also sharply illustrated by Rwanda’s higher score in the indicative measures of “government effectiveness and control of corruption”. In short, better quality governments usually have positive effect on development outcomes thanks to overall efficiency in the delivery of public services. Specific recommendations include for Uganda to generate good local governance, effective implementation of decentralisation, follow through of policies and enforcement of accountability for performance failures, the use of community health workers to address existing scarcity of health sector personnel as well as the adoption of ICT policies to support the implementation of health interventions.
- ItemOpen AccessAn Analysis of the role of governance on effective programme management - A case of Namibia Mass Housing Development Programme Management - A case of Namibia Mass Housing Development Programme(2018) Wilhelm, Martha; Govender, Rajen; Platzky, LaurineNamibia has been praised for having rigorous policy frameworks that address various national development challenges. Over the years, the country has introduced various policy initiatives to address the housing challenge in the country. However, implementation of such policies and programmes faced various challenges resulting in suboptimal outcomes and consequently, a situation where such programmes are abandoned, and new ones are introduced with little learning from past experiences. This paper, analysed the role of governance on effective programme management using a case study of Namibia’s Mass Housing Development Programme. The findings highlight governance challenges, as one of the key contributing factors to failing programmes. A qualitative approach was employed in gathering data using face to face in-depth interviews with the informants who represented the target population in the study. The paper contributes to the body of knowledge on the importance of governance which public policy and programme makers can draw lessons from for effective programme implementation.
- ItemOpen AccessAn analysis of whether Mozambique can gain greater participation in the natural gas value chain(2020) Bangure, Kudzanayi; Goldman, IanThe African continent possesses a wealth of natural mineral resources. Arguments have been put forward that these natural mineral resources can be one of the potential solutions to unlocking the challenge of underdevelopment and pervasive poverty in many African countries. Understanding how African countries can gain greater benefit from these mineral resources was the emphasis of this dissertation. Focus was placed specifically on the Mozambique natural gas sector. A case study methodology was employed with the purpose of determining whether Mozambique could gain greater participation in its natural gas value chain. Empirical and theoretical literature around mineral resources management including leading theories such as the resource curse were reviewed as key points of departure. A detailed analysis of historic natural gas projects executed in Mozambique, the legislative framework, contracts, and institutional and capacity demands then followed as a core part of the analysis. Finally, the study leaned on in-depth interviews with industry experts to understand the legal, policy, and technical barriers that could hinder Mozambique from gaining greater participation in the natural gas value chain. Key findings of the study pointed to the inadequacies of existing laws and contract provisions to deliver the vision of greater participation, barriers to entry such as high upfront capital requirements, and internal institutional and technical capacity gaps exemplified by the reliance on external technical assistance from partners such the World Bank. The study concluded that greater participation in the natural gas value chain could not be achieved through Mozambique legislating its way into upstream and midstream activities alone, rather, a progressive approach to gain greater participation was required, initially starting with increased participation in downstream activities through domestic gas to unlock industrialisation.
- ItemOpen AccessAn Assessment of the Effectiveness of Water Quality Monitoring and Drinking Water Quality Compliance by Environmental Health Practitioners at Selected Metropolitan and District Municipalities in South Africa during 2013-2014(2018) Cele, Aneliswa; Levy, BrianAccess to safe drinking water is a basic right accorded to all people, and their well-being is critically dependent on both the quality of water and its availability, and how well these are managed. Water quality monitoring is an important activity for ensuring water supplied to the community is safe for human consumption. The legislation safeguarding the delivery of safe water has been evolving and implementation varies. Demand by communities for improvement in services places more pressure on the municipalities. The aim of the study is to assess the water quality compliance and explore the effectiveness of water quality monitoring by Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) in South Africa. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of water quality monitoring and the water quality compliance rate in municipalities in the country. The specific objectives of the study: describe the water quality monitoring system by local municipalities in the country; assess the compliance rate of domestic water quality samples taken by EHPs per municipality; assess the staffing norm of EHPs per municipality in comparison to the population served; and establish the relationship between the results of water compliance rate and the number of EHPs per municipality. A retrospective qualitative and quantitative study was conducted of the water quality compliance rate using the District Health Information System (DHIS) data for the period 2010-2014, with the focus on the period 2013-2014. Detailed analysis was conducted on water quality compliance rate per municipality per month, EHPs staffing norm in municipalities per province, and the compliance rate of domestic water samples taken by EHPs per municipality. The compliance rate was compared to the number of EHPs and also to the population served. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was used to test for association of the water quality compliance rate and number of EHPs per Municipality. Data was also analysed on health outcomes, specifically the reports of acute diarrhoea outbreaks during the same year in the North West, KwaZuluNatal and Northern Cape provinces. The results reveal that water quality monitoring is not implemented effectively by most municipalities. The national microbiological compliance rate for the selected municipalities in 2013 to 2014 was at 88.8%, which is below the acceptable compliance standard (100%) in iii terms of SANS 241. It was also observed that the staffing status is not compliant with WHO norms: Mopani District Municipality in Limpopo has a shortage of 95%, and in Amajuba and Zululand District Municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal at 88%. Gaps in the routine data of the DHIS could not allow for a more comprehensive analysis of water quality compliance rate monitoring. Whereas the study has shown a weak positive association between the water quality compliance rate and the environmental health practitioner staffing rate in the municipalities, the Pearson's Coefficient Correlation test results were not statistically significant (R2 =0.0186). The regression line shows a slight positive relationship and the correlation coefficient is also positive. While, a variability may be perceived, it is not statistically obvious nor significant and maybe the result of inappropriate data in the DHIS, tools applied or a flawed assumption of a positive relationship between these two variables. The system exists to ensure a safe drinking water supply to communities. Gaps in legislation, formal guidelines and other contributing factors at different levels need to be addressed by various key stakeholders. As part of the water quality monitoring programme implementation by municipalities, there should be a strong emphasis on data management and communication amongst stakeholder including the Department of Health. Similarly, serious gaps in staffing for environmental health services (70%) need to be addressed to meet the WHO staffing norms. The following are recommended to strengthen water quality monitoring at municipal level: 1. There must be a strong policy to strengthen collaboration among key stakeholders on water provision services: water services authorities, environmental health services and the community to ensure effective and efficient service delivery. 2. Review legislation to harmonise functional powers between different ministries, including reviewing the powers of MECs responsible for health to support environmental health services at municipality level, and look at the roles and responsibilities of other relevant stakeholders. 3. EHPs should be more independent from municipal structures to allow for system that will function more efficiently without any hindrance. 4. The shortage of staff guided by the WHO Norm of 1: 10 000 EHPs per population needs to be addressed by municipalities. 5. Data management including reporting and communication should be strengthened at all levels.
- ItemOpen AccessAn assessment of the extent to which the city of Johannesburg's Rea Vaya bus rapid transit system is achieving its intended socio-economic and political objectives(2021) Mjiyako, Dominic Ntokozo; Platzky, LaurineSouth Africa is ranked number one in the world as the most unequal society by the World Bank. Inequalities are largely manifested in income, education and spatial arrangements, as well as access to opportunities and public services. My dissertation examines the impact of the City of Johannesburg's Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, and the transit-oriented development programme, known as Corridors of Freedom, in transforming the mini-bus taxi industry; providing safe and reliable public transport to previously marginalised communities; and to mitigate the legacy of apartheid spatial planning. The research examines the policy objectives of the Rea Vaya BRT system as part of the larger Corridors of Freedom capital programme, which aims to create development nodes to densify the City and improve mobility, and in turn enhance social integration. The research outlines the implementation of Rea Vaya over the past ten years, and explores the impact of the service on the City's commuters and the mini-bus taxi operators. A key argument of the paper is that while anecdotal evidence exists that the Rea Vaya BRT functions optimally, an evaluation study of the City's continued public investment is critical to ascertain whether the project is achieving its intended socio-political and economic objectives.
- ItemOpen AccessAssessing the efficacy of policy reform in Zimbabwe's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector(2021) Ncube, Sukoluhle Primrose; Haricharan, Shanildutt; Hirsch, AlanIn 2009 Zimbabwe experienced a cholera outbreak of unprecedented magnitude where over 90 000 cases where recorded an at least 4 500 people lost their lives. It is argued that this outbreak created the impetus for implementation of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector reforms which would contribute towards addressing service level challenges and gaps. Through this study the researcher sought to understand the WASH sector reforms implemented and the extent to which they had resulted in the anticipated improvements in service delivery amongst targeted rural communities. The study adopted a mixed methodology descriptive survey to understand the practical aspects and intricacies of policy implementation and reform in the Zimbabwean WASH sector, with emphasis on the benefits of policy reform for enhancing access and management of rural WASH service delivery initiatives. Three empirical data sources were used, comprising of desktop review of documents on WASH policy implementation processes and guidelines, qualitative interviews carried out with four key informants from WASH coordinating committees and the case methodology to study three districts implementing the sector reforms using a semi-structured questionnaire administered to various district and community stakeholders. The researcher found that the WASH sector reforms have not fully achieved the intended objectives, although some strides have been made in terms of improving water and sanitation access to selected communities. However, the researcher notes that the gains in service coverage that have been made in the case districts are proving short-lived and unsustainable as issues such as limited funding, sustainability of the WASH coordination structures, operation and maintenance of infrastructures remain a real challenge. Considering these challenges the researcher recommends that the government explore alternative innovative sources for WASH funding including streamlining the WASH coordinating committees to improve efficiency and effectiveness, strengthening sector financing through adoption of user-pays initiatives and inclusion of community-based management structures in WASH planning and decision making to enhance effective community participation.
- ItemOpen AccessCase Study: Commissioning of Du Noon Community Health Centre in the City of Cape Town Health District(2018) Grammer, Kathryn; Levy, BrianThere is limited formal documentation of success stories in the Metro District Health System (MDHS) and its contribution towards strengthening the broader health system through increased access and quality of primary health care (PHC) in the City of Cape Town Health District. This case study explains how a cohesive, decentralized DHS team commissioned the largest new PHC facility in Western Cape as a tangible milestone of success of learning by doing, through improved internal district capabilities and external alliances
- ItemOpen AccessCotton textile industry in Zambia: The economic viability of revamping Mulungushi Textiles Limited(2017) Munoni, Chiluba Mercy; Hirsch, AlanThe agriculture and manufacturing sectors have been identified and prioritized by the Zambian government as sectors that could contribute significantly to poverty reduction through industrialization and creation of employment. The cotton textile industry is one such industry that cuts across the two sectors. This research paper focuses on the cotton textile industry in Zambia, with specific emphasis on Mulungushi Textiles Limited that was reopened by the Republican President, His Excellency, Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu in August 2016 after having been closed for about a decade. To this end, the main objective of the research paper is to analyze the economic viability of revamping Mulungushi Textiles Limited by focusing on determinants of viability which included; production cost, government policies and strategies, and institutional arrangements, among others. The study analyzes mainly qualitatively both primary and secondary data. Primary data was principally sourced through interviews and observations, while secondary data was through online and physical sources such as books, reports and other written publications. From the research findings, Mulungushi Textiles Limited factory machinery is obsolete and dilapidated to fully operationalize the business strategic units of ginning, spinning, weaving, dyeing and printing, garment production and cooking oil processing. The study recommends that the factory should undergo a complete overhaul in the long run and in the short run, resume garment production which was identified to be a low hanging fruit. The study concludes that, with the right investment, policies, strategies and concerted efforts from both the public and private sectors, revamping Mulungushi Textiles Limited is economically viable and has great potential to contribute to the government's efforts in promoting inclusive growth through poverty reduction, particularly in rural areas where poverty is mostly prevalent.
- ItemOpen AccessElectronic Government Procurement (e-GP): A solution to institutional challenges in Zambia’s Medical Supply Chain or another technical solution?(2019) Chenga, Kaputo Melody; Levy, BrianDo technical solutions override or fast track institutional reforms? This study interrogates the extent to which Zambia’s newly introduced Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) is addressing the procurement challenges [for essential drugs and medical supplies] in the Ministry of Health (MoH). A brain child of the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA), the e-GP is but one of the components of the wider procurement reform agenda. The e-GP was introduced with the intention of enhancing efficiency, effectiveness and Value for Money (VfM) in public procurement. Since 2016, ZPPA has been piloting the approach in selected Procurement Entities (PEs), a combination of sector ministries and state parastatals. Based on review of project documentation, publicly available data, and interviews from key stakeholders; the study explores and interrogates the contextual and institutional challenges characterising the e-GP design and pilot implementation phases, and the extent to which these realities impact the achievement of the intended outcomes. A fair amount of information from interviewees was provided under conditions of confidentiality, thus individuals are not often identified. It is perhaps too early to ascertain the extent to which the e-GP is realising the intended objectives. This is partly explained by the project’s slow start, occasioned by delayed procurement which had knock - on effects on the overall project’s pace. An interrogation of the history and political economy of Zambia suggests however that it is the opaque challenges bordering on the political economy which is the single most binding constraint to reforms; defining the process, the pace and outcomes. The design of the e-GP was generic and non-participatory. There is no evidence to suggest that the process had provided opportunity for PE’s to define and customize the problems that mattered for them to be addressed by the e-GP. Instead, the e-GP seems to have been sold to PEs as a best practice solution. Because of the deep incentive fabric at both organizational and individual levels, the project seems to have some traction. Effort of various actors does not appear to be supportive of each, often latently contradicting each other. Project progress is held constant by the relative ability of the ZPPA to push some strands of work within some pilot PEs. This relative ability of the ZPPA shields the low levels of acceptance and questionable authority within PEs and among actors. Progress on the e-GP appears like a façade of success; suggestive of isomorphic mimicry.
- ItemOpen AccessAn exploration of actions to forge public entrepreneurship in the implementation of the expanded public works programme in the Eastern Cape(2016) Mageza, Quinton Qengeba; Levy, BrianThe dissertation begins by outlining the history and objectives of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) as one of the key government interventions to address poverty and unemployment. The paper moves on to analyse the Vukuzakhe programme which is an initiative of the Eastern Cape Department of Roads and Public Works within the infrastructure sector of the EPWP. This analysis looks at policy assumptions in respect of institutional arrangements that informed the development and implementation of the Vukuzakhe Programme. The study goes on to identify and assess the outcomes of public entrepreneurship with the context of the Vukuzakhe programme. The hypotheses made are that: A: "The success of the Vukuzakhe programme was as the result of effective acts of public entrepreneurship." B: "The successful and effective acts of public entrepreneurship were demonstrated in the way in which change was orchestrated and directed, through the building of internal capacity and ability to marshal support from diverse stakeholders."
- ItemOpen AccessExploring skills development within the interface of public and private sectors(2016) Malambe, Lucas; Levy, BrianDesigned to be in line with the then government's apartheid policy, the manpower training system created a highly polarised national skills development system characterised by huge socio-economic inequalities, and an unemployment and poverty problem that was defined along racial lines (McGrath, 1996). The defeat of apartheid in the 1990s meant that the new government desperately needed to address these socio-economic challenges. It needed to do so while also trying to catch up with a rapidly globalising world economy characterised by rapid change, unprecedented competition, new technology, fast-growing emerging markets, workforce diversity, and a demand for new skills. The Draft 1997 Green Paper on Skills Development Strategy for Economic and Employment Growth in South Africa advocated for a state-driven national skills development system in partnership with firms, labour and a range of public and private training providers (Republic of South Africa, 1996: 62). The Green Paper led to the promulgation of a number of skills development legislations including the Skills Development Act (SDA) (No. 97 of 1998). The SDA envisaged Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) to act as key agencies in the delivery of skills development and workplace experience seen as essential in addressing the triple challenges of inequality, unemployment, and poverty (Republic of South Africa, 1998). Despite this new bold vision, SETAs have been relentlessly criticised for failing to respond to the demand for medium and high skills in an inclusive manner because of a crisis in governance and administration, poor planning, and corruption (Marock, Harrison-Train, Soobrayan & Gunthorpe, 2008; Barclay, 2012; Scott & Shuttleworth, 2007). SETA Boards tend to be riven with conflict as a result of their often opposing expectations and mandates, and the infighting spills over to executive managers and to the rest of the organisation. Boards that are preoccupied with internal power struggles are wont to lose focus on their fiduciary duties which revolve around the implementation of the National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS) (Scott & Shuttleworth, 2007). Even though optimum value can be derived from having institutional arrangements that are geared to the implementation of projects supporting organisational strategy, one in three of all strategy implementations fail as there is often a major rift between strategy (as designed by principals) and the actual projects (as implemented by agents) (Buys & Stander, 2010). Levy (2014) theorised that where the public is linked to service delivery nodes via politicians and policymakers who are in turn linked to service delivery providers, it is crucial to align the goals of agents with that of their principals. The SETA arrangement is, nonetheless, unique in that Board members are appointed by the Minister of Higher Education and Training in their capacity of representing a particular constituency such as a union or a business association. Even so, stakeholders must work together to optimise joint benefits and minimise their temptations to otherwise shirk, free ride or pursue selfish goals.
- ItemOpen AccessGovernance reforms and national benefits : problems and prospects in Marange diamond mining in Zimbabwe(2016) Makombe, Percy Fungayi; Levy, BrianZimbabwe is among the top diamond-producing countries and is believed to hold a quarter of the world's diamond reserves. Yet it is still one of the poorest countries as the economy is slumped and growth has slackened, and it is expected to further weaken. This study tracks the history of diamond mining at Marange diamond fields, describing what has played out since the discovery of huge diamond deposits in 2006.The study considers potential entry points to try and effect reform in diamond mining in the country. It also explores the governance options and their experience, distinguishing between domestic and global mechanisms and exploring the prospects for each. The study interrogates the strength and ability of various stakeholders to affect reform casting light on the politics and power dynamics at play.
- ItemOpen Access“How have social grants in Zambia been paid and what lessons can be learnt from this?”(2019) Nkhoma, Henry; Seekings, JeremyFrom the use of manual payment systems in the delivery of social cash transfers, most developing nations nowadays are resorting to electronic payment solutions to improve the timeliness and effective delivery of the social grants amidst programme scale ups. Like most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Zambia recently introduced an electronic delivery system through a commercial bank (ZANACO) and within two years, the Zambia Postal Services Corporation (ZAMPOST) was also engaged as an alternative payment solution for the Social Cash Transfer programme. Zambia’s manual system was designed in such a way that it used teachers or other local civil servants to make cash payments as ‘Pay Point Managers’ (PPMs). The system also uses Community Welfare Assistance Committees (CWACs) to help in the identification of eligible beneficiaries and to monitor payments. This manual payment system was assessed to have administrative and operational weaknesses including corruption and insecurity (because of the physical movement of cash from the bank to the pay points), prompting the introduction of electronic payment solutions. The e-payment system was introduced through ZANACO which is partly owned by the Government and partly private. Apart from Lusaka, this channel was slow in scaling up its services to other areas prescribed in the contract with the responsible Ministry, the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS), and was not very convenient for people with disabilities especially the blind and older persons not used to Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and pre-paid cards. ZAMPOST was subsequently engaged to cover two provinces with the aim of accelerating e-payment services and improving service delivery of the programme. Instead of developing such a system, however, the Post Office opted to operate just like the manual system, but instead of using PPMs, it opted to use its own employees to physically carry cash to pay points and make payments. This system posed several challenges including poor record keeping leading to payment of ineligible beneficiaries and failure to produce reports. Audit reports revealed grave irregularities with this payment method xii and many stakeholders, including donors were concerned about the poor performance of ZAMPOST. As a contribution to scholarship in the improvement of delivery systems in social protection, this dissertation therefore, highlights the advantages and disadvantages of using the manual as well as the electronic delivery systems in the delivery of social grants. Through the analysis of the manual payment system, e-payment system and the use of the Post Office in Zambia, I investigate how delivery systems are identified, designed and how they function. How they impact on beneficiaries as well as their implication on Government policies. I argue for participatory identification and designing of delivery systems of social grants. In addition, I argue that social grants delivery systems are largely influenced by global trends, whereby some countries adopt what others are using without necessarily considering local implications and capacity to sustain; for instance, mimicking electronic systems used in economically sound countries in the quest to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of social grants. This study sheds light on how Zambia’s social grants have been delivered vis-à-vis structural fundamentals, design and stakeholder engagement.
- ItemOpen AccessImplementation Evaluation Of The Smallholder Farmer Support Programme And Its Likelihood Of Increasing Farm Productivity: A Case Of “Abalimi Phambili Project”, Jozini, Kwazulu-Natal(2018) Ngcobo, Phumelele Nondumiso; Govender, Rajen; Amisi, MatodziFarmer support programmes are aimed at assisting in unlocking barriers faced by smallholder farmers. These programmes were implemented many years ago by the public and private sector. However, research continues to show that the increase in the number of these initiatives and in budgets/expenditures have not equally translated into an increase in the number of smallholder farmers advancing to commercial status. Therefore, this evaluation research is focused on assessing the implementation progress of a farmer support programme being implemented in Jozini, KwaZulu-Natal. The aim is to assess whether or not the programme is implemented according to the theory of change and to assess the likelihood of the programme achieving its intended outcomes. Both the quantitative and qualitative approaches were applied to collect and analyse data. Quantitative data was made up of project data and qualitative data was obtained through conducting in-depth interviews with farmers currently participating in the programme. Findings from this paper are expected to add to the existing body of knowledge in terms of strengthening and improving the design of farmer support programmes; to emphasise the importance of conducting implementation evaluations to assess programme performance early in implementation; to better understand what is working or not during implementation; and to understand why this is so.
- ItemOpen AccessImproving the value of coffee exports in order to improve the value of exports: A case of Rwanda(2017) Izere, Ines; Hirsch, AlanIn order for Rwanda to improve the quality of life for its people, government has prioritized coffee as a key sector to spur the economy. For the past years, while coffee has been an important commodity that brought revenues to the country, its production is still low and the value is not of high quality. The purpose of this study was to assess the possibility of increasing the value of coffee in order to increase the value of exports for the country. The coffee sector is constrained by production of ordinary coffee and the exportation of low quantities of fully washed coffee, specialty and roasted coffee. In addition, some coffee plantations are old, fertilizers are not enough and the coffee farmer is paid little money. In order to increase the value of coffee to subsequently boost exports, it would be very important to increase the price paid to the farmer, finance the coffee sector, organizational capacities of farmers, efficiency of coffee washing stations, quantity of fully washed, specialty and roasted coffee as new international clients are targeted.
- ItemRestrictedIslands of effectiveness in co-government arrangements : the case of three coalition-led municipalities in South Africa(2016) Salie, Saarah; Levy, BrianCo-government arrangements are a necessary evil that provides political parties with an opportunity to take office, exercise power and share the spoils of power. My dissertation examines the reforms and principles that are most useful in co-government arrangements, which are characterised by unstable, complex and sometimes predatory political environments, to ensure that governance and developmental gains can be achieved. Using case studies of the co-government arrangements in three local municipalities, all based in the Western Cape Province of South Africa and led by an array of small opposition parties, I make two arguments. Firstly, senior public officials can act as a countervailing platform to achieve governance gains by implementing a range of reforms and principles. The most pertinent of these being to make concessions in coalition arrangements that have a kingmaker and by implementing a functional political-administrative interface to protect the integrity of the powers and functions delegated to both arms of the municipality. Secondly, political principals with mixed interests can effectively cooperate to find joint gains. Some of these reforms and principles require that forums be put in place to encourage effective communication to expedite decision making that enable governance gains, while the coalition agreement should have comprehensive terms to guide the rules of engagement of the parties in the co-government arrangement. Coalition led governments at a municipal level can thrive if coalition partners communicate effectively, act in goodwill towards a common goal and uphold credible commitments to serve with integrity.
- ItemOpen AccessLocal governments' changing power in South Africa's energy system: reshaping the regulatory space for renewable energy, from the bottom up(2017) Hermanus, Lauren; Levy, BrianIn 1994, South Africa's post-apartheid government inherited a highly-centralised energy sector, in which all aspects including planning, procurement, generation, distribution, pricing, and management were determined through top-down institutional arrangements and investments, centred around Eskom. In 2016, however, following rounds of energy sector reform, and the successful implementation of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), this centralised configuration of power showed signs of disruption. Municipalities began to ambitiously redefine their role by building on opportunities related to renewable energy, resulting in an emergent challenge to centralised energy policy and planning. This dissertation sought to explore how this contestation took shape and to explain how seemingly ad hoc actions have created new possibilities, as well as new regulatory frameworks, by municipalities for municipalities. To achieve this, an analysis of the evolution of decentralised renewable energy generation in South Africa between 2008, when it first began, and 2016, was undertaken, applying the method of process tracing to two case studies. In order to contextualise these bottom-up processes within the national political economy of energy, process tracing was also applied in a high-level analysis of countervailing movements that consolidate centralised energy planning and procurement during the same period, with a particular focus on national plans to undertake massive investments in nuclear energy. It was found that municipalities' bottom-up actions have positioned them to drive renewable energy in such a way that seriously challenges the historical configuration of power that has determined South Africa's energy future up to now.
- ItemOpen AccessManaging the welfare impacts of urbanization in Zambia: A case for a composite district performance index(2018) Masumbu, Gibson; Platzky, LaurineThis paper looks at the evolution of urbanization in Zambia. The country has a population of just over 15 million people with about 35% living in urban areas. The population in the urban areas is projected to increase driven by both natural population growth and rural-urban migration. This population growth is expected to put pressure on the provision of services in urban areas. The country has been implementing a decentralization programme that is meant to devolve vital tasks to the local authority. If this happens, the local authorities will have the pressure of ensuring that people in their cities have decent standards of living. The localized city development index will assist local authorities with information to use in assessing their performance. The index adopts the Alkire Foster multidimensional measurement approach.